PATIENTS were put at risk at an Andover doctors surgery which has been ordered to improve by inspectors, according to a new report. 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Andover Health Centre Medical Practice, in Charlton Road, as ‘requires improvement’ following a visit on April 11. 

The health watchdog found the 14,000-patient surgery was not adhering to practice policies, and learning from incidents and complaints were not widely shared, so all staff were not given information on how to minimise recurrences. 

Inspectors also found that not all staff had received appropriate support and training necessary for them to be able to carry out their duties. 

It added: “The registered person did not do all that was reasonably practicable to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users.”

And, in the report published on May 23, inspectors highlighted occasions when “significant events” had occurred but praised the practice for the changes it has made in response. 

In one incident a practice nurse gave the wrong vaccination to a child booked for a pre-school booster, and in another a busy doctor forgot to contact a patient about their abnormal urine sample and by the time they were told the patient had been admitted to hospital. 

Inspectors also deemed that the practice was not completely effective in dealing with all population groups noted by the CQC including older people, families and children and those experiencing poor mental health. 

Despite deeming the surgery “requires improvement” for the well-led and effectiveness categories, inspectors said that it was “good” for its safety, caring and responsiveness. 

The CQC praised the practice saying it “routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided”. 
It also highlighted that the surgery showed evidence of “continuous learning and improvement”. 

Ellen McNicholas, director of quality and board nurse at West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “The CCG will be supporting Andover Health Centre to act on the recommendations in the CQC report, many of which relate to training and record keeping.

“It is important to note that inspectors praised practice staff for involving and treating patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect, and said the appointment system was easy for patients to use.”