CQC rates Central London surgery as Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the Bayswater Medical Centre in Westminster, Central London, as Inadequate and has placed the provider into special measures following an inspection in June 2015.

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

During the inspection process, CQC found that the provider was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, well-led and responsive to people’s needs.

Under CQC’s new 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.

A full report from the inspection has been published on this website.

CQC found that appropriate recruitment checks on staff had not been undertaken prior to employment. Staff were not clear about how to report incidents, near misses or concerns and there was no clear leadership structure or evidence of learning or development.

Patients said they experienced significant difficulties when booking appointments, were unclear about appointment availability and had to endure very long waiting periods before being seen. However, patients said they were treated with dignity and respect and the provider has been responsive to CQC inspection feedback.

Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in London:

“It is essential that Bayswater Medical Centre takes urgent action to address the concerns we identified during the last inspection. All providers have a responsibility to ensure that all patients are safe and have access to care that meets their needs.

“When we are faced with a provider that is failing to care for patients properly, our first instinct is to work with them to ensure that patient care improves.

“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, 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. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.