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Sheerness Health Centre in the High Street rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission

A health watchdog has suspended the provider of a GP practice after “widespread shortfalls in its overall management and how the practice managed safety risks and medicines”.

Sheerness Health Centre in the High Street, which looks after more than 7,000 people, has been rated “inadequate” after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found patients “were not getting the service and treatment they deserve”.

Sheerness Health Centre has been rated inadequate by the CQC
Sheerness Health Centre has been rated inadequate by the CQC

In a report due to be published shortly, the CQC says that following an inspection in November, the provider of the practice was suspended from providing care and treatment to people.

It had been managed by Dr Sanjiv Patel but the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, which commissions GP services across Kent, has arranged a caretaker provider to run GP services instead.

During the inspection, assessors said people reported difficulty contacting the service on the phone and staff couldn't prioritise urgent patients because they did not have the tools to do so.

Inspectors also found people’s test results weren’t reviewed or acted on quickly enough and the issue had not been picked up by the management team.

As a result, the CQC said in a statement: “Due to the serious issues identified, CQC urgently suspended the practice from providing care and treatment to people in order to protect them. The provider Dr Sanjiv Patel managed general medical services for around 7,100 people.

The CQC acted after concerns were raised. Picture: Stock image
The CQC acted after concerns were raised. Picture: Stock image

“Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, which commissions GP services across Kent, has arranged a caretaker provider to run GP services from Sheerness Health Centre. Dr Patel has supported them to do this. This means people can receive care and treatment with assurance that their needs can be safely met.

“The inspection was carried due to concerns CQC had received about the culture and clinical arrangements of the practice.”

CQC deputy director of operations in the south Serena Coleman said: “Sheerness Health Centre wasn’t performing to the required standards to ensure local people were getting the service and treatment they deserve.

A temporary provider has been put in place at Sheerness Health Centre
A temporary provider has been put in place at Sheerness Health Centre

“We found widespread shortfalls in its overall management and how the practice managed safety risks and medicines.

“Staff hadn’t learnt from significant incidents, and this meant the situations reoccurred with the same poor outcomes.”

Assessors also found staff were working outside their abilities and some had failed to meet conduct standards by treating people they knew outside of work.

Consent was not appropriately obtained or documented before giving vaccinations to some vulnerable people and medicines were not being effectively monitored, with some people’s reviews overdue.

Ms Coleman said: “Following our inspection, we suspended the provider of the practice, so they were no longer able to operate on the site.

Sheerness Health Centre in the High Street
Sheerness Health Centre in the High Street

“A new provider has been temporarily put in place so people who use Sheerness Health Centre will not experience a disruption in their care or treatment.

“We will continue to monitor the service closely and will return to inspect the service.

“We will not hesitate to take further enforcement action to ensure people are receiving the high standard of care they deserve.”

Since the CQC report, Sheerness Health Centre has been supported by the Maritime Health Partnership (MHP).

MHP managing partner Sharon Hogarth said: “We understand the vital role Sheerness Health Centre plays in the community and are fully committed to addressing the challenges highlighted by the CQC.

“We empathise with the uncertainty patients and their families may have had recently. While these findings are concerning, they have also given us a clear focus for the urgent improvements required.

“Since stepping in as the interim provider, we have implemented a robust action plan to address the CQC’s findings and improve care at Sheerness Health Centre.

“Our goal is to work with the centre’s team to make sure the practice can meet and sustain the required standards, ensuring patients receive the good quality, safe, evidence-based care and treatment they deserve and improve long-term health outcomes.”

‘Over the past few months, I have been unable to provide the level of leadership and oversight necessary to maintain the high standards of care our patients deserve...’

Dr Sanjiv Patel, who has been suffering from ill health over the past few months, hopes to return to the practice when recovered.

They said: "I fully acknowledge the findings of the CQC and extend my sincerest apologies to all our patients for the shortcomings highlighted in their report. I recognise the importance of addressing these issues with urgency and transparency and that is why I invited Maritime Health Partnership to support.

“Over the past few months, I have been unable to provide the level of leadership and oversight necessary to maintain the high standards of care our patients deserve. I want to thank Maritime Health Partnership for stepping in at this critical time.

“Their unwavering commitment, expertise, and dedication are ensuring the improvements needed to restore safety and quality at Sheerness Health Centre.

“I am committed to regaining my health and look forward to resuming my role in the practice when the time is right. In the meantime, I want to reassure our patients that we are prioritising their care.”

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