A GP practice in East London has been rated as Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission.
Dr Surinder Babbar’s practice in Ilford, also known as The Courtland Surgery, has been moved into special measures, following the CQC inspection in January 2017.
CQC’s inspection team found that patients were at risk of harm. There were concerns in relation to safeguarding, chaperoning, infection control, medicine management, recruitment, fire and health and safety.
There was insufficient attention given to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. There was evidence that the practice did not always maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date records in respect of each patient.
The surgery, which has around 3,000 patients on its books, has been told it must now improve in a number of areas including:
- Ensure accurate, complete and contemporaneous records are maintained in respect of each patient.
- It must ensure that the premises and equipment are safe and all risks are assessed and mitigated. This includes undertaking risk assessments for fire, Legionella and the control of substances hazardous to health.
- Ensure there are processes for identifying, recording, investigating and sharing learning from incidents.
- Ensure confidential patient information is stored securely and ensure the security of blank prescriptions forms.
Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, at CQC said:
“We are placing this service in special measures. Services placed in special measures will be inspected again within six months.
“The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action. Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within a
further six months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service by adopting our proposal to remove this location or cancel the provider’s registration. Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.
“We were pleased, however, that patients were positive about their interactions with staff and said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.”
Patients registered with practices being placed into special measures should be aware that support is offered by NHS England and the Royal College of GPs to ensure that there are no immediate risks to patient safety whilst improvements are being made.
A full report of this inspection has been published.
Ends
For media enquiries, contact Ray Cooling, Regional Engagement Manager (London), on 020 7448 9136 or call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours. Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. (Please note: the duty press officer is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters). For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.