GP surgery is first in region put in special measures

The practice serving 8,500 patients at the Newington Healthcare Centre off Anlaby Road in west Hull has been rated “inadequate”.

It could be closed unless it makes major improvements after the Care Quality Commission uncovered a series of problems in an inspection ordered following concerns raised by officials from NHS England about the management of patients.

Inspectors found outcomes of patient care were at or below average for the area, while the routine appointments system was not working and patients faced difficulties getting through on the telephone and often waited a long time for non-urgent appointments.

There was no clear leadership structure and staff told inspectors that they did not feel supported by the management team.

There are three GP partners at the practice but one, Eugene Stryjakiewicz, is currently suspended from the doctors’ register by the General Medical Council.

Sue McMillan, deputy chief inspector of general practice, said: “Many patients were positive about the care they received and said they were treated with compassion and dignity, however our inspectors also found some significant concerns.

“There were no appropriate policies or guidance in place to support staff to ensure that risks to patients were identified, monitored and reviewed and a clear failure to share learning from incidents so that improvements could be made.

“The failure to assess risk or effectively monitor quality that have been identified in the report need to be addressed and immediate action taken so that people get safe, high-quality primary care.

“I do not believe that the practice is likely to resolve its challenges without external support.

“This is why we are placing the practice into special measures.”

A package of support from NHS England and the Royal College of GPs is being put in place.

It faces another inspection in six months and if it is still judged inadequate, it could be closed down.

Yesterday, the practice said it had no comment to make.