A general practice in St Ives has been placed under special measures, after an inspection report found the overall rating of the service to be ‘inadequate’.

Northcote House Surgery, in Broad Leas, was assessed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) over how safe, effective, caring, well-led, and responsive it is to people’s needs.

Both safety and leadership in the practice have been deemed ‘inadequate’, while its effectiveness ‘requires improvement’.

The inspection, carried out in April, found patients were “at risk of harm” because systems were not in place to keep them safe, such as infection control practice.

The follow-up report also noted significant events were not adequately managed or reported, and that while there is a clear management structure, there is an “insufficient leadership capacity”.

Jenny Parker, practice manager at the surgery, said: “Although our practice has unfortunately been placed in special measures by the CQC, we would like to reassure our patients that we are committed to delivering a high standard of clinical care.

“The areas highlighted by the inspection team were mainly concerned with internal policies and procedures which need to be reviewed and updated. We have already started to work on the issues raised and our team is determined that the practice will be given an improved rating as soon as possible.”

The surgery was praised, however, for its bereavement procedures, and was rated ‘good’ for being a caring and responsive practice.

Janet Williamson, deputy chief inspector of General Practice and Dentistry at the CQC: “We did see some areas of good practice when we inspected, for example, staff treated patients with kindness and respect, and maintained patient and information confidentiality.”

Ms Parker added: “This means that you can continue to have confidence that our clinical team and our dispenser will continue to give a quality service to all our patients.”

The surgery will be monitored by the CQC with another inspection due in six months.

Ms Williamson added: “I am hopeful that the practice will do what is required for the sake of its patients, but if we find that the service remains inadequate, we will consider taking further action.”