Surgery told to improve after surprise inspection (From Haringey Independent)

Surgery told to improve after surprise inspection

5:26pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

A doctor’s surgery has been told to make urgent improvements after inspectors called.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued two formal warnings to the Dr Sirri Surgery, in St Anne’s Road, to make urgent improvements.

The warnings come after a surprise inspection in October last year found patient treatment plans giving goals and timescales for review, which are required in line with national guidance, were not always present.

The commission also found prescription-only medicines returned to the clinic had been stored rather than destroyed, and some medicines were past their use by dates.

Inspectors found emergency drugs needed to treat anaphylaxis - a serious allergic reaction - were not available, cupboards used to store medicines were unlocked at the time of the inspection and arrangements for obtaining, administering and storing medicines were inadequate.

Deputy Director of the CQC London Matthew Trainer said: "Poor medicines management can be a matter of life and death, and it is vital that treatment plans are reviewed regularly to make sure that people are getting appropriate treatment which keeps them safe and meets their individual needs.

"Our inspectors will return in the near future to carry out another unannounced inspection.

"If we find that the clinic is not making the required progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers further to protect the people who use this service."