A GP in Hyndburn has been rated inadequate by CQC after safety concerns were raised by patients.

Dr Paramundayil Joseph left Dill Hall Surgery in Church in December after his contract came to an end due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

A report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in November, and published earlier this month, said they carried out an unannounced visit to Dr Joseph on November 29 last year after concerns were raised about the safety of the service provided to patients.

CQC returned to the practice to gather further evidence on December 12 and found the provider had ceased delivering regulated activities and the patient list had been transferred to another registered provider.

At the time, the Lancashire Telegraph reported a letter had been sent to Dill Hall patients by Dr Joseph saying he would no longer run primary care services as his contract has come to an end.

Patient would continue to be seen at Acorn Primary Health Care Centre in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

CQC said because of Dr Joseph’s departure they were unable to complete the inspection, but carried over a previous rating.

They found Dr Joseph to be inadequate in safety, effective care, being responsive to people’s needs, and well-led services.

Key findings included safeguarding procedures not being developed to ensure patients were protected from abuse and harm; health and safety not being well managed; and no evidence of quality improvements for the ongoing development of the service.

The report said: “This service is rated inadequate.

"We were able to gather sufficient evidence to make a judgement on safe, effective, responsive and well-led, which were all rated as inadequate. We carried over the previous rating of caring which was good.

“We carried out an unannounced focused inspection at Dr Paramundayil Joseph on November 29 in response to concerns raised about the safety of the service provided to patients.

“We returned to the practice to gather further evidence on December 12 and found the provider had ceased delivering regulated activities and the patient list had been transferred to another registered provider. We were therefore unable to complete the inspection.

“The provider has since cancelled their registration and is no longer registered with the CQC as a provider at this location.”