A GP surgery in South Kilburn has been placed in special measures after a health watchdog ruled it failed to provide a safe and effective service to ALL its patients.

In a damming report published today by the Care Quality Commission, Dr Abubakr Shaikh’s practice at Peel Precinct, Carlton Vale, was deemed to be putting its patients at risk of harm following an inspection.

The surgery, located in the heart of South Kilburn Estate, was rated inadequate for safe and effective services provided to all six categories of patients:

• 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

• People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia)

The surgery was also rapped for keeping emergency equipment and medicines in an unlocked cupboard, failing to service its emergency lighting and slammed for having just one fire extinguisher which had last been tested in 2001.

The report noted staff lacked training in how to safeguard vulnerable adults, continuous shortcomings in infection control arrangements and a lack of evidence to show the references of new staff members had been checked.

Inspectors found that there had been some improvements since their last visit in January 2015, but the practice had failed to reach mandatory standards of quality and safety in a number of areas.

However the surgery was praised for providing caring services and being responsive to patient’s needs.

If the surgery, which was inspected in March, fails to improve it could face further action by the CQC including its registrations being revoked which will result in its closure.

Ursula Gallagher, deputy chief inspector of general practice at CQC, said: “It is important that the people who are registered with Dr Abubakr Shaikh can rely on getting the high quality care which everyone is entitled to receive from their GP.

“Although some people told us staff were caring and treated patients with dignity and respect, our inspection found continued breaches of regulations affecting the overall ratings for safety and effectiveness.

“I do not believe that the practice is likely to resolve its challenges without external support. This is why we are placing the practice into special measures.

“After a period of six months we will inspect again to check whether sufficient improvements have been made.

“If we find that the service provided by this practice remains inadequate, we will consider taking steps to cancel its registration with CQC.”

Dr Shaikh told the Times: “Everything the CQC has requested is being sorted out and it will be done by the due date.”