A MEDICAL centre has been asked to improve its quality of care.

Hove Park Villas Surgery in Hove, which provides a service for some 4,300 people in the area, was previously rated good in the last inspections in October 2016.

Care Quality Commission watchdogs carried out an investigation in December and found three of its key services – safety, effectiveness and leadership – required improvement. Caring for patients and responsiveness were scored good.

Inspectors found the centre needed to increase appointment times for patients living with mental illness.

They said: “For example, 43 per cent of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses had a comprehensive, agreed care plan documented in the previous 12 months.

“Compared to the CCG average of 78 per cent and the national average of 90 per cent and the percentage of patients experiencing poor mental health who had received advice about alcohol consumption, the centre was below local national averages. The practice scores 39 per cent.

“However, the practice told us they were working to improve these results by increasing the number of appointments available for reviews and increasing uptake by changing procedures for inviting patients to their annual reviews.”

Inspectors also found some staff members do not have adequate training to handle patients with dementia, mental health and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

While there were no complaints from staff members about the treatment of employees, however, inspectors found there were no strict measures to ensure all staff had background checks.

Inspectors said: The practice carried out staff checks, including checks of professional registration where relevant, on recruitment and on an ongoing basis.

“DBS checks were undertaken where required. However, there was no record of photographic identity, satisfactory information about previous employment or a DBS check for one member of staff.

“The practice told us that they had undertaken these checks but not placed them on file.”

Inspectors, however, praised the centre saying it has a high standard for assessing and managing risks.

They said: “There were arrangements for planning and monitoring the number and mix of staff needed. Staff understood their responsibilities to manage emergencies on the premises and to recognise those in need of urgent medical attention.

“Clinicians knew how to identify and manage patients with severe infections, for example, sepsis.”