A medical centre in Harringay has been told it needs urgent improvement after a healthcare watchdog found it was failing to meet basic standards.

Quality Life Medical Centre, in Green Lanes, failed to meet three of the five minimum requirements set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors found the centre failed to meet targets for consent to care and treatment, management of medicines, and how it collects and stores personal patient records.

It was inspected by the CQC in December 2013 and the report was published on Friday, March 28.

Inspectors found that prescription medicines were kept in unlocked cupboards and drawers.

Some of the medicines being used were out of date and some were not licenced for use in the UK.

In one case inspectors found food and drinks were kept in a fridge alongside injections and other medicines.

The medical centre also had poor record keeping and it was found that out of 57 records checked, 33 were not dated and 18 contained no medical history at all.

In 25 cases, the medical history was minimal and “not fit for purpose”.

The handwriting on many of the records was “poor and difficult to read, with some misspellings”, which the CQC inspectors needed the registered manager to explain.

Seven patient records included information on the “removal of moles”, but none contained the results of any laboratory analysis of the biopsy and there was no indication of the results being passed on to the patient.

The medical centre was asked to submit an action report by March 22, setting out what they will do meet the standards.

The CQC said it will check to make sure that this action is taken and has given the medical centre an official warning over its record keeping.

Sharon Grant, the chairman of Healthwatch Haringey, said: “Healthwatch Haringey is pleased that the Care Quality Commission is inspecting premises such as these, and is taking a firm line to stamp out unsafe and questionable practices.

“It is important that women who go for cosmetic therapies and procedures are not placed at risk, and their right to consent and understand their treatment is respected.

“Patients who do not speak English well are especially vulnerable, and Haringey Healthwatch is concerned about private medical practices and clinics operating locally”

A spokesman for the medical centre said: “We submitted an action plan to the CQC and since the inspection we have been keeping our records very well, we have changed our management and have also made sure our medicines are kept safe and secure.

“They will inspect us again in the next few weeks and we are confident that we will do well in that inspection.”