A GP practice which was placed in the CQC’s special measures has been taken over by an NHS trust.
The Priory Avenue Surgery in Caversham, Reading, was rated in ‘inadequate’ by the regulator following an inspection in November, and was subsequently placed immediately into special measures.
The practice – which is run by Specialist Health Services (SHS) on an APMS contract – will now be run by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for 12 months on interim management basis starting this month.
Practices that receive an overall inspection rating of ‘inadequate’ are immediately put into special measures, and are given a year to improve their or risk having their registration cancelled by the CQC.
The Priory Avenue Surgery received its ‘inadequate’ rating after the CQC found that there was staff shortages, staff checks had not been undertaken and patient records were not up-to-date with recent test results or relevant information.
Debra Elliott, director of commissioning at NHS England, said: ‘Our top priority is the patients of Priory Avenue Surgery and ensuring that they have access to good quality primary medical services. We are pleased to announce that Berkshire Healthcare has been awarded the contract to take over the running of the Priory Avenue Surgery in Reading.
‘The trust has an excellent track record and good experience in providing GP services across the county. We are confident that they will provide good quality services and deliver both continuity of care and a friendly, professional service to all patients at the practice.’
