The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

Ball Tree Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Western Road North, Sompting, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 9UX (01903) 752200

Provided and run by:
Ball Tree Surgery

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 17to 19 September 2025. Ball Tree Surgery is an NHS GP practice. It delivers primary care services to around 15,000 people under a contract held with NHS England. The service is provided from the main surgery site in the village of Sompting and a branch site known as the Kingfisher Branch (19-21 Culver Road, Lancing, BN15 9AX). People registered with the service can use either site.

We carried out this assessment because we had not inspected the service since 2015. At our previous assessment, the service was rated as Good overall and for all key questions.

The National General Practice Profiles show that the age profile of the service population differs from that of England nationally with a higher proportion of people aged over 60 and a markedly higher proportion of people aged over 75. There is a lower proportion of adults aged 20 to 49. Information published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation in the service population is in the 6th decile (6 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the service population is relative to others. Most of the local population are White (94%) with 2% Asian and 2% Mixed. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working in and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.

The service had a positive learning culture and people could raise concerns. There were effective systems for reporting and learning from incidents. People were protected from abuse. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any identified risks were 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. However, the service had fallen behind with medicines reviews and people were not always receiving timely reviews.

Staff reviewed people’s needs taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. 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. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. The service involved people coming to the end of life and their families in decisions about their care and took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.

We received positive feedback about the way people were treated at the service. We received examples of kindness and compassion. We found staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. The service supported staff wellbeing.

The service provided information people could understand. People were able to access the service in a timely way. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities. The service sought feedback from people and acted on it.

Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening and learning and leading by example. Leaders were described as inspirational, visible and supportive. Staff felt encouraged to give feedback. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. There was a culture of continuous improvement with a focus on innovation and joint working for the benefit of people.

6 January 2015

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Ball Tree Surgery on the 6 January 2015. The practice has an overall rating of good.

Ball Tree Surgery provides primary medical services to people living in Sompting, Lancing and East Worthing. At the time of our inspection there were approximately 8,500 patients registered at the practice with a team of four GP partners. A fifth GP was in the process of registering as a partner with CQC. The practice was also supported by a salaried GP, nurses, healthcare assistants and a team of reception and administrative staff. Ball Tree Surgery is a GP training practice and at the time of the inspection was providing training and support to two registrars.

The inspection team spoke with staff and patients and reviewed policies and procedures implemented throughout the practice. The practice understood the needs of the local population and engaged effectively with other services. There was a culture of openness and transparency within the practice and staff told us they felt supported. The practice was committed to providing high quality patient care and patients told us they felt the practice was caring and responsive to their needs.

Our key findings were as follows:

  • GPs had their own patient lists and where possible encouraged continuity of care by patients seeing their named GP.
  • Patient feedback about the practice and the care and treatment they received was very positive.
  • Infection control audits and cleaning schedules were in place and the practice was seen to be clean and tidy.
  • There was evidence the practice was listening to its patients and responding to any concerns or suggestions in a timely and effective manner.
  • The practice had systems to keep patients safe including safeguarding procedures and means of sharing information in relation to patients who were vulnerable.
  • There were a range of appointments to suit most patients’ needs.
  • Patients with palliative care needs were supported using the Gold Standards Framework.
  • The practice had been a training practice for 25 years and there was a culture of continuous development.
  • The practice had the appropriate equipment, medicines and procedures to manage foreseeable patient emergencies.
  • Innovative use of the practice computer system allowed for information to be recorded, stored and shared in a pro-active way which was both beneficial to the practice and its patients

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice