- GP practice
Ashton Gardens Surgery
Assessment report published 19 March 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Ashton Gardens Surgery is a GP practice located in Chadwell Heath Centre in Romford, RM6 6RT. They deliver services to approximately 5,000 patients under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that 40.7% of the practice population is White, 35.1% of the practice population are of Asian background, 15.6% Black, 4.3% other non-white ethnic groups. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the fifth decile (5 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 thoroughly. The facilities met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated, however some clinical accessories available in clinical rooms were expired. 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. However, leaders at the practice did not always carry out the necessary checks on staff before employment, such as obtaining up to date Disclosure and Barring Services certification.
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 between services. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people and 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. The service supported staff wellbeing.
People were involved in decisions about their care. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. The service worked to reduce 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 based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas. However, there were some gaps in governance which required further monitoring, such as the management of DBS checks, policies and the expiry of clinical accessories.
People's experience of this service
People were positive about the quality of their care and treatment. Recent survey results, including from the National GP Patient Survey and the NHS Friends and Family Test, showed people were satisfied with services. The service had a patient participation group (PPG), however, there was no attendance during the last PPG meeting. We spoke to representatives from the PPG on the phone who described how managers made positive changes because of feedback.