A GP practice in Barking has been given the health regulator's worst rating in its most recent report – down from ‘good’ in 2019.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Salisbury Avenue Healthcare in December 2022 and January 2023 and their report was published on May 11.

The Salisbury Avenue practice was rated ‘inadequate’ overall and in four of five categories – safe, effective, responsive and well-led.

It was rated ‘requires improvement’ in one of the categories – caring.

READ MORE: Thousands of illegal cigarettes found at shop - owner fined

This follows a previous inspection in January 2016, a follow-up in September 2016 and a focused inspection in May 2019 when the practice was rated ‘good’ overall and for all key questions.

Inspectors said in the recent report that the practice did not have adequate systems in place to keep people safe from abuse and that the ones they did have to assess and manage risks to patient safety were inadequate.

Staff did not have always have the information they needed to deliver safe care and treatment, inspectors wrote, and the practice did not have systems for appropriate and safe use of medicines.

The report said patients were not always involved in decisions about care and treatment.

The practice was unable to demonstrate that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles, according to inspectors.

In terms of leadership, the report said leaders could not demonstrate they had the capacity and skills to deliver high quality sustainable care and governance arrangements were inadequate.

The report demands that Salisbury Avenue Healthcare “ensure that care and treatment is provided in a safe way” and “establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care”.

READ MORE: Dagenham street plagued by 'disrespectful' fly-tippers for a year, resident says

The practice did not answer when the Post called to request a response.

A spokesperson for NHS North East London said: "Our priority is ensuring patients can access safe and high quality services.

"Since receiving the CQC’s inspection report, we have been working closely with the practice to address the concerns raised and ensure that an action plan is put in place as quickly as possible to make the required improvements."

The service has been placed in special measures – if, in six months, insufficient improvements have been made, the service may be prevented from operating.