Top doctor resigns from commissioning role in wake of damning report into surgery

The clinical chair of Swindon Commissioning Group has stepped down from his role in the wake of an excoriating report into Moredon Medical Centre, where he is a GP and partner.

Dr Peter Mack, has resigned ‘with immediate effect’ from the two day a week role working with the organisation responsible for planning and purchasing healthcare for Swindon and nearby Shrivenham - with an annual budget of around £300 million.

He will use the extra time to attempt to bring Moredon Medical Centre - which has been placed into special measures - up to standard within six months.

Dr Peter Mack said: “The decision to step down from my role of Clinical Chair has not been taken lightly, however I feel it is only right to concentrate my efforts on doing what is right for the patients at my practice, many of whom have been coming to Moredon for many years.

“They deserve the best possible service from their local GP practice and, by releasing myself from the CCG, I am able to work with my colleagues on producing a thorough and robust action plan that will enable us to move forward.”   

Swindon CCG will now begin the process of appointing a new Clinical Chair, with further details being released as and when decisions are made.

Following a routine inspection by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission, from 9-12 November, Moredon Medical Centre was found to be inadequate (the lowest possible rating) in three of of five inspection criteria - Safe, Responsive and Well-led. The two remaining inspection criteria - Effective and Caring were judged to be ‘requiring improvement'.

Inspectors also gave the lowest rating for specific services for Older people; People with long term conditions; Families, children and young people; Working age people (including those recently retired and students); People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable; and People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia).

In their summary, inspectors highlighted concerns about a partnership the medical centre had entered into with Integral Medical Holdings - which provides services for Moredon medical practice as well as Eldene, Toothill, Abbey Meads and Taw Hill.

“Moredon Medical Centre entered into a partnership arrangement with Integral Medical Holdings (IMH) in June 2018. Since August 2018, Moredon Medical Centre patients have raised concerns about the services provided in relation to delayed appointment access, difficulties telephoning the practice and delayed repeat prescriptions. Patients have also made contact with the local members of parliament, the media and Healthwatch to share their experiences. The practice leadership and management team have responded to these challenges, however, patients and staff we spoke with on the day of inspection, reported that concerns remained.

“We found there has been insufficient management infrastructure and insufficient leadership capacity and capability. There are significant concerns regarding the lack of effective governance and oversight to ensure quality and safety are not compromised.”

As a result of concerning findings, the CQC issued a warning notice regarding the breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Regulation 17, Good Governance.

The report concluded that:

• People’s needs were not being met by the way in which services were organised and delivered. Patients we spoke with reported significant difficulties with the appointment and telephone system and how they were not able to access care when they needed it.

• Staff did not have the information they needed to deliver safe care and treatment to patients. There was a lack of effective governance and oversight to ensure quality and safety.

In summary, Chief Inspector of General Practice Professor Steve Field placed the service in special measures - with improvements to be carried out within six months. The full CQC report can be found by following this link.