BURNHAM & Berrow Medical Centre was “literally hours” away from closure after a recent inspection, James Heappey MP has said.
Mr Heappey, who represents Wells, has written to constituents about recent changes at the practice.
In August, the centre was taken over by Symphony Healthcare Services, a primary care company owned by Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Symphony runs 15 other practices in Somerset, including Highbridge Medical Centre.
The practice was told to improve following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection shortly after Symphony took over its day-to-day management.
It was given a ‘requires improvement’ grade after its last routine inspection in August 2021.
Limits were then placed on the number of new patients who could register at the practice due to staff shortages from October 2021.
NHS Somerset expects the latest CQC inspection report to be published “shortly” – and Mr Heappey says it will “make for grim reading”.
In his letter, which is available to read online, Mr Heappey said: “I’ve been working to resolve constituents’ complaints about the medical centre for around three years, with many pre-dating the pandemic.
“However, around eighteen months ago it became clear from the volume of complaints that there was something seriously awry at the practice and I engaged the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to intervene.
“After a series of attempted interventions – including the secondment to the Burnham and Berrow Medical Centre of a leading CCG doctor – it became clear that the practice leadership were unable (or unwilling) to make the full changes needed to meet the required standard.
“Moreover, as a consequence of the concerns I raised, the CCG asked the CQC to look at the practice and their initial findings led to a moment of crisis in August when it looked as if the practice would be closed.
“Mercifully this was avoided through the quick actions of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) – the new name for the CCG - who asked Symphony Healthcare Services to step in and take over the running of the practice.
“The transition to Symphony is now complete, with some senior staff from the previous management having left, but most of the staff still remaining under the new management.
“In the coming weeks, the full CQC report will be published and I’m afraid it will make for grim reading.
“That’s unsurprising given that we were literally hours away from the CQC forcing the practice to close, but I know their conclusions will cause significant alarm within the community nonetheless.
“It is important to say, therefore, that the new management has already reviewed the notes of the most at-risk patients and they’ve been invited to come in for check-ups.”
A review of the remaining patient notes is underway, and Mr Heappey has urged people feeling unwell to contact the practice.
He added: “I will continue to engage with both Symphony and the ICB to make sure the turnaround at Burnham and Berrow is completed as quickly as possible and that the practice returns to a safe way of working immediately.
“I’m also supporting the practice, Symphony and the ICB in their recruitment of new staff.
“I hope you’ll soon see an improvement in the service provided by the practice but please be reassured that an excellent team are now urgently reviewing all patient notes and that shortfalls in care will be rectified as a priority.”
Symphony says the other practices it runs in Somerset are rated either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the CQC.
Dr Harvey Sampson, a director of Symphony, said: “We are very pleased to be helping Burnham and Berrow Medical Centre.
“There are many caring and dedicated staff who are keen to improve the care for patients. We look forward to working with patients and the community over the coming months.”
Care processes at the practice are being reviewed and patients may be asked to attend a consultation or blood test, or they may be offered a telephone review.
A helpline has been established for patients with questions or concerns (0300 303 6409, open between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday).
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