The Meads Medical Practice Limited

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We looked for evidence that staff involved patients in decisions about their care and treatment and provided them with advice and support. Staff reviewed patient’s care and worked with other services to achieve this.

At our last inspection, we rated this key question as requires improvement because some patients’ needs had not always been assessed and delivered in line with legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance.

At this inspection, we saw necessary improvements had been made. For example, we saw improvements in the monitoring of patients diagnosed with long term conditions such as chronic kidney disease, asthma and uncontrolled diabetes.

However, we found improvements were required for the monitoring of patients with potential long-term conditions. For example, patients with a potential missed diagnosis of diabetes.

At our last assessment, we rated this key question as requires improvement. At this assessment, the rating has changed to good.

This service scored 71 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure patient’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

Feedback from patients using the practice was positive. Patients felt involved in assessments of their needs and felt confident that staff understood their individual and cultural needs. Reception staff used digital flags in the care records system to highlight any specific individual needs, such as the requirement for longer appointments or for a translator to be present. Clinical staff used templates when conducting care reviews to support the review of patient’s wider health and wellbeing. Staff could refer patients with social needs to a social prescriber. For example, patients experiencing social isolation.

We reviewed 5 care plans as part of our remote clinical searches and found they were well-documented and supported the delivery of tailored care.

At our last inspection, we identified improvements that were required; monitoring of patients with chronic kidney disease, asthma reviews and reviewing patients with diabetes whose long-term blood sugar control (HbA1c) was raised. At this inspection, we saw necessary improvements had been made.

We found some patients had received necessary monitoring for their long-term conditions and associated prescribed medicines. However, our remote clinical searches identified some inconsistencies in adherence to best practice guidance and the practice’s own policy.

Not all patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism had received monitoring in line with national guidance.

We reviewed 5 out of 9 patients with a potential missed diagnosis of diabetes and found 1 patient had not been appropriately coded on the clinical system. This meant they did not had been recalled for necessary monitoring. We shared our findings with the practice who took appropriate action to follow up patients as necessary.

The provider reviewed the remaining 4 patients with a potential missed diagnosis of diabetes and found 2 had not received a necessary follow up to confirm or mitigate diagnosis.

Staff worked effectively across teams and services to support patients and ensure continuity of care. For example, the provider told us they had regular meetings with relevant professionals to support patients that had been referred to services to safeguarding services. Staff had access to the information they needed to appropriately assess, plan and deliver patient’s care and treatment. The provider ensured that care was delivered in a coordinated way and considered the needs of different patients, including those who may be vulnerable because of their circumstances. Staff described positive working relationships and clear communication pathways, which helped ensure that concerns were addressed promptly and appropriately.

The provider supported patients to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. The provider supported patients to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

Staff focused on identifying risks to patients’ health, including those identified as vulnerable. Staff supported national priorities and initiatives to improve population health, including stopping smoking and tackling obesity. Staff offered advice and referrals during routine appointments and health checks.

Childhood immunisations were administered according to the national childhood vaccination programme. Data from 2023 showed that the provider met the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 95% for 3 out of 5 childhood immunisation indicators, exceeded the target on 1 indicator with 97% and achieved 93% on another, meeting the national minimum threshold.

Unverified data from the provider dated May 2025 showed they were achieving above the World Health Organisation target of 95% for all the childhood immunisation indicators.

Data from 2023 showed the provider was performing below the 80% national target for cervical cancer screening with 77.4%. Unverified data from the provider dated May 2025 showed they were achieving above the national target of 80% for cervical cancer screening (unverified data refers to data that has been provided by the practice and has not been published, therefore has not been verified by the data owner, for example, UK Health Security Agency, NHS Digital, NHS England and Improvement).

The provider told patients about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Staff understood and applied legislation relating to consent. Capacity and consent were clearly recorded. Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions were appropriate and made in line with relevant legislation.