A GP surgery has been placed in special measures after being branded inadequate by inspectors.

The team from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Daneshouse Medical Centre in Old Hall Street in Burnley was failing when it came to being safe, effective, responsive and well-led.

It also requires improvement for being caring to people.

The announced check took place in April as part of a programme of inspections that are taking place around England.

Inspectors found patients were positive about their interactions with staff and said they were treated with compassion and dignity.

However, inspectors said people are not getting the high quality care, which ‘everyone should expect to receive from their GP.’

Alison Holbourn, deputy chief inspector of general practice at CQC, said: “Comprehensive processes were not in place to keep patients safe, or the practice well run.

“It was worrying that positive outcomes for patients were lower than both the local and national averages, and we saw little evidence that the practice was doing anything to improve them. This is unacceptable. People are entitled as a very minimum to receive effective care.

“We have told the practice where they must improve and we are placing them into special measures to ensure that action will be taken to improve the quality of care for patients.”

The CQC have told the practice they must improve the following: they must analyse significant events and patient complaints to identify themes and take action to try and ensure they don’t happen again; improve governance arrangements to monitor and review the receipt and use of prescription pads; the practice must take action to mitigate any risks to patients and ensure their care and treatment is provided in a safe way and establish an accessible system for patients and carers to make complaints, and ensure those complaints are recorded and monitored for improvement processes.

Ms Holbourn said the surgery could be closed if improvements are not made.

She said: “The service will be kept under review and if needed could be escalated to urgent enforcement action.

“Where necessary, another inspection will be conducted within a further six months, and if there is not enough improvement we will move to close the service by adopting our proposal to remove this location or cancel the provider’s registration.”

The GP was unavailable for comment.