• Doctor
  • GP practice

Studholme Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

50 Church Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 2TU (01784) 420700

Provided and run by:
Studholme Medical Centre

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of assessment: 2 September to 1 November 2024. Studholme Medical Centre is an NHS GP practice based in a large Edwardian house, which has been modernised internally and extended, located in central Ashford, Surrey. At the time of our assessment there were approximately 16,000 people registered with the service.

We carried out this assessment, including an unannounced site visit in response to concerns we received that related to culture, access, clinical care and cleanliness. We assessed 13 quality statements across safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions and have combined the scores for these areas with the scores from the last inspection. At this assessment we found the service had a learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents in a timely manner. The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. 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. We received mixed feedback with some people reporting concerns we raised with the provider and others being complementary about their experience. People were treated as individuals and supported in their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. The service supported staff’s wellbeing. People were involved in decisions about their care. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities.

14 April 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Studholme Medical Centre on 14 April 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

We saw areas of outstanding practice:

  • The practice set up and facilitated a number of patient led groups such as support for prostate cancer and families in unusually traumatic circumstances. Patients told us these had been of great benefit to them.
  • The practice employed two pharmacists to provide support to the patients during surgery opening hours. We saw several examples where the pharmacist, working in conjunction with a named GP, had a positive patient impact with improved understanding about their medicines and how to take them, we also saw examples of better compliance with medicine regimes and improved patient engagement both with the surgery and other services including the local authority.

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Continue to monitor patient satisfaction including access to GPs, appointment booking and opening hours.
  • Continue to pro-actively identify carers.
  • Ensure that a robust system of annual appraisals is maintained.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice