‘Inadequate’ GP surgery now in best of health
A MANCHESTER GP surgery threatened with closure after health chiefs uncovered a catalogue of failures has turned itself around in just six months.
Brookdale Surgery in Newton Heath was first thrown into special measures by the Care Quality Commission in 2017.
But instead of improving, services got worse, and it was repeatedly rated inadequate by the health watchdog over the next year.
Inspectors said that both patients and staff were being put at risk as a result of a long list of failures.
These included lack of training, mismanagement of medicines, and a ‘potentially worrying practice’ when it came to prescriptions
After yet another damning inspection in May 2018, the CQC stripped the service provider of their registration, and the surgery on Droylsden Road was taken over by gtd healthcare.
New bosses implemented an intensive action plan, and dramatic improvements were made.
Six months later, in December 2018, inspectors visited again and this time rated the service as ‘good.’
David Beckett, chief executive at gtd healthcare, said he is proud of the staff who have worked hard to make the improvements.
He said: “Enormous progress has been made at a practice which, in May 2018, had reached a point where patients and staff were at risk as a result of numerous failures and consequently lost its CQC registration.
“I am incredibly proud of our staff who have worked tirelessly over the last six months to revive the practice to a level it should be operating at and provide care that the patients of Newton Heath deserve.
“First and foremost we overcame some of the most difficult challenges to ensure patients are provided with safe care at all times.
“This work demonstrates what gtd is about and how passionate we are about ensuring patients receive the best care possible.
“Turning a practice around from inadequate to good in a matter of a few months is a huge achievement for the team, and I know has been reflected in the experience of patients and staff alike.
“Patients fed-back to inspectors that the level of care had dramatically improved following the appointment of high calibre medical, nursing and managerial staff to the practice to complement the existing administrative team.
“We have always received ‘good’ ratings in all our services, but this is one of the proudest achievements of all given where the practice was when we took it on. As we strive to put patients first this really is a special accolade.”