This practice is rated as inadequate overall. (Previous rating 18 May 2016 – Good)

The key questions are rated as:

Are services safe? – Inadequate

Are services effective? – Requires Improvement

Are services caring? – Requires Improvement

Are services responsive? – Requires Improvement

Are services well-led? - Inadequate

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Soho Square General Practice on 10 May 2018. The practice was selected as part of our inspection programme in response to concerning information received.

At this inspection we found:

• There was no innovation or service development and improvement was not a priority among staff and leaders.
• There was no clinical oversight of the largely locum clinical staff.
• Staff could not demonstrate effective cleaning of some clinical equipment.
• Staff did not always follow practice policy when there was a break in the vaccine cold chain.
• Feedback from the patient participation group (PPG) stated that the practice did not listen to patients views and continuity of care was poor due to the high use of locums.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the appointment system easy to use and reported that they were able to access care when they needed it.
• The areas where the provider must make improvements as they are in breach of regulations are:
• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care.
• Ensure care and treatment is provided in a safe way to patients.

•Ensure there is leadership capacity and clinical oversight in the practice.

I am placing this service in special measures. Services placed in special measures will be inspected again within six months. If insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of inadequate for any population group, key question or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service. This will lead to cancelling their registration or to varying the terms of their registration within six months if they do not improve.

Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice