South Norwood surgery rated Inadequate by CQC

Published: 21 June 2017 Page last updated: 3 November 2022
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A surgery in South Norwood, south London has been rated as Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission. It remains in special measures after a second CQC inspection.

South Norwood Hill Medical Centre was rated Inadequate for being safe and well-led, Requires Improvement for being caring and responsive to people’s needs and Good for being effective.

It was previously inspected in May 2016, and later that year placed in special measures. Inspectors found in this year’s follow up inspection that insufficient improvements had been made.

The practice now must make improvements in the following areas:

  • It must monitor, mitigate and manage risk of infection, staff areas and cleaning chemicals.
  • Ensure medicines are managed safely, including the use of valid Patient Group Direction for all nurses providing vaccinations.
  • Retain recruitment records for all staff employed in the carrying on of regulated activity.
  • Non-permanent staff must receive training and records of this training must be kept.
  • Effectively record, handle and respond to complaints.

The practice should also: Repeat the audit of post-operative infection rates; Monitor and continue to take action to improve patient satisfaction.

Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices, said:

“I am concerned and disappointed that South Norwood Hill Medical Centre has remained in special measures. It was originally placed in special measures in May 2016. Insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of Inadequate for safe, well led and overall. The service will be kept under review and where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within six months and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action."

“On a slightly more positive note staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment and there was evidence of personal development plans for staff. Patient outcomes were above average compared to the national average. Overall cleanliness had improved but the overall infection control arrangements remained insufficient.”

You can read the report in full on our website.

Ends

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About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.