During an assessment under our new approach
Date of Assessment: 5 March 2026 to 10 March 2026. Faversham Medical Group (previously registered with CQC as Newton Place Surgery) is a GP practice and delivers service to approximately 18,800 patients under a contract held with NHS England.
The National General Practice Profiles states the ethnic make-up of the practice area is 96% White, 1% Asian, 0.9% Black, 1.6% Mixed and 0.5% Other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 5th decile (5 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.
We completed this assessment as more than 5 years had passed since the last assessment and to follow up on information of concern about staff competencies and governance processes. We found the practice's oversight of staff competencies and its overall governance processes were effective, despite the initial concerns that led to the assessment
The practice had a good learning culture and patients could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of patients, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. 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. However, some medicines were not consistently monitored in accordance with relevant guidelines and safeguarding alerts were not consistently being used. The practice responded promptly and implemented immediate measures to rectify these issues.
Patients were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of patients’ communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Staff made sure patients understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. When a patient did not have capacity, staff appropriately involved people important to them when making decisions in the patient’s best interests.
Patients were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. Patients had choice in their care and treatment. The practice supported staff wellbeing.
Patients were involved in decisions about their care. The practice provided information patients could understand. Patients received fair and equal care and treatment. The practice worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. Patients 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. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement.