A FAILING surgery which left people without medicine for weeks is accepting new patients for the first time since a private company took charge.

Circuit Lane Surgery was branded 'inadequate' and placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a damning visit in April.

A series of focused visits were arranged after the centre was criticised for leaving patients at significant risk due to a backlog of unresolved prescriptions.

Chris Giles, who has campaigned to improve the surgery since One Medical Group took over, believes Circuit Lane has been forced into a u-turn because of nearby hosing developments.

He said: "I am pleased to say the surgery is now taking new patients, but there are still a number of improvements that need to be made.

"One Medical Group are still on trial and they have been left holding the baby by the previous management.

"I get the feeling that they are struggling to recruit full-time staff, but the problems with prescriptions have been getting better.

"The phone systems are still failing and patients have been told not to email the surgery."

One Medical Group took charge of the surgery in September 2016 and have been working in partnership with the CQC to deliver the improvements recommended by the inspection.

A spokesman added: “OneMedicalGroup inherited a number of historical issues when it took over the running of the practice.

“A restriction on the registration of new patients was put in place by the CQC to allow the practice time and space to continue addressing the inherited issues and make the required improvements. 

“This restriction has now been lifted following a CQC inspection in June. We are pleased to accept new patients at Circuit Lane, thanks to a number of improvements and the hard work of the team. 

“The team have been working tirelessly to make positive steps to improve the service which include the introduction of two new on-site pharmacists, a walk-in clinic and an outreach nurse practitioner community service. 

“We would like to thank the practice team for their hard work and the patients for their feedback and patience which has helped us to continue improving and developing the service."