MP praises health officials over closed surgery

The surgery has been closed since 31 October after the CQC suspended the registration of the only GP there

An MP has praised health officials for doing the "right thing" after a GP surgery was suddenly closed.

The Hollies Surgery in Hadleigh, Essex, has been shut since 31 October after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) suspended the registration of Dr Olusegun Olatokunbo Omosini with immediate effect.

Some patients have told BBC Essex there has been a lack of communication.

But the Conservative MP for Castle Point, Rebecca Harris, praised the NHS and the CQC for taking action.

Harris said there had been a "really unusual" situation whereby only the one doctor at the practice had been serving about 12,000 patients.

"The quality of care is undoubtedly going to improve for my residents," Harris said, speaking to BBC Essex presenter Sonia Watson.

"The CQC has moved and said this is a real risk to patient care so I think they have done the right thing.

"Ultimately my residents should be getting better and safer care but I understand that it is incredibly frustrating for people being asked to go to lots of different places."

Harris said there had been a "really unusual" situation at The Hollies Surgery

The surgery is not seeing patients in the building, but local NHS commissioners have put a temporary team in charge.

They said they were answering phones, conducting home visits, holding online consultations and arranging face-to-face appointments at other locations.

Clive Naylor said his mother - a cancer patient - was "fuming"

Speaking to the BBC in Hadleigh, resident Clive Naylor said his mother, who was a cancer patient, was "fuming" about the situation.

"It's just very frustrating, you just can't get the information," he said.

"It's a right headache for her."

He also said he was waiting for confirmation about an operation to his foot.

Cheryl Shrimplin said she had to call NHS 111 to get an inhaler for her daughter who had asthma - because of the surgery closure - and was still waiting to receive it.

"Trying to communicate with the surgery is a nightmare," she said.

However, Claudia Reynolds said she had no issues when booking an immunisation for her daughter.

"When I called up the other day they were very helpful, so she is all registered and ready, and they're going to call us back, so the people at the surgery are doing the best they can," she said.

A spokesperson for the NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) thanked patients for their "understanding and support as we work to reopen the surgery as quickly as possible".

The CQC said Dr Omosini was issued warning notices in July for failing to manage medicines safely and "not having good governance systems in place to ensure people were safe from harm".

He has been suspended for six months.

Meanwhile, some patients have complained they were given text messages directing them to appointments at the surgery building.

The ICB apologised for the messages, which it said were mistakenly sent between 11-14 November, adding: "The issue has now been fully resolved and all messages are correct."