TWO of the town's under-fire surgeries have been placed into special measures after being branded inadequate by healthcare watchdogs.

Circuit Lane Surgery was criticised for leaving patients 'at significant risk' due to a backlog of unresolved prescriptions, while the Care Quality Commission (CQC) slammed Priory Avenue Surgery staff for being unable to provide knowledgeable and effective care.

The chief inspector of General Practice went one step further this week by plummeting both surgeries into special measures following the November and January inspections.

Ruth Rankine, deputy chief inspector of General Practice said: "During our inspections we found Circuit Lane Surgery and Priory Avenue Surgery were both failing to provide the fundamental aspects of good care that patients have the right to expect from their GP practice.

"Patients were at significant risk and both of these reports and the subsequent ratings fairly reflect our overall findings.

"The North and West Reading CQC have been liaising closely with CQC about the improvements required and have provided significant support to both practices.

"We will return in due course and if satisfactory improvements have not taken place we will not hesitate to use further enforcement measures."

Patients in Southcote reported significant delays in collecting repeat prescriptions from Circuit Lane, although staff were praised for working additional hours and showing dedication.

Staff displayed a lack of knowledge and experience at Priory Avenue in Caversham, while CQC inspectors identified a significant backlog in patient correspondence.

Rachel Beverley-Stevenson, OneMedicalGroup chief executive, added: "We want to reassure our patients that a lot of positive changes have already been made over the last two months to improve the services.

"The surgeries are now up to date on prescriptions and patients should now be able to get their prescription within 48 hours.

"The team have been working hard to make positive steps to improve the service and there has been a notable improvement in patient satisfaction and those who would recommend the surgeries to friends and family."

CQC inspectors found a number of areas where both practices were failing, including patient interaction, staffing levels and learning from complaints to ensure improvements were made.