The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Faircross Health Centre good and lifted it out of special measures, following an inspection in September.
The GP was previously rated inadequate under a different provider, due to concerns around the management of the service and safety of people using it.
It has since been taken over by a new provider also called Faircross Health Centre. This inspection found the practice had made sufficient improvements in all aspects and they are no longer in breach of regulations.
CQC has rated the practice good for safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.
Andy Ford, CQC deputy director of primary care and community services in London, said:
“When we inspected Faircross Health Centre, we were very pleased to find the practice had established a strong safety culture. Leaders supported their staff to offer kind, person-centred care to as many people as possible.
“The practice was particularly exceptional at improving people’s access to GP care and tackling health inequalities. For example, leaders had organised community outreach clinics across the borough, offering on-the-day GP registration and health checks for over 11,559 attendees. These clinics were innovative and open to anyone. They led to over 500 homeless people receiving healthcare who otherwise would have gone unseen.
“We saw staff who were skilled, assessed people’s needs thoroughly and managed risks to their safety well. In the National GP Survey 2024, 89% of people using the practice said staff were good at listening to them.
“Leaders were supportive and now clearly managing risks in people’s care. People using the service knew how to give feedback and felt confident leaders would take it seriously. When things had gone wrong, we found leaders had thoroughly investigated and made changes to protect people in future.
“Everyone at Faircross Health Centre should be proud of the improvements they’ve made to the service and the care they’re providing people. We’ve shared our findings with them and will continue to monitor the practice to ensure these improvements by the new management are embedded and sustained.”
Inspectors also found:
- Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity.
- Staff kept the practice and equipment clean and well-maintained.
- Staff communicated with people in ways they could understand. They ensured people understood their care so they could give informed consent.
- Staff respected the rights of people with limited mental capacity. They made any decisions for them lawfully and in consultation with their loved ones.
- Leaders worked with their local community to develop the service and were receptive to new ideas.
- Leaders knew the local population they served was projected to increase and were working with partners to address future challenges this could bring.