Notts health centre in special measures.

A Nottinghamshire health centre has been placed in special measures by England’s chief inspector of general practice following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection which rated the overall quality of care as ‘Inadequate’.

Inspectors assessed Whitwell Health Centre, Nottingham, as Inadequate for providing safe, well-led services after the inspection In December last year (2015). The health centre was also rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ for being effective, caring and responsive.

Deputy chief inspector of general practice and dentistry in CQC’s Central Region, Janet Williamson, said: “It is important that those registered with Whitwell Health Centre can rely on getting the high-quality care which everyone is entitled to receive from their GP.

"During our inspection we saw that staff were caring and treated patients with compassion and respect, as well as involving them in decisions about their care and treatment. However, we also found that care and treatment was not always delivered in line with best practice.”

She said that the practice did not have a clear leadership structure and that staff felt unsupported by management and were not aware of the long-term vision for the practice.

Janet Williamson added: “We have found significant areas of concern, which is why we are placing the practice into special measures, opening the way for it to receive support from NHS England among others.

“We know Whitwell Health Centre has acknowledged the areas where action must be taken. We will continue to monitor this practice and will inspect again in six months to check whether improvements have been made.

“I am hopeful that the practice will do what is required for the sake of its patients, but, if we find that the service remains inadequate, we will consider further action.”