Millions of NHS patients are receiving substandard care at hundreds of failing GP practices, a damning report has found
Millions of NHS patients are receiving substandard care at hundreds of failing GP practices, a damning report has found.
Inspectors found people are at risk of harm, being treated in dirty buildings and receiving vaccines that are stored in ways that could make them ineffective.
It is alarming that practices are allowed to remain open despite being rated as ‘inadequate’ or ‘in need of improvement’ by the healthcare regulator.
An analysis of Care Quality Commission (CQC) data shows that 292 GP practices in England – more than one in twenty – are performing below expected standards.
Patient groups last night expressed their ‘dismay’ at the scale of the problem and called for failing GP practices to be closed, adding that everyone should have the right to access ‘high quality care’.
Medical negligence lawyers said the findings reveal “alarming failings” and “serious failings in patient safety” that could have “life-changing consequences.”
The revelation comes just weeks after Wes Streeting pledged an extra £889 million for practices in a bid to end industrial action, which has seen some GPs cut their appointments by up to half.
The health secretary also promised to reduce the number of targets they need to meet, giving GPs more control over the way they run their business and provide consultations.
The revelation comes just weeks after Wes Streeting pledged an extra £889 million for practices in a bid to end industrial action, which has seen some GPs cut their appointments by half.
General practices are assessed on five core criteria: safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, which campaigns for older patients, said: ‘I am appalled that so many GP practices are rated as inadequate or in need of improvement, especially as patient safety is often cited as a reason for this classification.
‘If the CQC finds that a practice is compromising patient safety, the practice should not continue under any circumstances until these weaknesses have been addressed.
‘A cease and desist order should be introduced and patients should be temporarily assigned to other operations.
‘It is worrying that this does not appear to be happening and that practices are continuing while addressing the weaknesses.’
General practices are assessed on five core criteria: safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.
These evaluations determine their overall rating, which can be ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.
Those rated as good ‘perform well and meet expectations’, while those rated as unsatisfactory ‘perform poorly’.
In their most recent CQC inspections, 278 GP practices were rated as excellent, 5,193 as good, 261 requiring improvement and 31 as inadequate.
At their most recent CQC inspections, 278 GP practices were rated excellent, 5,193 good, 261 requiring improvement and 31 inadequate
It means there are now more failed operations than open ones in England.
And given that the average practice has 10,172 patients listed, this suggests that 2.97 million people are registered with a substandard provider.
Essex has six inadequate practices, more than anywhere else in the country. This is followed jointly by the West Midlands and London, which each have four.
Polls show that public confidence in GPs has fallen to record lows in recent years, with many people struggling to get timely appointments.
Meanwhile, the latest NHS figures show that GP partners, who own their practices and represent the majority of GPs, now earn an average of £140,200 a year, despite only one in three working full-time.
The investigation of the CQC inspection reports by medical negligence lawyers Patient Claim Line exposes the extent of some of the failings.
Nermeen Salahuddin, lawyer at Patient Claim Line, said: ‘Our analysis shows alarming failings in the NHS, with GP practices being cited for serious failings in patient safety and care.
‘GPs rated ‘inadequate’ must take immediate and decisive action to ensure patients across the country feel safe and are well cared for when they visit their doctors.’
Medical negligence lawyers Patient Claim Line’s review of CQC inspection reports exposes the extent of some of the shortcomings
Dr. Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, vice-president of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘GPs and our teams are providing millions of appointments every month more than five years ago, but with fewer fully qualified GPs. This is neither safe nor sustainable.
‘That almost 95 per cent of GP practices in England are currently rated as good or excellent, despite the intense workload and staffing pressures facing general practice, is testament to the hard work and dedication of GP teams to deliver safe care to patients .
‘However, where concerns about patient safety have been raised, it is important that practices are not vilified, but supported to improve, in the best interests of patients.
‘Patient safety is of paramount importance in general practice, and the College recognizes that inspections of GP practices, if carried out effectively and proportionately, can help ensure patient safety and support struggling practices.
‘But following independent reviews that revealed serious issues relating to the CQC’s performance, the Board has major concerns about the CQC’s current inspection processes and has called for a pause in routine inspections until improvements are made implemented, and an end to ‘one word’ reviews. in favor of alternatives that offer more nuance, support and transparency for patients and professionals.’
An NHS spokesperson said: ‘While this research makes it clear that more than nine in ten practices have been rated as good or excellent, while practices have been rated as requiring improvement or inadequate, Integrated Care Boards will work closely with both the CQC and practices to ensure that Support is in place, including consideration of whether the issues raised require contractual action.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to fixing the front door of the NHS and bringing back the GP.
‘Through the Budget, we are investing an additional £100 million to modernize GP complexes across England, making facilities fit to deliver effective, quality care, as well as starting to employ 1,000 additional GPs and reduce red tape, so they can concentrate on treating patients.
‘This will help get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, as set out in our Plan for Change.’