Leicestershire GP Surgery Issued Formal Warning

Castle Medical Group's surgery in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, which serves 18,000 patients, has been issued a formal warning by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection conducted in July. The practice was downgraded to 'requires improvement' after previously being rated 'good' in 2017.

Inspectors identified critical failings in the monitoring of patients with chronic conditions, specifically diabetes and asthma. In a review of asthma patient records, all five sampled showed concerns regarding missed follow-up appointments and treatment reviews. Similarly, four out of five diabetes patient records had issues with appropriate monitoring, with some patients receiving prescriptions despite overdue reviews.

While the facility was found to be caring and responsive, and met national targets for child immunisation, its overall rating was impacted by concerns regarding safety, effectiveness, and leadership. Patient feedback indicated a lower satisfaction rate with contacting the practice compared to the national average, although confidence in healthcare professionals remained high.

Partners at Castle Medical Group expressed disappointment with the outcome and stated they are actively implementing improvements to address the CQC's feedback, thanking patients and staff for their support.