- GP practice
Arran Medical Centre
Report from 4 April 2025 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 13 May 2025 to 22 May 2025. This was a comprehensive assessment of Arran Medical Centre, to provide a rating for this location. This service had not been inspected previously.
Arran Medical Centre is a GP practice and delivers services to approximately 6,200 patients living in Smiths Wood and the surrounding area in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, under a contract held with NHS England.
There is a partner practice, Sheldon Medical Centre, based in Sheldon, Solihull which is approximately four miles away. The practice list is divided between Arran Medical Centre and the partner practice, patients can attend either practice but choose to be seen at one in particular. This inspection report covers the findings of our inspection of Arran Medical Centre only. The two practices are led by a GP partnership consisting of a male GP partner based at Arran Medical Centre and a female GP partner based as Sheldon Medical Centre. The two locations have separate CQC registrations and therefore we inspect and report on these services separately under each registration.
The National General Practice Profiles states that the patient population is predominantly white British at 75%, 12% Asian, 6% Black and 7% Mixed or Other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 1st decile (1 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 challenges 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 had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained. 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, we found some processes required improvement for example, medicines management, safeguarding and managing risks related to the premises.
Staff carried out assessments which took account of patient’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was mostly based on the latest evidence and good practice. Staff worked with all agencies involved in patient’s care for the best outcomes and ensure a smooth transition when moving services. Staff made sure patients understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent.
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 service supported staff wellbeing.
The service provided information patients could understand. People knew how to give feedback. Patients received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. Patients understood their options around consenting to receive care and treatment. Patient feedback was mixed about how easy it was to access the service. We found the practice was taking action to improve access and patient satisfaction in general.
Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the patient participation group (PPG) and local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas.
People's experience of this service
The National GP Patient Survey 2024 showed that patients were not always satisfied with how easy it was to access the service or their overall experience. We saw that satisfaction was below the national average. However, as this data was for both practices (Arran Medical Centre and Sheldon Medical Centre), it was not possible to break the information down for each practice to link the feedback to a specific practice.
The practice collected their own patient feedback to monitor patient satisfaction. Results from the NHS Friends and Family Test, showed patients were mostly satisfied with services. Results from the practice in-house survey showed that patients were not always satisfied with appointment times or how easy it was to access the practice. However, most patients found healthcare professionals listened to them and gave enough time during consultations.
There had been 7 reviews left on the Healthwatch website in the 12 months leading up to the assessment. Patient feedback was mixed. Negative feedback mostly related to access issues.
There was an active PPG who represented the views of people using the service.
The provider had produced an action plan to improve access and patient satisfaction.