GP surgery in Boston judged '˜inadequate' put in special measures

The Westside Surgery based at Sleaford Road Medical Centre has been awarded an overall rating of ‘inadequate’ in a report published on Thursday. It follows a CQC inspection on November 30 last year.

Inspectors rated it as ‘inadequate’ in the areas of safety, effectiveness and whether it was well-led. They also said it ‘required improvement’ when it came to responsiveness - but did judge the practice ‘good’ for caring.

Practice manager Karen Brooks said: “Really, everything they found in the report we have rectified the very next day.”

The main areas where the provider must make improvements are: to review patient safety alerts and ensure patients prescribed high-risk medicines are monitored appropriately; also to ensure there is system where uncollected prescriptions are brought to the attention of a GP. Prescription forms and pads were stored securely but the practice needs to make sure their use is monitored, said the report. It must also ensure all necessary employment checks are made when recruiting new staff. The practice must also ensure clinical mail is reviewed and new medicines added to patient records by an appropriate clinician as this was highlighted as not always being done.

A number of other improvements were also expected including ensuring patients find it easier to get through on the phone and pre-book a non-emergency appointment.

As a result of the findings Chief Inspector of GPs Prof Steve Field has placed the practice in ‘special measures’ and it will be inspected again within six months. If insufficient improvements have been made, further action can be taken which could ultimately lead to closing it down or varying the terms of its registration.

Tracy Pilcher, Chief Nurse for Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group (of which Westside Surgery is part), expressed disappointment at the findings, but said: “These areas have either been resolved or are being addressed by the practice with the full support of Lincolnshire East CCG. We will continue to offer support to the practice and we will review and monitor its progress. We would like to assure patients of our commitment to commissioning the highest quality, safe care for everyone.”