A GP practice in Grays has been given a year to improve or face closure following the latest damning report by CQC inspectors.

The Dr A Bansal & Partner practice on Balfour Road, otherwise known as Balfour Medical Centre, was found to be inadequate for the second time in six months this week.

The surgery which has four GPS including named partner Dr Anil Bansal, was first placed into special measures by a May 24 report this year.

A second inspection of the GP service this month found the care provided to the 5,252 patients on the practice’s books had not improved.

Key findings in the September 15 report were that the surgery, was not safe, effective or well-led.

Particular issues of concern were a lack of monitoring for patients prescribed high risk medicines, a lack of infection control practice, and complaint investigations not being ‘thorough’.

The report also found that the surgery’s caring for groups who were vulnerable, including children and people with poor mental health, was inadequate.

Inspectors did rate the general caringness and responsiveness of the surgery one level higher, at requires improvement.

Urgent appointments were found to be available the same day and the practice was also found to own good facilities and be well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

Chief CQC Inspector of General Practice Steve Field said if the surgery did not improve on its legal requirements within 12 months it would face “urgent enforcement action.”

He said: “If insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of inadequate, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating the service.”.

Surgeries can have their registration cancelled or varied within six months once in special measures.