A GP surgery which was rated 'inadequate' and placed into special measures has had its contract to deliver services terminated by health bosses.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out an inspection of Failsworth Group Practice, which is based out of the Keppel Building, last month.
Following the visit inspectors rated the practice, which is the largest in Failsworth, ‘inadequate’ in almost every area, including safety, effectiveness and leadership.
Following the report local councillors called on NHS leaders to ‘take action’ to protect residents, 12,166 of whom are registered with the practice.
Managers at the GP surgery had said they were hiring more staff and were requesting to bring in new partners to improve services for patients.
Registered manager Dr Fareeha Saeed said it would be ‘disastrous for the people of Failsworth’ if the practice were to close.
However Oldham’s clinical commissioning group (CCG) has confirmed it has now taken action to terminate the contract with the practice to provide services.
Temporary caretaking arrangements have been put in place to allow patients to continue to access GP services at the surgery.
While these temporary arrangements are in place the CCG will begin to consult with the patients registered at Failsworth Group Practice as part of a process to establish a ‘permanent solution’ for them.
This is likely to be transferring to another practice, which councillors say is likely to be to be either Quayside Medical Practice or Medlock Medical Practice, both of which are also based in the Keppel Building.
Mike Barker, accountable officer of NHS Oldham CCG, said: “Whilst it is disappointing that we have had to take action to terminate this contract our primary concern has to be to protect and safeguard our patients’ safety.
“We met with local councillors late last week who reiterated their commitment to working with us to ensure we secure better access to care for patients over the coming days and weeks ahead.”
Councillors Pete Davis, Elaine Garry and Norman Briggs said following their letter calling for action, there had been crisis talks between the CCG and the practice which led to it being stripped of its contract.
Coun Davis said the practice had been providing a ‘poor service to its patients for many years’.
Coun Garry added: “I’ve been getting complaints from patients unhappy with Failsworth Group Practice for years. We tried the softly, softly approach of giving them time to sort themselves out but the people of Failsworth couldn’t be expected to wait any longer.”
The CQC report found that systems were not in place to ensure that pre-employment checks were being carried out, and the GP surgery did not hold evidence of mandatory vaccinations for staff.
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