A RISHTON GP surgery has been put in ‘special measures’ after an inspection from the health care watchdog.

Officials from the Care Quality Commission visited Rishton and Great Harwood Surgery in November last year and inspectors rated it as ‘inadequate’ in their report released this month. The move came after a visit called for development in their practices in April, when bosses were told their service ‘requires improvement’.

The surgery offers services from both the main surgery on High Street in Rishton, and also the branch surgery on Water Street in Great Harwood.

During the most recent visit, Dr Rosie Benneyworth said there were concerns over providing services.

“Systems of correspondence workflows were not sufficiently safe or effective. Some systems and processes to keep patients safe require improvement including the safe management of vaccines, the monitoring of medical equipment expiry dates and the provision of anti-biotic to respond in an emergency.”

Meanwhile, they were also rated as ‘inadequate’ as there was a ‘lack of effective management oversight’ and that risk management processes and issues required improvement. Inspectors had fears about the surgery providing effective services for families, children, and young people and working age people.

They found that some of their performance data was below target levels for cervical screening.

The surgery was rated as ‘good’ for providing caring and responsive services, but have to ensure that ‘patients were protected from abuse and improper treatment’ and also provide clinical support for ‘the correct monitoring for patients prescribed high risk medicines’.

Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, said: “It’s a very disappointing result. Measures need to be put in hand to secure improvement. As MP for the area I will give them any support I can to achieve this.”

A spokesman for the NHS East Lancashire CCG said: “Rishton and Great Harwood Surgery has been through some significant changes in the last 12 months, including welcoming a new GP partner and practice management team. Following the outcome of the inspection, the practice, supported by the CCG, are working hard to implement the recommendations of the report and are committed to ensuring that patients get the right care and support when they need it.”

The surgery will be inspected again in the next six months. Dr Benneyworth added: “Special measures will give people who use the service the reassurance that the care they get should improve.”

“If insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of inadequate for any population group, key questions or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process to preventing the provider from operating the service.”