A GP surgery has been rated “inadequate” and placed into special measures.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors rated Dr SKS Swedan and Partner, in Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate ,as inadequate overall and for being safe and well-led.

Following a visit on May 10, inspectors found the chaperoning policy and arrangements for reporting and preventing accidents and incidents were “not robust”.

Refrigerated medicines were not always managed “safely and effectively” and gaps were found in staff training and induction programmes including fire safety, infection control, annual basic life support and safeguarding.

Inspectors also found “systemic problems” such as breakdowns in working relationships and divides between staff, including the leadership team.

They rated the practise “requires improvement” for caring, effectiveness and responsiveness.

However, patients generally said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and urgent appointments were available the same day.

The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

The CQC we re-inspect the practice within six months where a failure to improve could result in the provider being removed.

Ursula Gallagher, deputy chief inspector of General Practice in CQC’s London region said:

“It is important that the people who are registered at Dr SKS Swedan and Partner can rely on getting the high quality care which everyone is entitled to receive from their GP.

“We have now placed the practice into special measures – which means we will inspect again in six months’ time. This will enable the practice to access all the support it needs via NHS England, using the vulnerable practices scheme.”

The surgery did not respond when the Recorder approached them for comment.