During an assessment under our new approach
Date of Assessment: 10 October to 15 October 2025.Clifton Medical Centre is a GP practice and delivers service to 5220 patients under a contract held with NHS England. There is a branch site located at Victoria Health Centre, 5 Suffrage Street, Smethwick, West Midlands, B66 3PZ. The National General Practice Profiles states that 47.1% of the population registered at the practice are white, 31.3% Asian, 12% black, 4.2% mixed and 5.4% other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows deprivation within the practice population group is in the second decile (2 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice population is relative to others. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working within and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.
The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and involved people in planning any changes.
People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. National GP Patient survey results in some of these areas were below average; however, the practice had undertaken its own surveys and developed action plans to drive improvement.
People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. People received fair and equal care and treatment. National GP patient survey results were below average in this area; however, the provider was committed to reducing health and care inequalities through training and feedback. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.
Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture, and staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement and leaders used reliable data on risk, performance, and outcomes. Processes were well established, with accessible policies and procedures to support governance.