An Oldham GP has been ordered to improve by inspectors again for the second year in a row, with health and safety policies not being followed and patient satisfaction declining.

Lees Medical Practice, on Athens Way in Lees, was told to improve in all areas by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission, which is tasked with inspecting GPs and other healthcare providers, such as care homes.

The practice was previously rated good in 2019, but was downgraded last year.

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Last year, inspectors said the practice did not always treat patients with kindness, respect and compassion – with negative feedback from patients about how they were treated. It was also found to be breaching regulations in regards to safe care and good governance.

The inspection team, made up of a lead inspector and a GP specialist advisor, found that patient satisfaction had declined in some areas, and again found breaches of regulations relating to standards of care and recruitment procedures.

The GP surgery was again given a ‘requires improvement’ rating in answer to all of the body’s key questions: whether services were safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs, and well-led.

The full report can be read on the CQC website.

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The rating is the second-worst possible, better than ‘inadequate’ but behind ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’.

Inspectors found that the practice was not following recruitment, complaints, and fire safety policies, and found discrepancies between guidance, such as for infection prevention and control.

Errors in the practice’s fire safety assessments and health and safety risk assessments were criticised for putting safety at risk.

Additionally, inspectors criticised the practice for inaccurate health and safety risk assessments related to diagnostic and screening procedures, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder or injury.

Furthermore, the GP was told it needed to improve in its hiring methods. The report said the surgery had failed to check new clinical staff had the correct qualifications, failing to have a system in place to make sure staff were of good character or had the required skills for their role.

The surgery was found to not record a full work history, including a written explanation of gaps in employment, for its newly employed staff. Evidence of qualifications was not routinely checked for newly recruited clinical staff, breaching regulations set out in the Health and Social Care Act.

The practice was also told to take steps to improve the uptake of cervical screening, and to try to increase patient satisfaction.