Troubled GP surgery set to be taken over

The Grafton Surgery, in Long Road, Canvey, was shut down by the Care Quality Commission in June.

Dr Saida Noorah, who ran the practice, was placed under investigation by the General Medical Council. She appealed against the decision before the Care Standards Tribunal - claiming that the surgery should have been given two months grace to make necessary improvements. It was not upheld.

The practice reopened after the GP Healthcare Alliance, based in Benfleet, stepped in bring it up to scratch.

Karen Sadler, chief executive of the group, which is made up of 20 medical practices across Castle Point and Rochford, said the team has been working hard to overcome the issues highlighted by the commission.

These included a lack of follow-up for cervical smear patients due to incorrect coding, patient satisfaction survey results being below average and no system in place for reporting accidents at work. Staff were unable to locate a first aid kit.

There was also inappropriate monitoring of people receiving the drug Methotrexate, which required regular blood count and liver function tests.

Mrs Sadler said: “We are still at the surgery and running it as caretakers.

“We have done everything needed so the surgery is now at a point when it can be put out to procurement by the clinical commissioning group.

“We are just waiting to hear from the clinical commissioning group about what is happening next.”

The contract could be merged with another practice, depending on who applies to run the Grafton Surgery.

A spokesman for Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group, said it is currently “still reviewing its options” over the future of the GP practice.

Dr Saida Noorah, who was based at the Grafton Surgery, had a string of conditions placed on her GP registration while the General Medical Council carries out an investigation. It means that she can still work, but she is limited in what she can do.