CQC takes urgent action against a Scunthorpe GP practice

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent action to remove the registration of a Scunthorpe GP practice which was failing to safely care for patients.

A specialist team of inspectors visited Market Hill 8-8 Centre, operated by Danum Medical Services Limited, and found it was not providing safe care and treatment. The practice was inspected in January 2016 by an inspection team which included a GP, a pharmacist and a practice nurse as specialist advisors.

There were insufficient systems in place to appropriately safeguard patients from potential risks – patients did not always get the treatment they needed. A review of care records identified serious concerns with the management of some vulnerable patients and access to services and appointments was frequently problematic, patients experienced unacceptable wait times. There was no evidence of any investigations being conducted following complaints, or any actions to prevent reoccurrence, there was no clinical leadership at the practice – and little or no clinical governance systems were in place. There was no effective system for identifying, capturing and managing issues and risks to patient safety.

The service was rated as Inadequate for providing services that were safe, effective, responsive to people’s needs and well-led, and Requires Improvement for being caring. Overall, Market Hill 8-8 Centre has been rated as Inadequate, the service was also rated Inadequate for the services provided to all population groups.

On 12 January 2016, due to the serious concerns identified, CQC took urgent action to vary the conditions of provider’s registration, preventing the provider, Danum Medical Services Limited, from providing GP services at Market Hill 8 - 8 Centre. NHS England immediately made alternative arrangements for care provision at the practice, on a temporary basis until a new provider is appointed, to ensure patient safety.

A full report of this inspection has been published on the CQC website today.

Sue McMillan, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice said:

“The care we found being provided by Danum Medical Services Limited, at Market Hill 8 - 8 Centre, was simply not good enough. There were many aspects of care that were not safe and put patients at risk of avoidable harm.

“The practice had failed to ensure patient safety, and we were left with no other choice but to take urgent action and remove the location from the provider’s registration.”

Ends

For further information please contact CQC Regional Communications Officer Mark Humphreys on 0191 233 3519 or 07881656012.

Journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here.

Please note: the press office is unable to advise members of the public on health or social care matters. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent action to remove the registration of a Scunthorpe GP practice which was failing to safely care for patients.