Picture: Google Maps.
Dr. Joseph’s, in Chase Cross Road, was rated as “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in March and the practice’s contract has been terminated by local commissioners.
Signs were put up at the surgery yesterday, telling patients to contact nearby North Street Health Care, which is temporarily providing care and treatment for the more than 2,500 patients at Dr. Joseph’s.
The CQC carried out a “comprehensive inspection” in January, following breaches of regulations during a previous inspection in August 2017.
Inspectors found that:
:: The practice did not have clear systems, practices, and processes to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.
:: There were inadequate systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
:: Staff did not have the information they needed to deliver safe care and treatment and this posed a serious risk of harm to patients
:: Patients were put at serious risk of harm as a result because the practice did not have systems for the appropriate and safe use of medicines
:: The practice did not have a system to learn and make improvements when things went wrong.
:: Patients were put at serious risk of harm because national safety alerts were not being actioned and implemented by the practice.
:: There were ineffective systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
:: Recruitment checks were not carried out in accordance with regulations (including for agency staff and locums).
:: The practice did not have a health and safety or premises risk assessment to ensure the building is safe for use by staff and patients.
Dr. Joseph’s was rated inadequate in terms of being well-led, safety, and effectiveness. It requires improvement in its care and responsiveness categories.
Inspectors also found that the surgery was failing every demographic: People with long term conditions; families, children and young people; older people; working age people (including those recently retired and students); people experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia); people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.
A new sign has been put up on the door of Dr. Joseph’s.
A spokesperson from Havering Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “Following concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission, the CCG has taken the decision to terminate the contract of Dr. Joseph’s practice, who was providing family doctor services out of Chase Cross Road.
“The most important thing now is to provide care for those patients registered at the practice. With immediate effect, these family doctor services are being temporarily provided at North Street Medical Care, 274 North Street, Romford, RM1 4QJ.
“Patients can contact the practice on: 01708 932846 and staff will be able to provide services or advice.
“We fully support the principle that all healthcare providers should be held to account for the quality of care they give to local people, while supporting GPs to meet contractual and legislative requirements. However, in this instance these efforts were unsuccessful.
“All registered patients of Dr Joseph will receive a letter shortly confirming these arrangements. We were unable to do this in advance of the move to North Street and we are sorry if this has caused any confusion for patients.”
