A HEALTH watchdog has branded a GP surgery with more than 16,000 patients on its books “requires improvement.”

Of the five categories the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uses to rate a surgery, the Chafford Hundred Medical Centre, Grays, scored “good” for safety, responsiveness and attention to patient care.

But it was marked down for effectiveness and leadership, scoring “requires improvement” in both categories, according to a report published last Tuesday (June 21).

Inspectors raised particular concern by the way patients on high-risk medication are monitored.

Professor Steve Field, CQC chief inspector of general practice, said: “Learning was shared to ensure staff knew how to respond in the event of an emergency.

“Patients told us that staff and clinicians were respectful and considerate during difficult times in their lives.

“There was no robust system in place to ensure that patients on high risk medicines were receiving regular blood tests.

“Patients said they found it difficult to make an appointment with a named GP - some patients were not satisfied with the practice’s opening hours.”

The watchdog also praised the practice for patient confidentiality and its robust systems towards childcare.

But it instructed the surgery it must review and monitor patients taking high risk meds – medicines that carry a high risk of causing harm if they are misused.

The Gazette asked the surgery for comment, but none was received by the time of going to print.