A GP surgery has made dramatic improvements after being slammed by the healthcare watchdog.

Central Surgery in North Road, Westcliff, Southend has now been rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), after inspectors returned to check on progress.

However, improvements are still required for how safe it is due to staff’s identities and professional registration not always being checked.

An inspection in April 2016 had rated the surgery as “inadequate” due to concerns being raised about the care and leadership at the practice.

However, the latest inspection from the CQC, carried out in January with the report published recently, has recognised the improvements made.

Dr Kumar, GP at Central and Thorpe Surgeries, said: “We are very pleased to report that since being placed in special measures by the CQC in 2016 and receiving an inadequate rating, the Central Surgery has since made many efforts in several areas to improve processes and systems.

“Now and almost without exception, we are delighted the surgery have been rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the practice staff for all their hard work and our Patient Participation Group for their continued support.”

The surgery, which looks after around 5,000 patients, has now been rated as “good” across four of the five CQC quality measures: Effective, well-led, caring and responsive.

Tricia D’Orsi, chief nurse at Southend CCG, said: “We’d like to congratulate the staff at Central Surgery for this improved rating, which is testament to the hard work of everyone at the practice.”

The Patient Participation Group for the Central and Thorpe Surgeries said: “The Central Surgery staff and their clinical team had made every effort to assist with improvements, in any way they could.

“They were also delighted to see the surgery move into a more modern era, by making full use of on-line appointments and other specialist IT systems to benefit their patients.”

The group feels that the addition of a new practice manager has made a considerable difference.

Adine Hunt, practice manager at Central surgery, said: “On joining the surgery in October 2017 I was welcomed into a great team. This has shown how well we all work together, and I am so pleased that we have been given a rating that we all deserve. It is a pleasure to work here.”