Watford Way Medical Centre in Hendon north-west London has been rated Inadequate overall by the care Quality Commission - and suspended for six months.
The practice, run by Dr Safderali Lalji Datoo, in the London Borough of Barnet, was rated Inadequate for being safe effective and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being responsive and Good for being caring, during the inspection in June 2017.
CQC’s key findings at the practice, which has approximately 2,150 registered patients, included:
Nationally recognised guidance, particularly in relation to medicines management, was not always adhered to.
There was a risk that patients would receive medicines that were not appropriate to their current needs due to out of date prescriptions being given to patients.
Patients were at risk of harm, particularly those taking high risk medicines, because if patients did not collect their prescriptions, there was no follow up by the practice.
Inspectors found examples of poor care for vulnerable patients with a lack of detail in patient notes and no care plans in place.
Information about services and how to complain was available. However there was confusion with regard to what was documented as a complaint.
However, patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
The areas where the provider must make improvements include:
- Ensuring the care and treatment of patients is appropriate, meets their needs and reflects their preferences.
- Establishing effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
The provider should also:
- Improve staff understanding of what constitutes a complaint and record complaints accordingly.
- Look at ways to improve on the results of the national GP patient survey.
Michele Golden, Head of General Practice Inspection in London, said:
“Significant improvements were still required at Dr Safderali Lalji Datoo’s practice, especially in the areas of medicines management, record keeping and following national guidance."
“On 21 July 2017 because of significant concerns we took urgent enforcement action to suspend Dr Safderali Lalji Datoo for a period of six months to protect patients.”
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Significant improvements were still required at Dr Safderali Lalji Datoo’s practice
Michele Golden, Head of General Practice Inspection in London