CQC rates East London GP as Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Dr Abul Kashem Mohammed Zakaria from the Upper Road Medical Centre in Newham, East 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 and well-led.

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 today.

CQC found that the provider had a poor approach to risk management and a lack of effective control measures to maintain and improve patient safety. Inspectors found that an infection control audit was not in place, patients did not have access to a female GP, oxygen was not available on the premises nor did staff have knowledge of basic life support training in order to respond to medical emergencies.

Patient medical records were incomplete and did not fully document the treatment and care provided.

The GP conducted joint injections for the treatment of arthritis but was not registered with CQC to carry out regulated surgical procedures.

There was also no clear leadership structure; however, patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Information about services and how to complain was also readily available and easy to understand.

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

“It is essential that Dr Abul Kashem Mohammed Zakaria 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 involve 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.