Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of Quality of Life Medical Centre Limited over two days on 2 and 8 November 2017. This inspection was carried out under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements within the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations after receiving information of concern regarding consultations undertaken at the service.

We found this service was not proving safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led services in accordance with the relevant regulation.

Following this inspection because of serious concerns we applied for and were granted an urgent, order under Section 30 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. This had the effect of cancelling the registration of the registered manager at Quality of Life Medical Centre and Quality Life Medical Centre, a second location registered to the provider. The provider was also issued with an urgent Notice of Decision under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to impose urgent conditions that the registered provider must not carry out any regulated activities at 573 Green Lanes, London, N8 0RL. The provider has the right to make an appeal against this decision to the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education and Social Care Chamber), under Section 32(1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, within 28 days of the date of the notice.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was not providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was not providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was not providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was not providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection at Quality of Life Medical Centre under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned as a result of information we received from an external organisation, regarding concerns about consultations carried out at the service. We carried out the inspection to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Quality Life Medical Centre is a clinic providing a private doctor service, located in the Green Lanes area of the London Borough of Haringey. The service is used mostly by Turkish speakers.

The service is registered to carry out the regulated activities of diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, surgical procedures, and treatment of disease, disorder and injury. This service is also registered to carry out the regulated activity of services in slimming clinics although at the time of this inspection, the service was not carrying out this regulated activity. At Quality of Life Medical Centre the aesthetic cosmetic treatments that are also provided are exempt from CQC regulation.

The service employs a full-time administration manager and one receptionist and a full-time Registered Manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The Registered Manager is also trained to carry out ultrasonography and phlebotomy. (Ultrasonography is a diagnostic imaging technique based on the application of ultrasound, used to see internal body structures such as tendons, muscles, joints, blood vessels and internal organs. Phlebotomistsare people trained to draw blood from a patient). The service also employs a cardiologist, a urologist, a surgeon, a GP and a doctor referred to as an internist, all of whom work part time.

Quality of Life Medical Centre provides walk-in and same-day doctor and urgent GP appointments as well as pre-bookable appointments with a range of part-time clinicians including a cardiologist, urologist, gynaecologist and a surgeon.

The service is open between 8am to 7pm from Monday to Saturday and between 10am and 5pm on Sunday.

This inspection was an unannounced urgent inspection which meant that we did not ask for CQC comment cards to be completed by patients prior to our inspection.