AN INCOMING medical provider has an uphill battle on its hands after widespread concerns were identified by the healthcare watchdog at a failing surgery.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) berated Circuit Lane Surgery, claiming patients continued to be 'at risk' due to a catalogue of unresolved paperwork and lack of tests to ensure people were on the correct medication.

The January inspection, published on April 19, was the fifth time the surgery had been visited since being rated 'inadequate' and plunged into special measures.

OneMedicare took charge in September 2016 and claimed it had inherited 'deep-rooted' issues, before standing down from running the practice earlier this year.

Western Elms Surgery will now be responsible for leading improvements and has a sterling reputation with the CQC.

The report reads: "We previously rated the practice as inadequate during our last inspection in October 2017. At this inspection we found no evidence of improvement.

"The practice did not operate an effective system for carrying out medicine reviews. Practice data showed that 442 of the patients prescribed four or more medicines had not received a medicine review in the last year.

"The fifth inspection was undertaken to follow up on breaches of regulations and ongoing concerns identified at the four previous inspections."

Inspectors found more than 100 records that had not been reviewed by GPs, which exposed patients to potential harm if their needs had changed.

Several patients diagnosed with a severe long-term mental health problem had not been reviewed within the last two years and the surgery had failed to organise action plans to help their recovery.

Figures showed 41 per cent of patients with repeat prescriptions for four or more medicines had not received a medicine review in the last year.

Cathy Winfield, chief officer for Berkshire West CCG, added: "While improvements have been made, OneMedicare found it difficult to recruit permanent GPs and other staff.

"The GPs at Western Elms are enthusiastic about providing services at Circuit Lane and will be looking to work with existing staff and patients to improve the services available."