Inspectors put failing Kirkby surgery 'in special measures'

The health centre has 5,700 registered patients but has no permanent GPs and is run by locum staff

A GP surgery in Nottinghamshire is in special measures after being rated "inadequate" in four of five categories by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Kirkby Community Care Centre has been given six months to improve its patient care and staff training.

The surgery was one of four in England placed in special measures after recent inspections.

An NHS spokesman said permanent GPs were being recruited to replace locum GPs at the centre.

'Unstable' workplace

The practice, which has 5,700 registered patients, was rated "inadequate for providing safe, effective, responsive and well-led services" in the CQC report.

A spokesman for Central Nottinghamshire Clinical Services, which ran the centre until early 2105, said: "We are very concerned by the findings of the CQC inspection … and are sorry that patient care has not been delivered with the consistency we aspire to."

The report said the practice failed to deliver care plans for more than 100 patients who were at high risk of admission to hospital.

It also said only 25% of patients who had a cancer diagnosis had received a review within six months - which was significantly lower than the national average of 92%.

The inspectors said "an uncertain unstable workplace" and high staff turnover had created "high levels of pressure".

However, patients told the CQC inspectors that they were "treated with compassion, dignity and respect".

Amanda Sullivan, of the NHS Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group, which has taken over the day-to-day operation of the centre, said: "We have put in place stronger arrangements using GPs from the Ashfield area and we are due very soon to commission a long-term partnership."

CQC spokesman Janet Williamson said: "If we find that the service remains inadequate, we will consider taking further action."