During an assessment under our new approach
Date of Assessment: 5 February 2026 to 9 February 2026. Wolstanton Medical Centre is a GP practice and delivers services to 10,966 patients under a contract held with NHS England. We carried out an assessment because the service had not been inspected since 2016. The National General Practice Profiles states that the ethnic make-up of the practice area is 94.2% White, 2.8% Asian, 1.7% Mixed, 0.8% Black and 0.5% other. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 7th decile (7 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.
The service had a good learning culture and people were encouraged to raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly and learning was shared with the practice team. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, 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. Staff managed medicines well and involved people in planning any changes.
People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. The service had developed a reasonable adjustment questionnaire to enable people to identify and share what help and support they needed. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice.
Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. The service supported people to live healthier lives and took a holistic view and focused on lifestyle as well as management when carrying out long-term condition views. The service was aware that research showed regular walking significantly improves mental and physical wellbeing by reducing stress, anxiety and social isolation. They had embraced this and worked in collaboration with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and had funded 5 guided walks a year for people since 2022. The service had developed a range of themed postcards to promote national screening programmes. People with learning disabilities were supported by a dedicated inhouse team to ensure their needs were met and reviews completed. This had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.
People were treated with kindness and compassion; all the staff we spoke with demonstrated a genuine commitment to providing the highest level of care to practice population. Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. The service worked with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, or another diverse gender identity (LGBTQIA+) population to ensure they were invited to relevant national screening programmes. People had choice in their care and treatment. Feedback received via the National GP Patient Survey was overwhelmingly positive regarding patient experience. The service had a dedicated wellbeing team and supported staff through a range of measures, including annual staff surveys, seasonal wellbeing weeks and access to mental health first aiders. Staff told us how helpful and supportive these measures were.
The service was committed to delivering person centred care. Feedback from people who used the service supported they were involved in decisions about their care and given enough time during consultations. The service provided information people could understand. The practice website had dedicated sections for people with a learning disability and / or autism and the LGBTQIA+ community. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and 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. Feedback received via the National GP Patient Survey was extremely positive regarding access to the service. For example, 93% responded positively to the overall experience of contacting their GP practice. This was significantly above the national average of 70%.
Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture. Staff were aware of the practice vision and strategy, which was displayed in the practice and on the practice website and kept under review. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff told us leaders modelled the values of the practice. Values were actively integrated into daily practice, establishing an open and respectful culture. Staff felt supported and encouraged to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Leaders recognised, acknowledged and rewarded the value and input of the whole practice team. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and demonstrated a clear commitment to providing good quality care to the practice population. There were established governance processes that were appropriate for the service. The service carried out a range of audits, and routinely reviewed feedback from people who used the service. The service was committed to working with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. The Patient Participation Group actively supported the practice to engage with the community and share information. The GP Partners had a highly established history of academic and research activity and continued to use those skills and expertise to drive improvements within the practice and the wider primary care network. Staff were encouraged to develop their skills, and several members of staff told us they had been supported by the service to gain additional qualifications.