Care Quality Commission sets out the parameters of its review of Take Care Now’s out-of-hours GP services

10 June 2009

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today outlines the scope of its review of the provision and commissioning of out-of-hours GP services run by Take Care Now.

The work was triggered by the tragic case of Mr David Gray, a patient who was treated by a locum doctor from Germany and died following the administration of 100mg of diamorphine.

The CQC will look at the service generally, focusing on current systems, including contractual and monitoring arrangements between primary care trusts (PCTs) and Take Care Now, as well as changes made after recent incidents.

It will also conduct a retrospective review of events to ensure that all appropriate factors have been identified, that lessons have been learnt and to establish whether further improvements are needed.

Specifically, the CQC will examine key elements of the Take Care Now service including: management of calls and the response to them; staffing arrangements; pharmacy arrangements and the supply of medicines; commissioning arrangements, particularly governance and quality checks in place for monitoring the contract; how PCTs identify and act upon patient safety incidents.

Christine Braithwaite, Head of Investigations and Enforcement at the CQC, said:

“We have clear reasons to review where patients have suffered harm, and will rigorously identify where things went wrong.

“We need to make sure that both Take Care Now and the PCTs that commission its services have identified the problems, learnt lessons from them and made robust improvements as a result.

“Our number one concern is the safety of patients, and we will be looking closely at the contributory factors to the care provided in specific cases, as well as thoroughly examining the current systems in place. If we find areas of concern that require immediate attention, we will not hesitate to use our powers to make sure the safety of patients is not compromised.”

As part of its work, the CQC will conduct telephone interviews with people who have used services provided by Take Care Now, and also current and former Take Care Now and PCT staff. People interested in talking to the Care Quality Commission can email mark.tempest@cqc.org.uk or telephone 0207 448 9207 if they think that they might have relevant information to contribute.

The CQC will report on the findings of its work in due course.

Ends

For further information please contact Emma Reynolds in the CQC press office on 0207 448 9040 or on 07917 232 143 after hours.

Notes to editors

Several primary care trusts (PCTs) commission services from Take Care Now to supply doctors as general practitioners providing out-of-hours care. These include:

• NHS Suffolk

• NHS Worcestershire

• NHS Great Yarmouth & Waveney

• NHS Cambridgeshire

• NHS South West Essex (in partnership with East of England Ambulance Service)

The CQC will also look at the arrangements in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT for their performers list and their responsibility as a holder of this list.