A health watchdog is taking enforcement action against those running a GP surgery after it found more than 5,000 clinical letters had not been actioned and patients were "at risk of harm".

DMC Healthcare is facing intervention from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) over the way it ran Albion Place Medical Practice in Maidstone.

An inspection conducted by CQC in October, and only just made public, revealed patients were being exposed to the risk of harm and it was given an overall rating of inadequate.

Inspectors also found patients' needs were not being met and there was a lack of clinical leadership.

CQC found incomplete employment histories in staff records and more than 5,000 items of clinical correspondence that had not been actioned.

Staff told inspectors that they were so overworked they did not always have time to look at medical reports or clinical correspondence.

In the latest report by the Care Quality Commission, the practice was rated inadequate for being safe, effective and well-led.

However, this is not the first time the the surgery has been scrutinised.

In 2019, a video shows people queuing outside the building before opening, just to ensure they are seen by health professionals.

It was reported that year the practice had only one permanent GP serving some 11,000 patients.

The CQC visited the surgery in 2020, and uncovered around half of all telephone calls were going unanswered and some vulnerable patients did not have a named GP to oversee their care.

Dr Mani Hussain, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of primary medical services, said: “After this latest inspection, we had no choice but to use our enforcement powers to protect people who were using services at Albion Place Medical Practice.

"We had previously called for improvements, but the action of DMC Healthcare at Albion Place Medical Practice has been ineffective.

“We did not have confidence that DMC Healthcare had a credible strategy to deliver high quality sustainable care, and we could not leave people at risk of harm.

“Following the inspection, we imposed conditions on the registration of the service to ensure improvements were made.

“However, as the conditions were not met, we are now taking further action in relation to this provider and will report on this when we’re able to do so."

He added: “Our first priority is always the welfare of the patients who need to use medical services.”

In October the CQC imposed conditions involving rapid improvements to ensure the safe care and treatment of patients.

DMC Healthcare failed to meet the conditions set, causing CQC to take further enforcement action against the private firm.

The CQC said it was unable to reveal the full details of what this action will involve.

Private firm, DMC Healthcare, has already been removed from five Medway doctors surgeries in 2020.

A shake up at Sheppey Community Hospital last year saw the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) ditch DMC's contracts.

Inspectors also visited DMC The Church View Practice in Rainham, and issued a warning notice to the provider.

The practice was rated requires improvement overall, inadequate for being well-led, requires improvement for safe and effective, and good for caring and responsive.

Since January 1, Maritime Health partnership has taken on the running of both Albion Place Medical Practice and The Church View Practice, Rainham.

Dr Pro Mallik, Senior GP Partner for Maritime Health Partnership, said: “I am delighted that our group will now be the long-term provider of GP services and that the existing clinical leads, GPs and teams are joining us.

“We look forward to working with registered patients by supporting their health and care needs, and also thank patients in advance for their support during the transition.”