A GP practice serving patients in Waltham Forest and Hackney has been rated Inadequate overall by the Care Quality Commission.
Vicarage Road Medical Centre has been rated Inadequate for being safe, effective and well-led. It was rated Requires Improvement for being caring and responsive, after the inspection in November 2017.
CQC found that:
Childhood immunisation uptake was below national averages.
There was no clinical oversight from the GP in the Quality Outcome Framework exception reporting process.
Arrangements for alternative clinical cover were not always in place.
The national GP patient survey showed that patients rated services provided by the nurse and access to appointments below the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and national averages.
The practice did not have up to date personnel records for locum staff members.
There was minimal management oversight in staff training and completed training such as child safeguarding and infection control was out of date.
However, inspectors did find that staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. And there was an active patient participation group.
The areas where the practice must now make improvements are:
- Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
- Ensure the most recent CQC rating is clearly displayed.
Areas where the provider should make improvements are:
- Work to improve the uptake of childhood immunisations.
- Work to improve patient satisfaction with services provided.
Acting Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice, Michele Golden, said:
“We are placing this service in special measures. Services placed in special measures will be inspected again within six months. Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve."
“However, the service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action.”
You can read the 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.