A doctors' surgery has been taken out of special measures after health inspectors saw improvements in its performance.

The Central Surgery in Folkestone has now been rated as good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The health watchdog lifted the surgery out of special measures at the first opportunity following a review inspection last month.

The surgery in Cheriton Road was rated good in all areas by the CQC after being plunged into special measures following an inspection back in February.

A report published today said the surgery provided safe services including effective reporting and recording and proper systems in place to prescribe and monitor medicines.

The practice, run by Dr Yogesh Amin, was found to be clean and tidy with systems in place to minimise risks to patient safety including responding to emergencies and major incidents.

Patients rated their care "consistently higher" for several aspects of care and praised the practice team and staff.

The CQC's report into the surgery said: "Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in decisions about their care and treatment.

"We saw staff treated patients with kindness and respect, and maintained patient and information confidentiality.

"The practice worked with a neighbouring practice to ensure patients preferences and needs could be met.

"The practice had a good understanding of their population profile and had used this understanding to meet the individual needs of their patients. The practice knew their patients and listened to them. They had an established patient participation group and they told us they felt valued and spoke highly of the service."

Dr Amin is planning to retire next year and is in discussions to merge with "a neighbouring practice".

The CQC said it was satisfied Dr Amin had a "clear leadership and documented strategy" which included the merger and "encouraged a culture of openness and honesty".

Professor Steve Field, the CQC's chief inspector of general practice, said: "It is clear that Central Surgery has made some real improvements since our previous inspection where we identified concerns relating to the safe delivery of services and leadership of the practice.

"The practice is now providing a safe, caring and effective service. I am pleased to announce that the practice will come out of special measures and I congratulate them on the progress that they have made.”