North West London GP practice rated as Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the Clarence Medical Centre in Brent, North West London, as Inadequate and has placed the provider into special measures following an inspection in September 2015.

Placement into special measures means that the provider must now make necessary improvements or face action that could result in closure.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all primary medical services in England are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The full report from the Clarence Medical Centre inspection has been published on this website.

Clarence Medical Centre provides primary medical services to around 1,200 patients within the Kilburn area of Brent, including a high proportion of families with children aged under 16 years that are classified as living in poverty.

CQC inspectors found that the practice did not have suitable arrangements in place to ensure medicines were administered safely.  A number of concerns were identified including over prescribing of antibiotics in comparison to other local practices, failure to carry out checks required to protect patients from the dangers associated with high risk medication, and a lack of awareness of local antibiotic prescribing guidelines.

Although inspectors observed that practice premises were clean and tidy, there were no cleaning records or schedules available.  Although an infection control policy was in place, it had not been reviewed since July 2013, and an infection control audit had not been completed since January 2014.

However, patients told CQC inspectors that staff responded compassionately when they needed help and provided support when required.  Patients said they felt the practice offered a good service and that staff were helpful, caring and treated them with dignity and respect.

Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice:

"When we are faced with a provider that is experiencing difficulties in providing adequate care for patients, our first instinct is to work with them to ensure that patient care improves.

“We are confident that the Clarence Medical Centre will take any necessary action to address the concerns we identified during our most recent inspection.

“In particular, the provider must ensure that all medicines are administered and prescribed safely, and that all GPs understand antibiotic prescribing guidelines.

“The practice infection control policy must be up to date and full infection control audits must be completed regularly.

“We will re-inspect within six months to check whether sufficient improvements have been made. If sufficient improvements have not been made and there remains a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take further action which may include closure.”

Ends

For further information please contact Yetunde Akintewe, CQC Regional Engagement Manager, on 07471 020 659. For media enquiries, journalists wishing to speak to the press office outside of office hours can find out how to contact the team here. For general enquiries, please call 03000 61 61 61.