A GP surgery has been taken out of special measures after satisfying the health watchdog it has made “significant improvements”.

Horsman’s Place Surgery in Instone Road, Dartford has seen its rating bumped up to ‘Good’ following a recent re-inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The report from the health watchdog stated: “The practice has made significant improvements and is now rated ‘Good’ overall and for providing safe, effective, caring and well-led services.

Husseyin Bayram, consultant interim manager at Horsman’s Place Surgery, said: “It is rare to move from special measures to Good.

“It shows we have been working hard as a team to meet the requirements of the CQC. We are feeling positive.

“The team has worked really hard to get where we are now. We have overturned every stone.

“Everything the CQC has asked for we have done and more.”

The service was previously placed in special measures and issued two warning notices for breaches in regulations following an inspection on May 17 last year.

At the time inspectors said it was inadequate for providing a safe service and being well-led, requires improvement for being effective and responsive and good for being caring.

‘We have been working hard as a team to meet the requirements’

Despite this inspectors said: "There was compassionate leadership at all levels."

It was then re-inspected last October to ensure it had met the legal requirements of the warning notices. Its overall CQC rating could not change as that was not the purpose of the visit.

But after its most recent unannounced inspection in April, the CQC stated that full compliance had now been achieved.

It rated the surgery ‘Good’ in all areas except in providing responsive services for which it was rated ‘Requires Improvement’.

And Mr Bayram believes they will be rated good for access at their next inspection too after he recently installed installed a filtering system on the phone software to reduce waiting times as well as recruiting more staff to answer the phones at the busiest times.

Due to these improvements the report, which was published last month, concluded the practice was being taken out of special measures.

It said: “This recognises the significant improvements made to the quality of care provided by the service.”

Inspectors found the practice had clear systems, practices and processes to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse.

Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment was delivered in line with current legislation, standards and evidence-based guidance.

Inspectors were also satisified leaders had taken action to ensure the quality, safety and performance of the service.

Prior to being in special measures, the practice, which has more than nine thousand patients, was previously rated ‘good’ following a review in September 2016.

Following it’s improved rating it will be re-inspected within 12 months to ensure the improvements are sustained.