The Care Quality Commission have announced measures that mean that failing GP practices will now face closure. Last year the CQC carried out the first national inspection of GP practices in England in advance of a wider inspection due to start this year. Of the 900 surgeries inspected last year, 80% were known to have problems with some concerns being longstanding.
The CQC findings identified the clear need for there to be proper regulation of GP practices. One in three of the surgeries inspected were found to have issues that caused concern about patient care and safety. Issues included poor standards in the handling of medicines and cleanliness. Nine of the GP practices had problems so serious that there were risks to many patients. Following on from these findings the CQC have now announced measures to ensure that action is taken where GP practices fail to meet adequate standards. Starting from October 2014 all 8000 GP practices in England will be inspected over the next couple of years and given ratings of outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. Failing GP practices found to be inadequate will be given six months to improve standards or face being put on 'special measures', a system already in place for hospital Trusts that fail to meet the expected standards. The GP practices will then have six months on special measures to improve standards or face closure.
Manori Wellington comments :"It is good to see that action will now be taken against those GP practices that the CQC inspectors identify as inadequate. This is a very positive step in improving patient care. GPs provide an invaluable frontline service to patients and the intention seems to be to give GP practices a wider role in providing medical care in the community. Some say that targets do not help doctors to get on with what they have to do day by day and no doubt GPs must start out hoping to provide excellent care to their patients. However in some cases that does not happen and there has to be a regulatory process in place to identify and take action against those failing GP practices. GP practices are made up of the GPs that run the practice and if they are struggling to meet adequate standards in the practice overall then that must raise question marks about the individual care that they give to patients."
Manori Wellington comments :"It is good to see that action will now be taken against those GP practices that the CQC inspectors identify as inadequate. This is a very positive step in improving patient care. GPs provide an invaluable frontline service to patients and the intention seems to be to give GP practices a wider role in providing medical care in the community. Some say that targets do not help doctors to get on with what they have to do day by day and no doubt GPs must start out hoping to provide excellent care to their patients. However in some cases that does not happen and there has to be a regulatory process in place to identify and take action against those failing GP practices. GP practices are made up of the GPs that run the practice and if they are struggling to meet adequate standards in the practice overall then that must raise question marks about the individual care that they give to patients."
Manori Wellington has specialised in making medical negligence claims for Claimants for over 15 years including claims against GPs.