CQC requires urgent improvement from Merseyside GP

1 May 2014

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Doctor Manuel Enrique Martin Hierro that he must make urgent improvements to ensure he meets national standards. 

Inspectors who visited the GP’s practice at Woodchurch in the Wirral, Merseyside in March this year in response to information of concern regarding delayed referrals to other health professionals.

Visiting inspectors 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 provider, Doctor Manuel Enrique Martin Hierro was failing to meet all seven of the national standards inspectors reviewed.

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

• The electronic alert system on patient records designed to alert staff when patients need further tests or medication reviews did not always work effectively or provide accurate information. For example, inspectors found four cases where patients had not received a medication review when due.
• A review of patient records showed that there had been delays in referals for patients when they required consulations or tests by secondary care providers such as hospitals.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Checks (previously known as CRB checks) had not been completed for all staff and there was no evidence that staff had undertaken any kind of formal induction or probationary period of employment.
• There was no clinical or personal supervision available for staff and training for the majority of staff was out of date.
• 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 two formal warnings to Doctor Manuel Enrique Martin Hierro requiring improvements in relation to recruitment procedures care and the assessment and monitoring of service provision.

The provider must also take action to address shortfalls against the additional five 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 Dr Hierro 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 Dr Hierro 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.

END

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

Notes to editors:

Read the full report here.

The Care Quality Commission has issued warnings to Dr Manuel Enrique Martin Hierro in relation to the following two regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010:

• Regulation 10, Assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision
• Regulation 21, Requirements relating to workers