A Hayes GP practice was deemed ‘Inadequate’ by inspectors and will now be placed on special measures.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) gave the damning rating to Kingsway Surgery, on Judge Heath Lane, after an inspection in November 2015. The report was published on January 28.

Under CQC’s programme of inspections, all GP practices in England are being given a rating according to whether they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

The Kingsway Surgery provides primary medical services to 4,000 patients within the London borough of Hillingdon.

Inspectors found the practice Inadequate for providing services that were safe, effective, responsive and well led, and required improvement in order to provide services that were caring.

Michele Golden, CQC head of general practice inspection, said: “I am hopeful that the Kingsway Surgery will take the necessary action to address the concerns we have identified during this inspection."

Improvements needed to avoid closure

The practice must ensure that appropriate systems are put in place to monitor patient outcomes and practice performance, and that there are appropriate staffing arrangements to reduce risks and improve patient safety.

Ms Golden added: “We have found significant areas of concern which is why we are placing the practice into special measures, which will enable them to receive a package of support to help them improve.

“We will re-inspect within six months to check whether sufficient improvements have been made.

"If sufficient improvements have not been made and there remains a rating of Inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take further action which may include closure.”

There was limited evidence to demonstrate that the practice was auditing patient outcomes to drive improvements in practice performance.

Kingsway Surgery did not assess, monitor or mitigate risks related to the health, safety and welfare of patients nor did it have adequate systems in place for medicines management and infection control.

Appropriate recruitment checks on staff had not been undertaken prior to their employment. The practice had previously employed an overseas trained doctor to work as a health care assistant and practice manager, although they lacked the required UK accredited training and competencies to work as a health care assistant.

Staff were not clear about reporting incidents, near misses and concerns and there was no evidence of ongoing learning and communication with staff.

A spokesperson for Kingsway Surgery said: "We have been working hard to address the concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission and have already put a range of measures in place for our patients.

"Our priority is to ensure that patients are fully supported over the coming months and want to reassure patients that they can continue to use this practice as normal."