The Groves Medical Centre

Updated 7 February 2025

Assessment Date 18 March 2025 – 28 April 2025. The Groves Medical Centre is a GP practice and provides care to a population of approximately 16,630 patients under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that the ethnic make-up of the practice area is 61% White, 24% Asian, 5% Mixed, 7% Other and 3% Black. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 9th decile (9 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice population is relative to others.

We carried out this assessment to follow up on breaches found in our last inspection in October-November 2023, at which time the practice was rated as inadequate overall and placed into special measures.

We saw evidence that the provider has improved its performance across most areas. It remains rated as Good for providing a Caring service. It is now rated Good for delivering Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led care as it had met previous breaches of regulations, including: regulation 12 Safe Care and Treatment, Regulation 16 Receiving and acting on complaints, Regulation 17 Good governance and Regulation 18 Staffing.

Out of Special Measures

This service was placed in Special Measures on 4 April 2024. The service demonstrated improvements that have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Updated 7 February 2025

Shortly before our assessment we asked people to submit feedback on care received. Of the 278 responses we received, 194 (70%) gave positive feedback. Positive responses covered a range of areas, including, patients said the medical care was very good, the GPs were proactive and were respectful, nurses were skilled and professional. Other comments mentioned how pleasant the reception team were, how easy it was to order repeat prescriptions through the app. One patient mentioned that it was easier to use the online booking system than the previous morning rush to book an appointment by phone.

We received 84 negative responses. Negative comments included: some patients were not happy to use the online booking system so found it difficult to get an appointment, some patients found it difficult to get an appointment within a reasonable amount of time.

Overall 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. There was an active patient participation group (PPG) who represented the views of people using the service. PPG members giving feedback said they felt the practice listened and acted on their concerns.