A Brent medical centre has been suspended by the Care Quality Commission after it was rated 'inadequate' in a recent inspection.

Kings Edge Medical Centre in Stag Lane, Kingsbury , was placed into special measures by the Chief Inspector of General Practice after inspectors rated it 'Inadequate' in an inspection in February.

Inspectors found that patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not in place to keep them safe, while there were also concerns relating to incident reporting, safeguarding and chaperoning.

Whilst inspecting the surgery, inspectors also found:

  • There were serious concerns relating infection control, vaccines and medicines management, recruitment, staffing and dealing with emergencies

  • Patient feedback was mostly negative and they said they were not always treated with dignity and compassion

  • The appointment system was not working well

  • The practice had no clear leadership structure

The QQC identified a number of areas where the practice must make improvements, including developing a strategy to improve services for patients, ensuring recruitment arrangements include the necessary employment checks for all staff, and putting systems in place to ensure clinicians are kept up to date with national guidance and guidelines.

Ursula Gallagher, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice in CQC’s London region said: "It is important that the people who are registered at Kings Edge Medical Centre can rely on getting the high quality care which everyone is entitled to receive from their GP.

"We have now placed the practice into special measures – which means we will inspect again in six months’ time.

"This will enable the practice to access all the support it needs via NHS England, using the vulnerable practices scheme."

There are no immediate risks to patient safety at the practice whilst improvements are being made and the practices will not close.

getwestlondon has tried to contact Kings Edge Medical Centre for a comment on the findings.