'More effective' communication is needed with patients at Ringmead GP practice following a negative watchdog review, Bracknell's MP has said.

The Ringmead Medical Group has recieved a 'Requires Improvement' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This is a lower rating following the site's merger with the Sandhurst Group Practice in July 2023.

An inspection that took place at the Birch Hill site between February 14 and March 5 this year found various breaches in regulations relating to safe care, treatment, and governance systems.

The CQC reported instances of ineffective and inconsistently operated governance processes, as well as a lack in competence in identifying and managing risks.

Some staff members said that their concerns were not addressed in a ‘timely manner’ by senior leadership.

Conditions have now been placed on the practice as a consequence of the report.

The MP for Bracknell, Peter Swallow, along with Bracknell Forest councillor Mike Forster, has met with senior leaders of the group to discuss a path forward.

In a letter published on his social media to Dr Anant Sachdev from the Ringmead Medical group and Lauren Pennington from NHS Frimley, he said: “I am keen that Ringmead are more effective at communicating with patients about next steps – including around where improvements are needed.”

More staff members have been hired since the inspection, and Mr Swallow commended that they ‘work exceptionally hard to deliver the best service they can’.

However, he noted that improvements must be made to user experience – with 65 per cent of patients describing their experience of the practice good, which is nearly 10 pe cent lower than the national average.

The CQC said that the practice showed potential with their steps taken to improve patient experiences and identified patients requiring additional support.

The Bracknell MP further recognised that the report ‘comes in the wider context of an NHS that is broken’, blaming ‘years of mismanagement’ from the previous conservative government.

He continued: “Many of the challenges facing Ringmead are not unique to the practice.”

Mr Swallow added that he will continue to act as a ‘critical friend’ to the group.

Ringmead’s senior partner Dr Anant Sachdev said that the practice ‘appreciates we still have some way to go to stabilise the merged practice to the standard we are aiming for’.

He added that the practice are ‘putting in place systems to ensure there is safety and high quality of care delivered by the practice’.