One service planned skydiving and ice skating trips
Bramhall Manor care home, in Hardy Drive, Bramhall(Image: Google)
A slew of ‘good’ ratings have been delivered to healthcare organisations across Greater Manchester this week, the latest inspection round up reveals.
Among them is Wigan’s Tania Brown Ltd which has been praised by healthcare watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and families for the quality of its care. The service predominantly provides homecare to children and young adults.
In one client’s case, the company was ‘instrumental’ in improving their health after identifying their were not getting the right healthcare and ‘working tirelessly’ to improve this.
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Staff were also recognised for promoting the independence of their clients, with one supported to plan and take part in ‘daredevil activities’ such as indoor skydiving and ice skating.
Here is a breakdown of Greater Manchester’s recently published CQC reports:
Bury
Whitefield House care home, in Whitefield, was rated ‘good’ this week by inspectors. The premises was described as ‘warm and inviting’, but some risks were found with furnishings not being suitably secured.
Personalised care plans were in place reflecting both the mental and physical health needs of patients, inspectors added. People were empowered to make their own decisions about their care and support.
Relatives spoke positively about the care provided, with one saying: “[Relative’s] health condition has improved since [they] went there and they have got (them) to eat and take [their] medicines, so now [they] can remember sometimes and join in things, so much happier.”
Another said: “I can’t praise them enough; [they] have improved so much since [they] have been there.”
The registered manager worked ‘tirelessly’ to develop a ‘welcoming and inclusive environment’ for families as well as the people they support, inspectors judged.
Care was not always carried out ‘in-line with’ training, however, meaning people were put at risk of increased harm. Some people also did not receive their medicines as prescribed with no ‘robust system’ to ensure time-sensitive medicines were given appropriately.
Manchester
Primary Eyecare Services, in Bengal Street, was rated ‘good’ by the CQC. Care was described as ‘safe, supportive and enabled patients to do the things that mattered to them’.
Patients were ‘actively involved’ in their treatment, flexible appointment times and locations were offered, and feedback showed outcomes were positive for them. Staff responded to patients’ needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress, the inspectors found.
Training was up-to-date and staff learning and development was ‘managed appropriately’. Employees also reported being supported if they were struggling at work and said the service was ‘open, transparent, blame free and non-discriminatory and they enjoyed working there’.
Bowland Medical Practice, in Bowland Road, Baguley, received a ‘good’ rating also. The service premises and equipment was ‘visibly clean’ but out of date consumables were found during the assessment. Immediate action was taken by the practice to remove these and a new system of checks was introduced.
Patients were ‘routinely’ referred to community-based services by the practice to ‘provide support beyond traditional medical interventions’. These offered assistance with issues such as social isolation, financial concerns, housing, and lifestyle wellbeing.
Some 90pc of patients said they felt professionals at the service treated them with ‘care and concern’, above a national average of 86pc. Inspectors said the service was ‘exceptional at ensuring people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it’.
Oldham
Oldham GP practice Springfield House was also rated ‘good’ this week. It was found to ‘always’ treat people with ‘kindness, empathy and compassion’.
However, just 51 per cent of respondents to a survey in 2025 said their overall experience of contacting the service was ‘good’, compared to a national average of 70 per cent. Changes were made to processes to introduce a triage system and a ring back option.
Patients told the CQC they ‘always manage to get an appointment either on the day or the future” and “things have improved massively over the last few years’. People also said ‘doctors and staff are amazing’. 93 per cent of those surveyed said overall experience was ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Stockport
Bramhall Manor Care Home, in Hardy Drive, Bramhall, was rated ‘requires improvement’ this week. There were ongoing concerns over medicine management at the home which inspectors said had been raised previously with the service.
These included time-specific medicines not always being given at the correct times and one patient not receiving their prescription in line with the manufacturer’s instructions, meaning it might not work properly.
Some improvements had been made to response times to call bells. However, feedback on staffing levels was mixed and there remained occasions where people were left waiting ‘for significant periods of time’, the report added.
A relative said: “It’s not very nice for [family member] needing to wait if they have had an accident…”
Some information in risk and need assessments were not accurate, the report continued. However, the registered manager was ‘responsive’ to CQC concerns and implemented a new, more detailed risk assessment.
Risk management around falls had improved, the watchdog added, with a physiotherapy team working with the service to improve mobility and reduce fall risks.
The care home has been contacted for comment.
Rochdale
Castleton Health Centre, in Elizabeth Street, Castleton, also received a ‘good’ rating this week. Inspectors said the practice was ‘well equipped, with appropriate furniture throughout’ while recent renovations have created a clean, pleasant environment.
Staff were up to date with training and recruitment was done safely. The service was judged to be ‘exceptional at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion’.
The nursing team was praised in particular for being ‘strong’ and ‘patient focused’.
Another ‘good’ rating was given to Durnford Medical Centre, in Long Street, Middleton, this week. Some 94pc of patients said in a 2025 national survey that they felt their needs were met by the centre.
Staff understood the importance of providing an inclusive approach to care and made adjustments to support equity in people’s experience and outcomes, the inspectors added.
However, inspectors found the administrative and reception areas were not always kept lock ‘as required for safety’ and PPE was not ‘consistently available’ for staff.
Tameside
Leadership at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust was also rated ‘good’ this week. Most people using the service rated their care as either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in a recent survey.
Inspectors praised the trust’s vision and priorities, while leaders ‘consistently demonstrated’ a commitment to ‘compassionate and inclusive leadership’. Leaders regularly visited frontline services, improving visibility and ensuring information could be shared, inspectors added.
Recent structural changes have ‘strengthened accountability’ with the trust ‘committed to continuous improvement and staff wellbeing’. However, some concerns were still raised by staff, with union representatives saying issues with leadership, communication, and decision‑making had ‘contributed to low morale and reduced trust across services’.
Staff also reported under‑resourcing, increased incidents of violence and aggression, and insufficient wellbeing and training support.
Wigan
Tania Brown Ltd, a homecare service based in Westwood Park Drive, Wigan, was rated ‘good’ by inspectors. It predominantly had children and young adults living in their family home as clients.
Relatives praised the service to inspectors, saying the organisation ‘communicated and coordinated effectively, which took the pressure off them, and ensured their family member received the best care possible’.
Staff encouraged clients to take ‘positive risks’. In one case, a client had been supported to plan and attend ‘daredevil activities’ such as indoor skydiving and ice skating. The person’s family said: “Between Tania Brown, the physios and myself, we organise events, and the carers come with me.
“Tania Brown always supports any ideas to get him to do something different and I really value that.”
People referred to the service had detailed assessments reports completed, covering personal details, medical history, social, economic and environmental situation, clinical profile, daily living skills, daily and weekly routines, main problems, client’s goals, any barriers to rehabilitation and a treatment plan.
A case manager told inspectors: “The most important person is the client and their family, and their story is so valuable.”
One relative said: “The carers are kind and friendly and caring, [relative] adores them and it makes life much easier for all of us. It must be hard working in somebody else’s house as it’s not like a care home, but they fit in really well with the family.”
In one client’s case, the organisation had been ‘instrumental’ in identifying the health and social care needs of a person who was acutely unwell and not receiving the correct support, the CQC said. The case manager ‘worked tirelessly’ and within a few months there were ‘noticeable improvements’, with the person putting on weight and undergoing a necessary medical procedure.