Sheerness Health Centre Posted or Updated on 6 May 2025

Sheerness Health Centre has made a number of improvements to patient care following a CQC inspection in November last year.

The centre has been supported by Maritime Health Partnership (MHP), as an interim caretaker, after the CQC found significant concerns regarding the practice’s ability to deliver safe and effective care.

MHP was invited by Dr Patel to deliver on his behalf so services could continue, and urgent improvements made, NHS Kent and Medway has supported this decision.

Key improvements include:

• Strengthening patient safety and oversight: Establishing robust systems to monitor safeguarding, medicines management, and patient safety.
• Enhancing clinical leadership: Ensuring staff are working within their abilities and training, and providing additional support through clinical leadership and supervision.
• Improving access and responsiveness: Increasing availability of care from specialist long-term condition nurses, clinical pharmacists, and other allied health professionals to meet the specific health needs of local people. We are also investing in online access and offering personalised support for patients identified as vulnerable.
• Clearer escalation pathways: Introducing a duty doctor rota and same-day assessment pathways for urgent cases.
• Upskilling and supporting staff: Delivering targeted training and providing staff with the tools and policies needed to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care.
• Collaborating with health partners: Enhancing coordination with health and social care partners to improve patient outcomes.

We hope that the new provider that Dr Patel has engaged from Monday 3rd March 2025 will continue this positive improvement to patients services and care.