BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has branded the situation at Beggarwood Surgery “disappointing” after the practice was placed into ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors rated the Broadmere Road surgery ‘inadequate’ after a second inspection on February 28.

The surgery, which serves around 7,400 patients, has been facing staffing problems after it confirmed five of its GPs would leave the practice in mid-June and be replaced by two temporary GPs and a nurse to cover appointments until new staff are recruited.

Mrs Miller said: “It’ s disappointing that the NHS hasn’t acted more quickly and, give n the problems which have been highlighted, problems I have raised when I met the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (NHCCG), it should have been dealt with.

“I don’t think there has ever been a concern about patient safety as we have always been assured that patient safety is of paramount concern, but it appears the management of patients and access to appointments is the main worry.”

CQC inspectors reported a shortage of staff with some GPs having to cover vacancies at another practice. The report said some staff had said the practice was now “clinically unsafe due to staff shortages”.

NHCCG, which is responsible for ensuring residents have the health services they need, said it has been working on a plan to address staffing at the practice .

A NHCCG spokesperson added: “We have been holding regular meetings with the Beggarwood Surgery.

“The staff there are fully committed to making the changes required and in response to this report additional support will be offered to accelerate these improvements.”

Earlier this month, Siobhan Genovese, surgery practice manager, said the practice was “not closing” and that it hoped to employ two full time equivalent (FTE) GPs and two FTE advanced nurse practitioners to “see an increase in the clinical team.”