GP surgeries ranked by risk

Nearly every GP surgery in England has been ranked by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in relation to the risk of providing poor care to patients.

Most GP surgeries have been ranked as low concern, but 11% have been placed in the highest risk band, with many having possible issues with mental health plans, appointments and cervical cancer screening.

The register will assist with targeting inspections.

Prof Steve Field, CQC chief inspector of general practice, said “It is important to remember that the data is not a judgement, as it is only when we inspect we can determine if a practice provides safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

“The data is a further tool that will help us to decide where to inspect and when” he said.

Of the total 7,661 in England, 7,276 practices were ranked, and 864 were placed in the “highest concern” category.

One concern repeatedly raised, both in cases of higher concern surgeries and those that were not at high risk, was that of patient dissatisfaction with getting appointments to see a GP or nurse.

Other potential issues in high risk practices included low numbers of women aged 25 to 64 who had received a cervical screening test in the last five years, and the availability of care plans for patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychoses.

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligencelawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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