The Care Quality commission has rated the North Fulham Surgery as Inadequate overall. At a previous inspection it was rated Good.
The practice in Lillie Road, Fulham, was rated Inadequate for being safe, effective and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being responsive and Good for being caring, following the inspection in September 2019.
Inspectors found the practice did not have reliable systems and processes to keep patients safeguarded from abuse. The surgery did not have reliable infection prevention and control practices in place, and it did not have complete fire safety systems.
There were not appropriate systems for the safe management of medicines and the practice did not always and make improvements when things went wrong.
The practice was unable to show that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. Leaders could not show that they had the capacity and skills to deliver high quality sustainable care. There were not safe systems regarding the management of patients on high-risk medicines.
The provider did not have a safe or effective recruitment system in place and overall governance systems were ineffective. The practice did not always act upon appropriate and accurate information.
However, staff dealt with patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.
Areas where the practice must now make improvements include:
- Ensuring that care and treatment is provided in a safe way.
- Establishing effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
Head of Inspection for Primary Medical Services in London, Antony Hall, said: “It is always sad to see a practice that was once rated Good now rated Inadequate overall and placed in to special measures.
“We will inspect again within six months and if there has not been the required improvements, CQC could escalate to urgent enforcement action.”
“Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.”