07.09.18
Westminster-based general practice placed into special measures by CQC
A Westminster-based practice has been placed into special measures by the health inspectorate after being rated ‘inadequate’ during its latest inspection.
The CQC gave Soho Square General Practice – which looks after around 5,000 patients – the ‘inadequate’ rating for being safe and well-led, and ‘requires improvement’ for being effective, caring, and responsive.
The inspection in May 2018 was the first under new management of the practice, where inspectors found there was no innovation or service development and improvement was not a priority among staff and leaders.
Inspectors also noted there was no clinical oversight of the largely locum clinical staff — and staff could not demonstrate effective cleaning of some clinical equipment.
Nevertheless, staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
The CQC called on the provider to make improvements, including the establishing of effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care, ensuring care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients, and ensuring there is leadership capacity and clinical oversight in the practice.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC deputy chief inspector of GP practices, said: “I am disappointed that that Soho Square General Practice is now rated ‘inadequate’ overall and we are putting it in special measures.
“We will continue to monitor the practice and will inspect again within six months. If insufficient improvements have been made we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service.
“Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.”
Enjoying NHE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!
Image credit: Cameravit