CQC requires urgent improvement from Liverpool Health Centre

18 June 2014

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Baycliffe Family Heath Centre that they must make urgent improvements to ensure the practice is meeting national standards.

Inspectors visited the practice on Baycliffe Road in Liverpool in May this year in response to information of concern regarding the quality and safety of services being provided.

The visiting inspection team reviewed a sample of care records, observed how people received care and treatment, and also spoke to patients and members of staff.

The CQC’s inspection report, which is published today, identifies that the the practice was failing to meet all five of the national standards inspectors reviewed.

Some of the issues of concern identified by our inspectors included:

• There was a lack of systems available to effectively monitor patients with long term conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and those with mental health needs.
• Medication and equipment supplies were not being monitored and inspectors found large amounts of out of date stock and medication were being stored for use at the practice. All out of date medication has since been disposed of.
• The practice was failing to ensure that patients in receipt of end of life care received coordinated care from other agencies such as the local district nurse service.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (previously known as CRB checks) had not been completed for any of the staff working at the practice, and there was no evidence that staff had undertaken any kind of formal induction or probationary period of employment.
• The practice did not have a system in place to assess and monitor the quality of service provided, or to identify, assess and manage risks.
• Patient records which included confidential information were not always being stored securely.

As a result of the inspection, CQC has issued three formal warnings to Baycliffe Family Health Centre requiring improvements in relation to care and welfare of patients, recruitment procedures and the assessment and monitoring of service provision.

The provider must also take action to address shortfalls against the additional two standards that are not being met.

Sue McMillan, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Primary Medical Services in the North, said:

“We were extremely disappointed to find these shortfalls against national standards and have warned Baycliffe Family Health Centre that immediate improvements must be made.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and we will inspect again in the near future to ensure that all concerns have been addressed and that patients are being given the service they are entitled to expect.

“If we find that the practice has not made the required improvements we will consider the need for further regulatory action as neccessary.”

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes

Ends

For further information please contact the Kirstin Hannaford, CQC Regional Communications Manager on 0191 233 3629 or 07825947160.

The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143