A Blackburn GP surgery which was previously placed in special measures has been removed from the regime after inspectors found "significant improvements" across the practice.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded Olive Medical Practice, in Lime Street, from inadequate to good following an assessment carried out between July 23 and July 29 this year.
The practice is now rated good overall, as well as in all five key areas inspected: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
Inspectors said the surgery, which serves around 7,560 patients, had made wide-ranging improvements since concerns were raised during inspections last year.
Olive Medical Practice was placed into special measures in September 2025 after being rated inadequate overall.
At the time, inspectors found breaches of regulations relating to safe care and treatment, good governance and leadership, while a follow-up inspection earlier this year found the practice remained in breach of some regulations.
Olive Medical Practice, Blackburn (Image: Google Maps)
However, the latest report says those problems have now been addressed.
The CQC said: "Since the last inspection, the practice had made significant improvements and is no longer in breach of regulations for safe care and treatment, good governance and fit and proper persons employed.
"Throughout this inspection, the provider demonstrated wide-ranging improvements that have been made and embedded across systems.
"The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in special measures."
Inspectors praised the practice's learning culture and said staff understood how to identify and manage risks.
They found patients were protected and kept safe, facilities were clean and well maintained, and there were enough staff with the right skills and experience to deliver care.
The report also highlighted how managers ensured staff received training and regular appraisals, while medicines were managed appropriately.
Inspectors said care was based on the latest evidence and good practice, with staff working closely with other agencies involved in patients' care.
People using the service were treated with kindness and compassion, their privacy and dignity were respected, and they were supported to make decisions about their treatment, the report added.
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The CQC also found the surgery was responsive to feedback and had taken action to improve services.
Recent survey results showed patients were generally satisfied, although some responses remained below local and national averages.
The practice has an active patient participation group, and inspectors noted that changes had been introduced following feedback from patients, including the introduction of a new artificial intelligence receptionist system to help deal with high volumes of calls.
In the well-led category, inspectors said leaders were visible, supportive and focused on listening, learning and continuous improvement.
The report added that managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were open to new ideas.
The latest findings mean the surgery has completed a remarkable turnaround from the concerns identified in 2025, and is no longer subject to the additional oversight that comes with special measures.
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