GP practice run by large Midlands provider shut down by CQC

The CQC has 'varied' the registration of primary care provider Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services to shut down with immediate effect an inadequate practice run by the organisation.

Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services, which runs GP services at four other locations, was barred from providing in-hours GP services at the Kirkby Community Primary Care Centre from 2 October following an unannounced inspection which unearthed serious failings.

The provider, a non-profit organisation, describes itself as providing health and social care 'for the local community on behalf of the NHS and local government'.

The CQC said an alternative provider was looking to add the service to its registration to ensure ‘minimum disruption’ to patients. NHS England and Mansfield and Ashfield CCG have put in place temporary arrangements for all patients concerned in the interim.

The practice was initially rated ‘inadequate’ and placed in special measures after its first inspection in May, but inspectors found that – although some improvements had since been made – there were still areas of ‘serious concern’ in their follow-up on 30 September.

They deemed that the practice was in breach of two Health and Social Care Act regulations for failing to provide ‘safe care and treatment’ and ‘good governance’.

Map: CQC GP ratings

Among the failures, CQC said the practice had not provided patients with essential medicines needed to treat their conditions and had put children’s health at risk through ‘worsening performance in administering childhood vaccinations’.

Janet Williamson, deputy chief inspector of general practice, said the CQC ‘would not stand for poor care’.

'People are entitled to GP services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care,’ she said. ‘The failings we witnessed at Kirkby Community Primary Care Centre were completely unacceptable.

‘The service was placing patients at significant risk of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care and made no attempt to address the issues we identified. For this reason we had no option but to cancel the registration.

‘We are working closely with partner agencies to ensure that patients continue to receive the service they are entitled to. We are aware that an alternative provider is in the process of adding this service to its registration and GP services have continued at the site to ensure the continuation of patient care with minimal disruption.’

Photo: iStock

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