A Dagenham GP practice, that has 2,700 patients, faces closure if it does not improve, after two Inadequate overall inspection ratings this year from the Care Quality Commission.
Dr Alok Mittal’s practice in Markyate Road was rated Inadequate in all categories: for being safe; effective; caring; responsive and well-led, following the inspection in September 2017. This followed an inspection earlier in 2017 when the practice was place in special measures in a bid to help it improve.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices, said:
“It is very disappointing that at our most recent inspection we found insufficient evidence of improvement and we identified further serious concerns at Dr Alok Mittal’s practice."
“Therefore we are taking action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service. This will lead to cancelling their registration or to varying the terms of their registration within six months, if they do not improve.”
Inspectors’ key findings included:
CQC had serious concerns about the overall leadership of the practice and their ability to facilitate and sustain improvement.
Patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not implemented in a way to keep them safe.
Evidence showed that care and treatment was not always delivered in line with recognised professional standards and guidelines.
Patient outcomes were hard to identify as little or no reference was made to audits or quality improvement.
Data from the national GP patient survey showed patients rated the practice lower than others for many aspects of care and they had in some cases got worse since our January 2017 inspection.
Areas where the provider must make improvements are:
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
The practice should also:
- Consider ways to improve bowel and breast cancer screening uptake rates to bring it in line with local and national averages.
- Consider GP provision for access to a female GP.
You can read the latest inspection report in full on our website.
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...we identified further serious concerns at Dr Alok Mittal’s practice
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices