A POOLE GP practice has remained in special measures following its latest government inspection.

Despite making some improvements, the Care Quality Commission found that Longfleet House surgery’s efforts were insufficient – giving the practice an ‘Inadequate’ rating for its leadership – and so the special measures designation remained.

“We identified shortfalls in the provision of fire safety; learning disability and mental health awareness, consent, privacy and dignity and dementia awareness training,” said the CQC, which carried out its most recent inspection in May. It said the practice did not always organise and deliver services to meet patients’ needs. “There were notices in the waiting area regarding having one problem for one appointment and a list of what medicines would not be prescribed, as determined by the local clinical commissioning group,” it said. “The language used was not inclusive and did not indicate that a patient’s particular circumstances would be taken into account by the practice, as confirmed by staff.”

It said the availability of nursing staff was limited to a set number of days per week and that the practice was ‘unable to demonstrate fully that appropriate recruitment checks had been carried out for all staff who worked at the practice’.

Inspectors also noted that the practice was ‘reliant on staff that were not permanently employed by the practice or contracted for a specific number of sessions’. However, it did rate the practice as Good for being caring towards its patients. Longfleet House was placed in special measures last autumn, after being rated Inadequate. At the time it put out a statement saying it had been “struggling to recruit staff” over the summer.

A recent statement from Longfleet House Surgery said: “While it is disappointing that the Care Quality Commission has taken the decision for Longfleet House Surgery to remain in special measures at this time, we are encouraged by the fact they have acknowledged the improvements we have made since their last inspection.

“In particular, we note that the Care Quality Commission have given higher ratings in respect of the safety, effectiveness and caring nature in which we provide care, as well as an improved overall practice rating from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Requires Improvement’.