A Maidstone GP surgery has been placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors rated the service at Albion Place Medical Practice as inadequate following a visit in July.

A report found a number of problems in the systems in place, including recording and reporting significant emergencies, and the managing of medicines.

For instance blank prescriptions assigned to administrative staff were not always locked away overnight, as per the practice’s policy.

The practice was unable to demonstrate it always followed national guidance on infection prevention and control.

There were also concerns about whether appropriate recruitment checks on new staff had been undertaken.

However, care at the Albion Place surgery was rated as good, and patients were said to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

"If we find that the service provided by this surgery remains inadequate, we will take further action." - inspector Janet Williamson

The report stated there were not always enough GPs and that the practice was currently running 150 appointments a week short for their list size of 12,800 patients.

But while patients the inspectors spoke with said they did not always find it easy to make an appointment with a named GP, urgent appointments were always available the same day.

Janet Williamson, deputy chief inspector of general practice said: "As a result of this inspection we have placed Albion Place Medical Practice into special measures and have also issued two requirement notices.

"We will re-inspect the practice within six months to check whether sufficient improvements have been made.

"If we find that the service provided by this surgery remains inadequate, we will take further action."

Albion Place Medical Practice has been approached for comment.