Reading's Priory Avenue GP surgery exits special measures

Priory Avenue surgery is in the Reading suburb of Caversham

A Reading GP surgery that was one of the first to be put in special measures has made "significant improvements", the health watchdog has said.

The Priory Avenue Surgery in Caversham has been upgraded from "inadequate" to "requires improvement" by the Care Quality Commission.

An inspection in November revealed concerns over staffing levels and the sharing of patient information.

But returning to the surgery in July, inspectors saw improvements.

Ruth Rankine, deputy chief inspector of general practice for the south of England, admitted there had recently been a number of resignations at the practice before the November visit.

She said: "In contrast to our last inspection, we found a group of GPs and nurses providing clinical care at the practice who were enthusiastic, motivated and co-operating well with one another."

Overall the inspectors rated the practice "good" for being caring and "requires improvement" for being safe, effective, responsive and well led.

In January, the practice was one of three in England to be placed in special measures for the first time by CQC.

The others were Norris Road Surgery in Sale, Greater Manchester, and Dharmana's Family and General Practice in Walton, Liverpool.