During an assessment under our new approach
Date of Assessment: 9 October 2025 to 14 October 2025. The Dovecot Surgery is a GP practice and delivers services to approximately 4,258 under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that 20.1% of patients are aged 65 years or over compared with the England average of 17.8%. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 2nd 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.
This was a comprehensive assessment, undertaken due to the length of time since our last assessment and the identification of potential risks.
The service fostered a positive learning culture, with staff confident to raise concerns and incidents investigated thoroughly. People were kept safe, and staff understood and managed risks well. Facilities were clean, well-maintained, and met people's needs. While staff received training and appraisals, some risks remained. These included gaps in mandatory training, incomplete risk assessments, areas of prescribing oversight and a lack of assurance that vaccination records were in place for both clinical and non-clinical staff.
People were involved in assessments of their needs, and staff considered individuals’ communication, personal, and health needs. Patients received care that was generally effective and informed by current guidance. Regular searches were used to support monitoring and diagnostic checks, and steps had been taken to recall patients at risk. Care was informed by current guidance. Some prescribing and monitoring practices required improvement to fully align with national standards.
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. Areas for improvement in staff interactions were identified.
People were involved in decisions about their care and offered a choice in how they accessed services. While feedback mechanisms were in place, response rates were low. Care was delivered fairly and in line with individual needs, and efforts were made to support accessibility and inclusion. The practice identified that improvement was needed in access, and enhancements had been made to the telephone system to support better responsiveness.
Governance arrangements were not consistently robust. Improvements were needed in areas such as policy updates, oversight of mandatory training, risk assessments and record keeping to ensuring safe and effective care. However, leaders were visible, knowledgeable, and supportive, and most staff described the practice as a positive and well-managed place to work. Staff told us they felt confident to raise concerns, understood their roles and responsibilities, and were encouraged to contribute ideas for improvement.