CQC rate Langford Medical Practice as Inadequate

England’s Chief Inspector of General Practice has placed an Oxfordshire GP practice into special measures following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

A specialist team of inspectors has been given the Langford Medical Practice in Nightingale Place, Bicester an overall rating of Inadequate. The practice has been placed into special measures.

Under CQC’s new programme of inspections, led by Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, all of England’s GP practices are being inspected and given a rating.

Langford Medical Practice was inspected in February by a CQC team which included a CQC lead inspector, a GP specialist adviser, a CQC pharmacist inspector, a specialist in practice management, a specialist in practice nursing and an expert by experience.

A full report of this inspection has been published on the CQC website today.

Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

“While patients we met spoke well of the care they received and the practice was found to be caring, we also found some significant areas of concern. I do not believe that the practice is likely to resolve its challenges without external support which it can receive through placing it in special measures. With the right support, this practice could improve significantly.

After a period of six months we will inspect again to check whether sufficient improvements have been made. If we find that the service provided by this practice remains inadequate, we will consider further enforcement action."

Dr Geoff Payne, Medical Director, NHS England, said:

“Although the CQC report rates services at the practice as good for being caring and responsive to people’s needs, there are areas of concern where more effective management is necessary, such as in the administration of records and medicines management. We will continue to work closely with the local Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and the practice to help ensure an action plan is quickly implemented to improve performance.

“We urge the 9,300 patients registered at Langford Medical Practice to continue to support the GP practice.”

The Care Quality Commission has identified 9 areas for improvement, including:

• Ensure that adequate recruitment procedures are in place in order to ensure that no person is employed, unless that person is physically and mentally fit for work.
• Ensure there are procedures in place for dealing with emergencies which are reasonably expected to arise from time to time. This includes a fully completed and up to date business continuity plan.
• Take action to review the whole regulation where breaches were identified in relation to medicines management that were raised in the previous compliance report of October 2014.

Ends

For media enquiries, contact John Scott, Regional Engagement Manager, on 077898 75809 or contact CQC’s press office on 020 7448 9401, during office hours, or, out of hours, on 0778 987 6508. For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.