GP surgery’s patients faced ‘numerous risks’
Poor leadership and a 'lack of impetus’ to drive improvements led to sudden closure
THE sudden closure of a GP surgery in Gosport last year has been explained by the healthcare watchdog.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) suspended medical services at Brockhurst Medical Centre in Gosport last year, following a poor inspection in November.
On December 5, The News reported that the surgery had been closed by the Fareham and Gosport CCG, but no reason was given for this at the time.
Now, the CQC has said that incompetent leadership and numerous risks to patients were found during the November inspection, having imposed urgent conditions on the practice in September last year.
Garry Higgins, CQC head of inspection for primary medical services in the south, said: ‘I am concerned that, despite imposing further urgent conditions upon Brockhurst Medical Centre to drive improvements, there was a lack of impetus.
‘Between inspections we found the practice had not adhered to the conditions placed upon it. On our return inspection in November we found no improvements in place.
‘The provider had previously taken the decision to close the practice and during this notice period CQC took the action to suspend the service. Brockhurst Medical Centre closed on January 9.’
As per the CQC’s inspection, care and treatment were not delivered in line with current legislation, some patients were not receiving the care and treatment they needed and there were gaps in the systems used to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
The 5,800 patients who were registered to Brockhurst Medical Centre have been reallocated to other GP surgeries in the surrounding area.