- GP practice
Portway Family Practice
Assessment report published 10 August 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 5 June 2026 to 17 June 2026. Portway Family Practice is a GP practice and delivers service to 8,432 patients under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles reported on the ethnicity of the practice population as, 66.8% White, 17.8% Asian, 7.8% Black, 4.7% Mixed and 2.9% Other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the third decile (3 out 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 and processes were in place to ensure learning was shared with all the team to mitigate future risks. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. Effective processes for the recruitment of staff were in place to ensure all the appropriate checks had been completed prior to commencing employment. 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 other practices within the Primary Care Network to ensure the best outcomes for patients. 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. The service supported staff wellbeing.
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. Feedback from patients was mixed about accessing the service provided and this was also reflected in the results of the GP National Patient Survey. The practice had recently implemented an Artificial Intelligence (AI) receptionist system to enhance telephone access and improve the patient experience. This was currently being embedded at the time of our assessment to ensure people received fair and equal care access. 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. Managers worked collectively with services to deliver the best care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas.
People's experience of this service
Feedback from people was mixed about the quality of their care and treatment. Recent survey results, including from the National GP Patient Survey and the NHS showed people were generally satisfied with accessing the practice. The practice demonstrated a willingness to listen to patient feedback, taking concerns into account and implementing improvements aimed at enhancing access and the overall patient experience. There was a Patient Participation Group (PPG) in place, although attendance at meetings had been low. Despite this, the practice remained committed to involving patients in the development of services and, at the time of our assessment, was taking steps to re-establish and strengthen the group to encourage greater patient engagement and participation.