Essex GP practice is rated as Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found the quality of care provided by Dr Suntharalingam at The Health Centre on London Road, Tilbury, to be Inadequate following an inspection carried out in May.

Dr Suntharalingam’s practice provides medical care to approximately 2,200 patients living in and around Tilbury. The practice population is slightly younger than the national average with higher representation amongst the under 18 age group.

A full report of the inspection has been published today.

Under CQC’s new programme of inspections, all of England’s GP practices are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led. The practice was rated Requires Improvement regarding whether services were caring and Inadequate regarding whether services were responsive, safe, effective and well led. This resulted in an overall rating of Inadequate.

The report on Dr Suntharalingam’s practice highlights a number of areas where improvements are needed, these include:

• A robust system must be in place to ensure the service is clean and safe for patients.
• Recruitment arrangements must include all necessary employment checks for all staff.
• Systems must be implemented to ensure all clinicians are kept up to date with national guidance and guidelines.
• Suitable arrangements must be in place to ensure equipment is safe and suitable for use.
• Formal governance arrangements must be in place including systems for assessing and monitoring risks and the quality of the service provision, for example; to ensure medicines are in date and suitable for use.
• The practice must clarify its leadership structure and ensure there is leadership capacity to deliver all improvements.
• Staff must follow appropriate policies and guidance to carry out their roles in a safe and effective manner.

CQC has been working closely with NHS England and NHS Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group to support the practice whilst it addresses the issues identified by the inspection.

Janet Williamson, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice and Dentistry in CQC’s Central region said:

“It is important that the people who are registered with this practice can rely on getting the high quality care which everyone is entitled to receive from their GP.

“We know that the practice has acknowledged the areas where action must be taken and the service has been making efforts to improve. We will return to check its progress. If in the coming months we don’t see sufficient improvement we may have to consider a package of further measures to ensure that this practice delivers the care and treatment to a standard that we all expect."

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