A GP practice in Plaistow, east London, has three months to improve the quality of its care or it could face closure - according to the Care Quality Commission.
CQC inspectors again rated Dr Abul Kashem Mohammed Zakaria’s practice in Upper Road, Plaistow, Inadequate overall, after an inspection in November 2016.
Previously the practice, which serves 3,400 patients in the area, was rated Inadequate after an inspections in June 2015 and February 2016. This service was placed in special measures in August 2015 and for a second period following CQC’s inspection on 25 February 2016.
Following CQC’s most recent inspection on 17 November 2016 insufficient improvements have been made and there remain ratings of Inadequate for being safe and well-led.
Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, at CQC said: “The service remains in special measures and will be inspected again within three months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service. It will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action.
“At our inspection on 17 November 2016 we found some further improvement had been made, however there continued to be shortfalls in medical record keeping and we also found medicines were not always properly and safely managed. The provider had enlisted external help and support to enable it to strengthen leadership and governance and to address shortcomings in medical record keeping.
“An action plan was in place and progress was being made. However, until processes to maintain complete medical records were embedded people were at high risk of avoidable harm.”
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.
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