Inadequate Reading surgery had 'backlogs of test results', CQC says
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The CQC said there was "poor identification of risks to patients" following an inspection in April
A GP surgery that provides treatment to about 5,600 patients has been placed in special measures by a regulator.
London Street Surgery, in Reading, Berkshire, was found to have "significant backlogs of test results and care-related tasks".
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found there was "poor identification of risks to patients" in April, external.
The surgery said it is "confident" it will be able to "achieve the required target" for testing soon.
The regulator rated the surgery's safety and leadership as inadequate, and said it had insufficient processes to ensure services' safety and effectiveness.
Repeat prescriptions and medicines were "not managed safely", which could have posed risks to patients, and there were "risks associated" with the storage of blank prescriptions, it found.
Staff training was "not monitored appropriately" and inspectors found patients with learning disabilities were not provided with health checks to make sure their wellbeing was properly monitored.
The CQC said the surgery's staff were "caring and compassionate" but the loss of GPs and a practice manager had affected its ability to "provide quality and sustainable services".
Its responsiveness to people's needs was rated good.
The CQC said the surgery being placed in special measures "will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve".
A spokesperson for the surgery said: "Over the course of the pandemic, the practice has been limited in arranging blood tests while maintaining social distancing and keeping our staff and patients safe.
"Prior to the pandemic, we were rated good by the CQC and since the ease of restrictions we have achieved a significant number of blood tests and reviews.
"We are working closely with Berkshire West CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) and are confident in our ability to achieve the required target for testing in the near future."
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