A GP surgery put in special measures for storing medicines at unsafe temperatures faces a fight to stay open.

Not enough progress has been made at the Dipple Surgery, based in the Dipple Medical Centre, Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, according to the Care Quality Commission.

In a report published last week, the surgery was once again ordered to improve.

While it was handed a good rating in one area - how effective it is - the surgery was found to be inadequate in relation to safety. The three remaining assessment categories - how caring, responsive and well led it is - were given requires improvement gradings.

Inspectors returned to the Dipple Surgery in September, six months after it was placed in special measures.

After failing to take enough action, bosses have been given another six months to clear up their act. The surgery could be closed down.

In the latest, a Care Quality Commission spokesman said: “This service was placed in special measures in March. Insufficient improvements have been made such that there remains a rating of inadequate for providing safe services.

“Therefore, the service will be kept in special measures and under review. If needed this could be escalated to urgent enforcement action.

“Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within six months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service by adopting our proposal to vary the provider’s registration to remove this location or cancel the provider’s registration.”

The report added that some patients were put on combinations of medicines that could be detrimental to their health. Inspectors also found that a safety alert had not been deal with in a “timely and appropriate manner.”

Patients responding to a survey recorded below average satisfaction scores.

Other surgeries within the medical centre - the Dr Arayomi, Dr Sims and Dr Nasah’s practices - were not covered by the report.

Noone at the Dipple Surgery was available for comment when contacted by the Echo.