All inspections: Mersea Island Medical Practice

Dates of Assessment: 30 June 2026 to 2nd July 2026. Mersea Island Medical Practice is a GP practice and delivers service to approximately 7,150 under a contract held with NHS England. The practice operates from two sites, the main site at Kingsland Road and the branch site at Barfield Road in West Mersea. We inspected the main site at Kingsland Road only due to building work being carried out at the branch site.

Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 9 decile (9 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.

SAFE: The practice had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Practice leaders investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment were clean and well-maintained, they met the needs of people, and any risks were mitigated. Practice leaders made sure staff received appropriate training and regular appraisals. Medicines were managed effectively and people were involved in planning any changes.

EFFECTIVE: People were involved in their care and treatment. 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 affiliated services to involve people in their care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving between services. Staff supported people to understand their care and treatment to support them to give informed consent. Staff involved peoples’ representatives, when people did not have capacity to make decisions in their best interests.

CARING: People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. People were treated as individuals and supported their preferences. The practice leadership supported staff wellbeing.

RESPONSIVE: People were involved in decisions about their care. The practice provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback about the practice. The practice was accessible and worked to eliminate discrimination. The practice worked to reduce health and care inequalities through communication, review, and information they provided. People were involved in planning their care and treatment and understood their options.

WELL-LED: Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening and learning. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable, and supportive, helping staff to develop in their roles. Staff told us they felt supported to give feedback. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Practice leaders understood their population and worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and shared ideas and vision.

This practice is rated as Good overall. The previous inspection carried out 17 May 2016 was rated as Good overall

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mersea Island Medical Practice on 24 April 2018. This inspection was carried out under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

At this inspection we found:

The practice had clear systems to manage risk to reduce the risk of safety incidents from occurring. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
The practice consistently reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care they provided.
Care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
We saw evidence that staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
Patients reported appointments could be accessed when they needed one.
There was a strong focus on continuous learning across the whole practice and improvement was seen at every level.

There was one area where the practice should make improvement;

Continue to find ways to improve patient satisfaction in relation to the opening hours and contact for patients with the practice by phone.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGPChief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Mersea Island Medical Practice on 17 May 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

Staff members knew how to raise concerns, and report safety incidents. The policy showed the practice complied with the requirements of the duty of candour. Safety information was recorded and any issues identified were shared with staff members.
Risks to patients were assessed and documented. The system to assess risks included those associated with; premises, equipment, medicines, and infection control.
Patient care was planned and provided to reflect best practice using recommended current clinical guidance.
Patient comments were positive about the practice during the inspection and they told us treatment was with consideration, dignity and respect. Members of the practice patient participation group told us they were involved with practice development.
Information regarding how to complain was available at the practice and in an easy to read format.
There were urgent appointments available on the day they were requested.
The practice had suitable facilities and equipment to treat patients and meet their requirements.
The leadership structure at the practice was known and understood by all the staff members we spoke with. They told us they were supported in their working roles by the practice management and the GPs.
The patient participation group was keen to support the practice improve and develop.

We saw one area of outstanding practice including:

The practice held a list of vulnerable patients that staff members were aware were known to forget to attend important review appointments provided to maintain their health. Staffmembers contacted patients prior to their appointments to establish their welfare and check they were able to attend the practice. The practice felt this responsive contact was critical due to being located on an island. The road to the island flooded for up to an hour and a half at high tides twice most days and was not navigable by a car or an ambulance even in an emergency situation. The practice procedures in place ensured vulnerable patients were provided with sufficient input to their welfare to reduce the need for the air ambulance to be called. The practice told us the caring contact they made was to ensure that vulnerable patients welfare was considered and admission to hospital was reduced.

The area where the provider should make an improvement is:

Improve the access for patients to get through to the practice by telephone. The January 2016 GP survey showed the practice scored 51%, and the July 2016 score was 44%, both of these scores were well below the national average of 73%.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Archived: Mersea Island Medical Practice

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

24/04/2018

During a routine inspection

17/05/2016

During a routine inspection