Smethwick GP surgery rated inadequate in latest inspection
A doctor's surgery which failed to sufficiently act on concerns about child safeguarding issues has been rated inadequate by the health watchdog.
Norvic Family Practice, also known as Victoria Health Centre, in Suffrage Street, Smethwick, was given the bottom rating by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection.
A report said: “There was insufficient attention to safeguarding. Staff did not recognise or respond appropriately to possible abuse.”
The medical practice was rated inadequate for its safety and leadership, resulting in it being given the overall red rating.
Read the CQC report here
CQC inspectors graded it as ‘requiring improvement’ for the ‘responsive’ and ‘effective’ categories, while its quality of care was rated as ‘good’.
The practice declined to comment on the report, which followed an inspection on January 16.
The inspectors were critical that the medical practice did not ‘adequately’ consider safeguarding risks to children.
Their report continued: “There was insufficient attention to safeguarding children. Staff did not recognise or respond appropriately to possible concerns.
"We saw evidence that the practice escalated concerns to midwives if children were not brought into the practice for their routine immunisations.
"However, anonymised records we viewed showed that 28 children had not attended hospital appointments and the practice had not adequately considered the safeguarding risks to these children.
But the report did add: “There were some arrangements for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults that reflected relevant legislation and local requirements.”
There was also issues with chaperones at the medical practice not undergoing Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks beforehand.
But inspectors were praising of the practice for its care and communication with patients.
“Staff communicated with patients in a way that they could understand,” the report said.
The CQC report also highlighted that risk assessments relating to fire, health and safety had not been carried out.
It continued: "Patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not in place or were not effective to keep them safe. For example, monitoring of patients on high risk medicines."
