- GP practice
Lowther Medical Centre
Assessment report published 9 June 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 01 May 2025 to 02 May 2025. Lowther Medical Centre is a GP practice and delivers service to approximately 14,066 patients under a contract held with NHS England. The National General Practice Profiles states that 22.8% of patients are aged 65 and over, compared to the England average of 17.9%, indicating an older patient demographic. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the fourth decile (4 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.
The service did not have a robust or safe recruitment process in place, and there was no appraisal policy to guide structured oversight of staff performance, development, and support. However, appropriate staffing levels and a suitable skill mix were maintained to meet the needs of the service.
People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.
We found 1 breach of regulation in relation to fit and proper persons employed. We asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
This was a responsive assessment conducted due to associated risks and to determine whether improvements had been made since the previous inspection in January 2024.
People's experience of this service
In the 2024 National GP Patient Survey, 31.4% of respondents reported a positive overall experience of contacting their GP practice, compared to the national average of 67.3%. Additionally, 5.1% responded positively regarding the ease of contacting the practice by phone, against a national average of 49.7%. However, the practice conducted its own patient survey in October 2024, in which 84% of participants rated their overall experience with the GP service as good.
Results from the NHS Friends and Family Test indicated a generally good level of satisfaction with the services provided. Across January to March 2025, a total of 372 patients were surveyed, with 149 responses received. Of those who responded,90% recommended the service in January, 84% in February, and 90% in March.
An active Patient Participation Group (PPG) represented the views of people who used the service and met approximately every 6 weeks. A representative from the PPG described the relationship with the practice as positive and supportive of open discussions. As a result of this collaboration, the practice supported initiatives such as involvement of external organisations like "Cancer Champions" to raise awareness about cancer symptoms and screening.
Staff from an aligned care home provided positive feedback on the standard of care delivered by Lowther Medical Centre to their residents, specifically noting that the nurse practitioner had been excellent in providing support.