Concerns ‘being addressed’ at surgery

Patients at a Spalding doctor’s surgery should be assured that areas of concern raised in a recent inspection are being addressed, according to a Lincolnshire commissioning group.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated Pennygate Health Centre as inadequate and the surgery was placed in special measures in October.

A follow-up inspection in April concluded that the surgery was still inadequate and a further report was published in June.

“We are disappointed that Pennygate Health Centre has again been rated inadequate and remains in special measures. We are working with the practice to ensure the areas of concern raised by the CQC are being addressed.

“We would like to assure patients of our commitment to ensuring they can access the highest quality, safe care and we will continue to offer support to the practice,” said Rebecca Neno, deputy director of nursing and quality at the South Lincolnshire CCG.

The practice is led by Dr Azmeena Nathu and it has 3,460 patients listed. It was last inspected in April.

Of six key areas inspected by the CQC, three were rated as inadequate in the latest report and three required improvement, the next step up in terms of grading.

Services for older people, those with long-term conditions, families, children and young people, working age people, the vulnerable and those with poor mental health were all rated as inadequate.

There was also criticism of record keeping as the inspection found the wrong allergy had been added to a patient’s notes.

The practice had taken steps to improve areas including infection control, staff training, fire safety, dispensary monitoring.

The full CQC reports can be found at the website: www.cqc.org.uk