“IT IS people’s lives they are putting at risk, not just minor irritations.”

These are the words of frustrated Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward councillor Terri Reid about Beggarwood surgery, in Broadmere Road.

The surgery was placed into ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June of this year after staffing issues and questions around patient safety were raised.

As previously reported in The Gazette, the surgery which serves approximately 7,400 patients, confirmed that five GPs had left the site to be replaced by two temporary GPs and a nurse to cover appointments until new fullstaff had been recruited.

But despite the CQC inspection, issues are ongoing and cllr Reid says she has been inundated with complaints from her ward residents.

She said: “I was told by one very reputable resident who needed an emergency appointment last week, who was told when she phoned up there were no GPs on site so she couldn’t get an appointment.

“I am so frustrated as I really want to help the people that I represent, but whenever I try to get answers I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall.

“The thing is the surgery is dealing with people’s lives here, it isn’t just a little irritation or a check-up, some residents have serious conditions and aren’t getting the NHS service they deserve.”

Despite cllr Reid’s concerns, Cedar Medical Centre, which runs the practice, said the staff at the surgery were doing everything they could to provide a good quality service and denied there were no GPs on site at one point.

Dr David Jones, medical director of Cedar Medical Centre said: “We would like to reassure patients that contrary to some rumours there was no occasion last week when the practice did not have a GP present and that the practice continues to be fully staffed moving forwards, the practice has recently recruited two excellent advanced nurse practitioners to expand the clinical team.

“All within the practice are committed to addressing the issues raised by the CQC and continuing to provide a good quality service for the residents of Beggarwood.”

However, cllr Reid criticised the surgery for saying everything was ‘OK’ when issues still need to be addressed.

She added: “I am absolutely sick and tired of the surgery saying everything is OK. I am constantly getting e-mails about the service there.

“This isn’t just about not being able to get an appointment, this is causing people real stresses and affecting their health.”

A spokeswoman for North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (NHCCG), which is responsible for delivering health care services in the area said :“The CCG with NHS England have been meeting with the practice bimonthly over recent months and has received assurances that the issues of permanently staffing Beggarwood are being addressed.

“We have expected to go through a difficult period and are aware of some complaints, all of which are being responded to individually.

“The practice is working hard to get up to full establishment and address the issues raised by CQC.

“We will continue to support them, and would ask that patients of the practice remain patient and supportive, through this period of challenge.”