North West London GP rated as Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Dr SL Datoo, of the Watford Way Medical Centre in Barnet, North West London, as Inadequate and has placed the provider into special measures following an inspection in August 2015.

Placement into special measures means that the provider must now make necessary improvements or face action that could result in closure.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all primary medical services in England are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The full report from the Dr SL Datoo inspection has been published on the CQC website.

CQC inspectors found that the practice had not reviewed its written policies and procedures for monitoring and managing risks to patient and staff safety since 2007, with many being incomplete or not in line with required legislation.

The Health and Safety policy was not up to date; the practice had no fire risk assessment and had not undertaken a fire drill.

Although inspectors observed that the practice was clean and tidy, cleaning checklists and cleaning schedules were not in use. There had been no infection control audit within the last 12 months.

Patients were not protected from abuse or improper treatment, due to a lack of appropriate safeguarding training for non-clinical staff.

However, patients were positive about their interactions with staff and said they were treated with compassion and dignity.

Staff told inspectors that if families had suffered bereavement, their usual GP contacted them or sent them a sympathy card. This was followed by a patient consultation at a

flexible time and location to offer help and support or by signposting to appropriate services.

Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

"When we are faced with a provider that is experiencing difficulties in providing adequate care for patients, our first instinct is to work with them to ensure that patient care improves.

“We are confident that Dr SL Datoo will take any necessary action to address the concerns we identified during our most recent inspection.

“In particular, the provider must ensure processes and up to date policies are introduced to ensure that patients are protected from risk, abuse and improper treatment.

“We will re-inspect within six months to check whether sufficient improvements have been made. If sufficient improvements have not been made and there remains a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take further action which may include closure.”

Ends

For further information please contact Yetunde Akintewe, CQC Regional Engagement Manager, on 07471 020 659.  For media enquiries, journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here.  For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.