A DOCTORS surgery in the south of Hereford has been told it requires improvement but was praised for patient care.

The Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of all health and social care services, carried out an inspection at Belmont Medical Centre.

The surgery was told that overall it requires improvement, particularly in the organisational areas of providing safe, effective and responsive services.

The practice in Eastholme Avenue was rated as inadequate for being well-led but as good for being caring.

The inspector said: "We found that some patients were at risk of harm because systems and processes were not sufficiently in place to keep them safe."

In terms of being well led the practice needed to strengthen its governance framework.

The report said feedback from patients showed they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.

A number of recommendations were made, including ensuring it assesses and manages the risk of legionella.

Partner at the practice, Dr Paul Harris said: "If you look at the caring element, which is the only element that reflects direct clinical care we scored a good.

"We reflected on the report- there is no service that cannot be improved upon.

"We looked at the areas they highlighted and addressed each of those, including those deemed to be acceptable in other Hereford practices, including the legionella assessment.

"We have changed all elements they have looked at already."

The areas which were highlighted to require improvement were organisational areas.

He said: "They haven't highlighted any clinical areas of risk or patients coming to any harm."

As the practice is rated inadequate in one of the sections it will be re-inspected no longer than six months after the initial rating is confirmed.

Dr Harris said they look forward to welcoming back the inspectors as the changes have already been completed.