All the Birmingham health services rated by inspectors this month - with three told to improve

Health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated seven healthcare providers in Birmingham this month - including care homes, GPs and social care services

The health and social care watchdog has published its latest list of ratings following inspections over the past month. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the body responsible for inspecting NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes in England.

The regulator gives services one of four levels of ratings – outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. The ratings, which are publicly available online, are used to help the patients choose the right health care provider to meet their needs.

The CQC can use legal powers to take action where it identifies poor care. In Birmingham, a total of seven service providers were rated by CQC inspectors following recent visits this month - with three told improvements were needed for a better patient experience.

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The Birmingham healthcare providers rated 'good'

While no healthcare provider achieved an 'outstanding' rating from the CQC this month, several received a 'good' rating from the health and social care watchdog. These include:

Supported Living West Midlands - Lifford Lane, Kings Norton

Supported Living West Midlands is part of a national organisation (Forward Plus West Midlands Ltd) providing care to people with learning disabilities. The service was assessed in May 2024 and found care plans contained 'relevant, up to date information' and people 'received their medicines as prescribed.'

The CQC inspection report reads: "People told us they felt safe and that they liked the staff members supporting them. Relatives felt the service had improved since the current registered manager had been in post and were confident improvements would continue under the current management structure. People received personalised care and support in accordance with their needs, wishes and protected characteristics. People and relatives spoke positively about the caring attitude and empathy shown by staff."

Moundsley House - Walkers Heath Road, Kings Norton

Moundsley House care home provide accomodation to over 65s who require nursing or personal care. There were 57 people living at the facility at the time of the CQC inspection in June 2024.

The CQC inspection report reads: "People told us they felt safe living at the home and spoke positively about the staff and how they were supported by them. Most relatives told us they believed their family members were safe and the service communicated with them well."

Crestar Healthcare - New Swan Lane, West Bromwich

Crestar Healthcare was given a 'good' rating by CQC inspectors following a visit in March 2024. Crestar healthcare is a domiciliary social care service providing personal care to people living in their homes.

The CQC inspection report reads: "People receiving support from the service and most of their relatives told us they felt safe in the care of the staff team. People spoke positively about the staff who supported them. People told us they received care calls consistently. However, these did not always take place on time.

"People and their relatives knew how to make complaints about the service. People said they had their care reviewed regularly and were involved in the reviews. They told us they were generally happy with the quality of care they were receiving from the service."

The Birmingham healthcare providers that 'require improvement'

While no Birmingham healthcare services received the lowest grade of 'inadequte' this month, several were told to improve by inspectors. The following care providers received a 'requires improvement' rating from the CQC.

Aran Court Care Home - Tile Cross, Birmingham

Aran Court Care Home is a nursing home providing accommodation, personal and care for up to 86 people. The service supports people with a variety of care needs including those living with dementia, older people, people living with mental health issues and physical disabilities.

The service was told to improve by inspectors following an inspection in March 2024. The CQC found that while people 'spoke 'positively' of the staff who supported them, 'unnecessary restrictions' were being placed on people.

The CQC inspection report reads: "People and relatives recognised the service had been through a complete change in management recently and, prior to this, there had been a period of time where people told us they were concerned about the service and the lack of management in place to guide staff. However, everyone spoken with advised that since the new management team had arrived, the atmosphere in the service was much improved as was their care and support."

Bromford Lane Care Centre - Washwood Heath, Birmingham

Bromford Lane Care Centre is a care home, providing personal care for up to 116 people in Washwood Heath. Following an inspection in July 2024, the CQC found some people 'were not always treated with dignity and respect.'

Inspectors also found there was a failure to ensure 'staff had sufficient guidance and knowledge to support some people safely' - but that most patients were 'generally happy with the standard of care they were receiving from the service.'

The CQC inspection report reads: "Most people receiving support and relatives told us they felt their loved ones were safe in the care of the staff team and spoke positively about the staff who supported them. Most people and relatives felt they were kept informed; however, some relatives told us they felt communication could be improved."

Ashfield Surgery - Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield

Dr C D Lenton & Partners, also known as Ashfield Surgery, was told to improve by inspectors following a visit in February 2024. Patients spoken to by the CQC said telephone and appointment access 'was not always easy'.

While patient satisfaction with telephone and appointment access had improved from the previous year, satisfaction remained 'poor'. The CQC inspection report reads: "The practice had identified that patient satisfaction was particularly poor in appointment availability and long waiting times, and other people had expressed their dissatisfaction with getting repeat prescriptions and unhelpful staff.

"The patient participation group (PPG) had carried out a survey in October 2023. Results showed that mostly patients had commented that staff were kind and helpful. Areas for improvement included better telephone and appointment access."

Beech Hill Grange - Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield

Beech Hill Grange is a care home offering nursing and personal care for up to 74 people, with 69 residents at the time of the assessment in May 2024. It provides support to older adults, including those living with dementia.

CQC inspectors raised concerns around how people were protected from hazards in the home, manual handling practices and guidance for staff to support people when they were distressed. While the home was 'well maintained and kept clean and clutter free', inspectors found a lack of evidence that 'people’s consent was sought for important decisions about their care.'

The CQC inspection report reads: "We found a lack of evidence that people’s consent was sought for important decisions about their care. Care was not always provided to people in a way which met their individual needs and preferences. Systems to ensure care was provided safely and appropriately were not always robust... Most people living at the service and their relatives told us they felt safe in the care of the staff team. People and relatives spoke positively about the staff who supported them. Some felt there were times when more staff were needed."