GP surgery rated inadequate after watchdog highlights series of failings
A GP surgery that looks after thousands of patients has been put into special measures after a string of failings.
Moxley Medical Centre, based in Queen Street, Wednesbury, received an inadequate rating following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.
Inspectors raised concerns over the practice’s storage of medicine and the practice's limited knowledge of the number of children identified on the child protection register.
They also said the centre, which has more than 3,000 patients, was “unable to demonstrate that all clinicians had the necessary skills and competencies to carry out the role they were performing”.
The report adds: “The practice had taken limited action to cover staff shortages.
“Not all blood results that were outside of the normal range had been acted upon or coded appropriately on the system.
"The practice did not monitor the prescribing of controlled drugs and was unable to articulate the arrangements in place for raising concerns around controlled drugs with the accountable officer.
“This issue was also identified during our previous inspection.
"Not all patients had received appropriate care and treatment in a timely manner, as not all patients had been referred to secondary care when required and abnormal or out of range blood results had not been acted upon.”
But the report says staff treated patients with kindness, respect and compassion and “patient satisfaction with access to appointments was in line with or above the local and national averages”.
The surgery was rated inadequate in three areas and good in two areas.
The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action. In November 2018, it was rated requires improvement overall.
A spokesman for Moxley Medical Centre said: “Following the CQC inspection and subsequent CQC report, significant changes have been implemented within the practice.
"Moxley Medical Centre has changed its leadership with the introduction of two approved new GP partners.
"The partners are currently developing and implementing a robust plan, to ensure that the services provided meet the quality of care required for a safe and well-led environment.
"This collective expertise and skill mix will support Moxley Medical Centre’s resilience and future sustainability.
"An Action Plan that includes these changes has been sent to the CQC, Walsall CCG and NHS England”.
