BASINGSTOKE’S MP has called on the health minister Jeremy Hunt to look into the running of a Basingstoke GP surgery.

As previously reported in The Gazette, calls have been made from MP Maria Miller, as well as Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward councillor, Cllr Terri Reid, for improvements to Beggarwood Surgery, in Broadmere Road.

The surgery was rated as ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February, with several patients complaining about the level of care they had received from management group Incorporating Malling Health (IMH).

Now Mrs Miller and Cllr Reid are appealing to the health minister to put pressure on the group to help improve the level of care and the staffing situation at the surgery.

Mrs Miller said: “I am very frustrated by the amount of time this is taking, especially in making sure that the surgery is fully staffed.

“I remain extremely concerned about the level of problems we are hearing from residents and that is why I have escalated the conversation with the health minister to look at the standard of care at Beggarwood.”

NHS England, which has been in regular contact with the surgery, said if patients have issues with the surgery to contact it so it can investigate.

A spokeswoman from NHS England said: “The Beggarwood practice has an action plan aimed at bringing services up to the required standards after it was placed in special measures by the CQC in May.

“Both NHS England and North Hampshire CCG have been in regular contact with the practice throughout this period and will be meeting with them again shortly, prior to reinspection by the CQC, to ensure they have completed the actions identified.”

“We have also asked the practice to respond or take action to these concerns, where necessary.

"We are aware that staff have been recruited to GP, nursing and receptionist posts and are assured that routine and urgent appointments are available.

"Patients have the right to make a complaint about any aspect of NHS care, treatment or service, and this is written into the NHS Constitution. They can complain directly to the practice or to the body that pays for the services – in this case either the Clinical Commissioning Group or to NHS England. More information about how to make a complaint is available on the NHS Choices website. If anyone needs support to make their complaint they can speak to the local Speakeasy advocacy service or to Healthwatch Hampshire."