Ariel Healthcare has achieved a ‘Good’ rating in a recent inspection carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in December, for the delivery of NHS primary care services at the practice in Chard, Somerset.
Staff at the practice are delighted that following 38 months of hard work, since the last CQC inspection, the team has been rewarded with a ‘Good’ rating in all five key CQC areas.
Key Highlights from the CQC report:
The CQC highlighted that the service has made significant improvements since the last inspection. The CQC said;
“People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. The service worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.
“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 local community to deliver the best possible care. There was a culture of continuous improvement”.
In terms of patient feedback, the CQC found;
People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. The service supported staff wellbeing.
There is an active Patient Participation Group (PPG), which represents the views of people using the service. Representatives from the PPG described how managers made positive changes because of feedback, such as extending the opening time of the online form to submit medical requests
Background
Ariel Healthcare was formed following the successful merger between Tawstock Medical Centre and Essex Medical Centre in October 2022. We support just under 20,000 patients within Chard and surrounding areas. We strive to provide a high-quality level of care to all our patients and are proud to support different areas in our community.
The practice comprises of two sites – Summerfields Road, and St Mary’s. Our Teams work across both sites, meaning we are able to provide a full range of services regardless of the site you attend.
Sukeina Kassam, Director of Primary Care at NHS Somerset ICB said:
“I’m delighted with the incredible efforts of the team at Ariel Healthcare. Their hard work and commitment to improving care have led to impressive progress.
“It is heartwarming to see the atmosphere within the staffing team now; there’s a real sense of collaboration and dedication. The positive changes shows the resilience of everyone involved, and I’m excited to see how they continue to enhance the service for our patients in Chard.”
Ariel Practice GP and partner Emeline Dean says
“We recognise it’s been a challenging period for the team at Ariel including staff, but throughout, they’ve shown real dedication to our patients. We’re incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved together, and we’re excited to support our team in the next chapter of the practices journey”.
Having a ‘good; CQC ratings for being caring, responsive, well-led, safe and effective is great news for our patients, and for the staff and Patient Participation Group who have worked so hard to make improvements at our GP practice.
(Above is a snapshot of practice activities from February 2026).
Improvements going forward
Ariel Healthcare also has plans in place to make further improvements at the practice including;
Improving access to appointments
Ariel is recruiting additional GPs, so it can see more patients, more quickly.
Patients can help free up appointments, by cancelling appointments they no longer need, so they can be given to other patients.
Often a GP isn’t necessarily the right person to see for your healthcare need, and you would get faster and better care from a specialist such as a physiotherapist, or specialist nurse such as an asthma or diabetes nurse, so please do take advantage of the wide range of clinical staff who can help you.
Communications
Improving communication and clarity, so patients know what to expect and what happens next
Making the most of feedback to shape how we deliver care
Practice patient talks
Throughout the months of April, May and June, Dr Dean will be hosting talks at our Summerfields Road site which covers topics such as Statins, Heart Failure and Physical Activity, and is open to any patients registered at the practice. More information is on display in our waiting rooms. Patients are able to book to attend one or more of the talks, either online, or with one of the reception team. Online booking form – https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/EHVr2ZU56Q
We have arranged some healthcare talks for the upcoming months. These will cover a range of topics, open to any patients registered at the practice.
Improving care
Investing in training and support for staff so they can continue to offer safe, effective and up to date care.
