Following a recent inspection, Stamford's Lakeside Healthcare still 'Requires Improvement' according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

On 15 February, the CQC published their report on the progress made by Lakeside Healthcare, Stamford, after the centre was put into special measures in June 2021.

The report reads: "Following our previous inspection in June 2021, the practice was rated as inadequate and was placed in special measures. Following the inspection, the practice was issued with conditions on their registration, in respect of Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment) and two warning notices in relation to Regulation 17 (Good Governance) and Regulation 18 (Staffing)."

The CQC then performed a follow up inspection in September 2021, which found that some improvements had been made, but "further work was required". The practice was told that it 'Requires Improvement'.

Following a comprehensive inspection in November 2022, the surgery still 'Requires Improvement', but has made significant improvements.

These were highlighted by the CQC:

• The practice had carried out a significant amount of work to improve the service since the last inspection
• Patients mainly received effective care and treatment that met their needs
• The practice had effective systems in place for the appropriate and safe use of medicines, including medicines optimisation
• There were sufficient systems and oversight in place to ensure the dispensaries were adequately and safely managed
• Appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene were met

Improvements to be made were also included in the report:

• Overall, the process in place for medicine reviews and the monitoring of long-term conditions was effective but continued work was required on consistency for checking contraindications of medicines.
• There were effective systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient safety.
• The practice organised and delivered services to meet patients' needs, with continued work needed to improve
• patient access to the service.
• There was poor patient feedback relating to access and care in the GP National Survey, directly to CQC and to
• Healthwatch Lincolnshire.
• Leaders demonstrated that they had the required capacity and skills, but further work was required to embed systems
• and processes in order for them to deliver high quality sustainable care.
• Most governance arrangements were now in place, but further work was required to embed these systems and to
• ensure they were managed effectively.

Lakeside has been instructed to:

• Ensure the capture all of the learning and outcomes from errors, incidents and significant events to enable sharing of good practice and to reduce the risk of recurrence. This includes incidents in the practice's dispensaries.
• Continue action to improve the uptake of childhood immunisations and cervical screening.

The centre has been taken out of special measures.

Read the full report here.