‘Inadequate’ GP surgery apology

A GP surgery has apologised to patients and vowed to improve after being placed in special measures by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission.

Failsworth Group Medical Practice in Ashton Road West, was considered to be failing patients in its management standards, with an “inadequate” rating after the report found criminal records checks hadn’t been undertaken in advance of staff employment, blank, stamped prescriptions had been left in an unlocked room and needles and syringes were found with expired use-by dates. Staff were also found to be unclear about incident reporting, and patient complaints information wasn’t complete.

The practice will be inspected again after six months.

A spokesman apologised to patients and said: “The inspection raised no concerns with direct clinical care, but we were very disappointed the CQC found the practice to have inadequate management standards to meet their criteria. We take the issues raised very seriously. Doctors have been working intensively with practice management address the issues.”