Updated 9 June 2025
Date of Assessment: 27 June 2025 to 2 July 2025. Lower Gornal Medical Practice is a GP practice and delivers service to 8015 patients under a contract held with NHS England. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows deprivation within the practice population group is in the 6th decile (6 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.
Staff and managers demonstrated an understanding of risk management; however, several processes required strengthening. These included oversight of staff immunisations, staff training, governance around non-medical prescribers, medicines management and safeguarding processes.
People were generally involved in the assessment of their needs, although mechanisms to support this process needed to be better aligned with current evidence and best practice. Care was consistently delivered with kindness and compassion, and staff upheld patients’ privacy and dignity.
Feedback from patients and staff indicated that access to care and treatment was timely and responsive to individual needs. While services were designed with patient care in mind, leaders did not consistently demonstrate the experience, capacity, or capability necessary to ensure that the organisation’s strategic vision and risks were effectively managed.
Staff reported feeling supported in their roles; however, there was no established system for regularly communicating and sharing learning or best practice, which limited opportunities to enhance governance and foster continuous improvement.
We found breaches of regulation in relation to good governance. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.