An Islington practice, that looks after more than 3,000 patients, has been rated as Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission.
Dr Tahir Haffiz’s surgery - also known as The Barnsbury Medical Practice - was rated Inadequate for being effective and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being safe and responsive and Good for being caring, following the inspection in October 2017.
CQC’s key findings included:
Patient feedback indicated there were frequent delays with appointments.
There were shortfalls in planning and providing services to meet the needs of the local population.
The delivery of high quality care is not assured by the leadership, governance and culture in place.
Patient outcomes were significantly below local and national averages and had not improved. There were no detailed or realistic plans in place to bring about improvement.
Although risks to patients were assessed, the systems to address these risks were not implemented well enough to ensure patients were kept safe.
There was insufficient evidence that learning from significant events and other relevant information was shared appropriately.
There was a limited programme of clinical audit to drive improvement.
The areas where the practice must make improvement includes:
- Ensuring care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establishing effective systems and processes to ensure good governance - in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
The areas were the practice should make improvement include:
- Inform patients of the availability of chaperones and translation services. Review the current system to ensure that all staff members receive annual appraisals.
- Review the current system of recording clinical and practice meetings, so that relevant information is shared appropriately.
- Record verbal as well as written complaints.
- Consider how patients who wish to see a female practitioner at the practice can do so.
- Establish a process to contact patients who do not attend for their cervical screening test.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices, said:
“We previously inspected this practice in April 2015 and it was rated Good overall. It is concerning that it has now been rated Inadequate overall, though I note it has been rated Good for caring.
“We are placing this practice in special measures. Practices placed in special measures will be inspected again within six months. During that time the practice will be given the support it needs to improve.”
You can read the inspection report in full on our website.
Ends
For further information please contact Ray Cooling, Regional Engagement Manager (London), on 020 7448 9136 or call the press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours.
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.