Gosport GP surgery put in special measures by CQC after struggling to run day to day

Inspectors at Brockhurst Medical Centre in Gosport found poor records for patients with long-term conditions, and some people with diabetes were not receiving the care they needed as their diagnosis was not recorded properly.

As reported, around 5,800 patients at the surgery have to find a new GP.

This is after GPs at the practice in Brockhurst Road told the Fareham and Gosport CCG it would close by December 31.

Now it has been revealed the surgery was rated inadequate and put in special measures by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection in September.

The surgery has said it was struggling ‘as a result of difficulties in GP recruitment and increasing workload pressure’ but that the decision to close was taken prior to the CQC inspection.

Inspectors said: ‘Care and treatment was not delivered in line with current legislation, the practice did not have systems for the appropriate and safe use of medicines and leaders could not demonstrate that they had the capacity and skills to deliver high quality sustainable care.’

The CQC report added: ‘There was evidence of some improvement activity, however there was limited scope to plan and develop a full quality improvement program as the lead GP partner was the only permanent GP at the practice.

‘The lead GP was under pressure due to a lack of other key staff.’

The report said there was not permanent practice nurse or practice manager, and workers said there were ‘not enough staff to cover periods of staff absence,’ including when isolating for Covid-19.

It added: ‘The practice found it challenging to fulfill the day to day requirements of running a busy practice in the heart of Gosport.’

Fareham and Gosport CCG told The News that it has put ‘highly-experienced’ clinical and administrative staff in the practice to support the GPs until the surgery’s contract ends next month.

A ‘managed transfer’ of Brockhurst’s patients will take place to avoid too much extra pressure being put on the other practices in the borough.

A joint statement from the Fareham and Gosport CCG and Brockhurst Medical Centre said: ‘The CCG is working with the medical centre on its action plan to remedy a number of important issues highlighted by the CQC.

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‘The main priorities for both the CCG and the practice is ensuring continued patient safety and high-quality care for all patients.

‘Patient cases are being reviewed to ensure they have the appropriate care that they need and deserve.

‘A number of the issues raised by the CQC report result directly or indirectly from the practice’s difficulties in recruiting senior staff, including a practice manager. This has put huge pressure on staff at all levels.

‘The two partners decision to hand back their contract was as a result of difficulties in GP recruitment and increasing workload pressure – and was taken before the CQC inspection.

‘The CCG would like to thank patients for their co-operation in the ongoing process to ensure they have a smooth transition to another practice and all the staff at Brockhurst for their work during such a challenging period.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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