Latest inspection by governing body highlights failures in three areas
Northfields Surgery 61 Northfields Avenue
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An Ealing GP Surgery has been downgraded and told it must improve following concerns over safety, responsiveness and management of the practice.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the registered body that inspects and regularly rates every GP surgery in the country. These inspections include speaking to patients and staff, checking paperwork, policies and observing care. Surgeries can be given results from the highest level - ‘Outstanding’ to ‘Requires Improvement’.
The CQC carried out an announced inspection at Dr D Cowen & Partners - Northfields Surgery at 61 Northfields Avenue on 7, 8 and 9 December 2021. The last inspection had been conducted 6 years ago in 2016 and then the surgery was declared to be '' good''. The CQC say they reviewed the information available about Dr D Cowen & Partners on 20 June 2019 and state, ''We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time.''
Results from the latest
report following the December 2021 inspection have just been published and a number of areas were highlighted as a matter of concern. These included inadequate safeguarding training, poor record keeping and recruitment checks including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) were not always carried out as they should. Patients were not able to access the telephone system ''in a timely manner'' and complaints were not responded to in writing and the register was not ''maintained appropriately''.
Catchment area for Northfields Surgery
Some reviews from patients of the Surgery reflect CQC concerns, the google summary gives it 2.4 stars with a majority of negative comments. An anonymous reviewer on the NHS review site wrote: "Medical Staff Above and Beyond Excellent! As for the Management dealing with the Administration of Reception Staff, Answering calls, responding to questions and emails this is below standard, unprofessional and below any standard of patient care.''
Another person, writing in December stated it was ''terrible service''
however a more positive comment can be found (from 2021) when a patient wrote expressing gratitude to everyone at the surgery.
Assessing five different areas, the CQC found two areas were ''good'' namely the practice was rated as effective and caring, however, three areas needed improvement - and there were two breaches of regulations and the CQC state the provider must now:
- Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
- Ensure recruitment procedures are established and operated effectively to ensure only fit and proper persons are employed.
The CQC has a number of enforcement powers ''
to protect the public and hold registered providers and managers to account.'' The practice
must now respond to the areas of concern that the CQC identified, develop an action plan to address them and make improvements.
The CQC say they will follow up on any action care providers are told to take. This could mean a further focussed inspection.
Northfields Surgery
We have tried to contact Northfields Surgery by email and phone for their response to the CQC report and will update once a reply is received.
Annemarie Flanagan
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February 10, 2022
