GP surgery putting patients 'at risk' say inspectors

A GP surgery has been putting patients "at risk" through poor leadership and unsafe practices, according to an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Cricklade Surgery, near Swindon, has been downgraded from "good" to "inadequate" in the safety category, after a December inspection.

The report highlighted a lack of staff training which the CQC - which has placed the surgery in special measures - said could have led to missed diagnoses and urgent care delays.

Dr Lanil de Silva, GP principal at the practice, said the inspection took place during a time of major transition, particularly around staffing. He said the surgery is "here to stay" and will "continue offering very good care".

Victoria Oecken, CQC deputy director of primary care and community services in the South West, said patients were being put at risk by "poor leadership" and that the service was not meeting required standards.

The report also found that only one of the surgery's 10 staff members had basic life support training, and in one "worrying example" a patient experiencing chest pain was told to make their own way to A&E.

CQC has placed Cricklade Surgery in special measures which involves close monitoring to make sure people are safe while improvements are made.

Lanil de Silva said the report findings were "disappointing and challenging" and that he was "shocked" by some of the findings.

In response to the incident where a patient with chest pain had been told to make his own way to A&E, he added: "That should not have happened. We've dealt with that by training that member of staff further. And we've also updated our chest pain policy."

According to the report, there were 232 pathology test results waiting for review, which the CQC said meant some patients may not have received diagnoses or treatment on time.

Records also showed 70 people may have had a missed diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.

Dr Lanil de Silva said that a number of staff changes had impacted access to records and training.

He added: "We have been always been a good practice over the years, and to get this result was certainly very disappointing and upsetting.

"We've attacked the highlighted points and rectified almost all the points. From that point of view, we are very proud of what we've achieved so far.

"There are just a few outstanding things which are well on the way to being rectified.

"The main thing I want to say is that the surgery is here to stay and we will continue offering very good care and support and help to people as we have always done."

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