A SURGERY which had its safety rated as inadequate and was ordered to improve by the Care Quality Commission 18 months ago has now been awarded a good rating.

Dr GC Chajed’s Practice at the Kingswood Medical Centre, in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, was heavily criticised in a report by the health watchdog’s inspectors in June 2015.

Then, the surgery was criticised for not having robust policies or procedures for chaperone services or repeat prescriptions and for not ensuring all staff had appropriate training.

Inspectors also flagged up that staff did not always assess, monitor or manage risks for their users, patients did not have blood tests done within a stated timescale where needed and that although staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents, there were inadequate systems in place to monitor or manage risks.

Inspectors rated the practice’s safety as inadequate and gave it an overall “requires improvement” rating, much to the disappointment of staff and patients.

However, a new report, published following the CQC’s recent inspection of the service, found many improvements and have led to the surgery’s rating jumping up to an overall Good rating.

Professor Steve Field, chief inspector of general practice for the CQC, said: “Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.

“Information about safety was recorded, monitored, appropriately reviewed and addressed.

“The practice had implemented new systems and processes to ensure that risks to patients were assessed and well managed.

“On our previous inspection we found there was scope to improve the monitoring of emergency equipment and medicines. We saw emergency equipment had been replaced and there was evidence of a comprehensive monitoring system of stock held in the emergency trolley.”

He added: “We received positive feedback about the availability of routine and urgent appointments, and many patients commented on the excellent continuity of care offered by the clinicians. The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.”

The surgery has been approached for comment.