The Charterhouse Surgery taken over after inadequate inspection

The Charterhouse Surgery, on Sevenoaks Road, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission last month as it received yet another inadequate rating.

On Thursday (February 8) a Patient Participation Group (PPG) meeting was held where NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group confirmed that McClaren Perry would take over the surgery.

The new provider took charge yesterday (February 12).

A CCG statement read: "The medical team are experienced and will provide high quality care to their registered patients. They will also ensure that the improvements required by the CQC are put in place.

"The change in provider will not impact on the care of patients and the practice will continue to operate as usual. Patients should continue to make appointments and use the range of services available at the practice."

Sheila Munns is a widow whose husband was treated at the surgery. She said she was sorry to see the practice's current doctors Penelope Lester and Beena Ashok go.

She told News Shopper: "After the PPG meeting I was so upset. I went into a different room and cried. I can understand if the doctors had done something wrong but there was no reason given."

She added: "This is outrageous. The doctors are guilty of nothing but hard work and dedication. Dr Lester has been a GP for 23 years and is heartbroken. She is so worried for her patients she said and Dr Ashok echoed the sentiments."

She also claimed patients and staff were left not knowing why the surgery was rated as inadequate.

Its latest CQC inspection the Chief Inspector of General Practice Professor Steve Field wrote: "Insufficient improvements have been made and the practice is still rated overall as inadequate and remains in special measures."

The report showed that "patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not in place to keep them safe".

News Shopper has contacted Bromley CCG for comment. You can read their response here.