WOODROW Medical Centre has been stopped from operating as a doctors’ surgery following concerns for patient safety.
Health watchdog the Care Quality Commission took the step following an unannounced visit on March 14, 2018.
On Wednesday this week, March 21, it successfully approached Redditch Magistrates Court to cancel the registration of the Woodrow Medical Centre “in order to protect the safety and welfare of patients”.
This means the current GP provider it can no longer provide act as a GP service from the premises. Local Doctors are currently providing Woodrow Medical Centre patients with a service from the current premises.
The medical centre had previously been rated as ‘Good’ by the CQC following an inspection in November 2017, itself a follow-up inspection after concerns were raised about the Practice in 2016 which led to it being rated as ‘Requires Imprrovement’.
A CQC spokesperson said: “The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent legal action to cancel the registration of a Worcestershire GP practice, in order to protect the safety and welfare of patients.
“An unannounced inspection was carried out at the practice on March 14, 2018 where concerns were found in relation to unsafe practice, insufficient staffing, a lack of clinical leadership and a failure to manage risks.
“We are working closely with partner agencies including NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England to ensure patients continue to receive the service they are entitled to.
“We are aware that arrangements are being organised by the local CCG to direct patients to ensure the continuation of their care with minimal disruption.
“Where providers are not meeting required standards, we have a range of enforcement powers we can use to protect the health, safety and welfare of people who use services. We will publish a full report of our inspection in due course, including details of action we have taken.”
Woodrow Medical Centre opened in 1984, initially in Doverdale Close in a converted town house, before moving to its current location in Woodrow Centre.
Dr Richard Davies, Chair and Clinical Lead for NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG said: “Following urgent action by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the current providers of primary care at the Woodrow Medical Centre in Redditch are unable to continue providing clinical services, with immediate effect.
“It is the CCG’s priority concern to protect the safety and welfare of patients. Therefore the CCG has worked with local doctors to ensure an interim clinical provider is in place, who will continue to provide services for patients at the Woodrow Medical Centre premises.
“Patients are advised to still contact the surgery on the same contact details. We are aiming to put in place a patient helpline and further information will be shared soon.”
Partners in the surgery are Dr Sabarathnam Ananthram, Dr Vijaykrishna and nurse practitioner Sunila Samuel.
Redditch & Bromsgrove CCG have a list of frequently asked questions on their website to help patients – visit http://www.redditchandbromsgroveccg.nhs.uk/about-us/woodrow/
