A GP practice in Forest Gate in the London borough of Newham continues to be rated Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection in January 2017.
Dr SKS Swedan & Partner, in Woodgrange Road, was rated Inadequate for being safe and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being responsive and Good for being effective and caring.
This most recent inspection follows one in May 2016 when the practice was first placed into special measures.
In January 2017 CQC inspectors found that at the practice:
- There was limited staff cover and failsafe systems to ensure results were received for all samples sent for the cervical cancer screening programme had lapsed.
- Patients did not always find it easy to make an appointment or get through to the practice by telephone.
- There were concerns around staff time keeping and conduct.
- Not all patients were being treated with dignity and respect.
- There was evidence of systematic problems such as breakdowns in working relationships and divides between staff.
Professor Ursula Gallagher, CQC Deputy Chief Inspector of GP Practices, said:
“This service was placed in special measures after our previous inspection our previous inspection on 10 May 2016. Insufficient improvements have been made since then such that there remains a rating of inadequate. The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action. Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within six months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service."
“However, patients said they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. Patient Participation Group (PPG) members were happy with the clinical care they received from GPs but raised concerns relating to leadership and governance at the practice. Information about how to complain was available and easy to understand and evidence showed the practice responded quickly to issues raised. The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.”
You can read the report in full on our website.
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