A GP SURGERY has been slated by health inspectors for leaving patients “at risk of harm”.

Dr Kandasamy Sundaram’s Roding Lane Surgery in Woodford Green has been put in special measures after Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors branded it inadequate this month.

The CQC report published on May 10 says the 3,536 patients registered at the surgery in Roding Lane North “are at risk of harm because systems and processes are not in place to keep them safe”.

There was major concern over a lack of staff training, bad medicine management, and patients being left in danger of infection.

CQC staff found there were no curtains in any of the consultation rooms, forcing patients to undress without any privacy.

Personal conversations about patient care could also be overheard from reception and consultation rooms.

Although all 19 patients with mental health needs had a comprehensive care plan in place, not all staff had mental health training and were not taught how to spot patients at risk of abuse.

There were no interpretation facilities for people who did not speak English, and the practice did not offer vulnerable people help by signposting them to other services.

Despite the mass failings, patients told inspectors they were treated with dignity and respect by nurses and appointments were easy to get.

But the inspector said: “I am placing this service in special measures.

“It 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.

“Special measures will give people who use the practice the reassurance that the care they get should improve.”

The surgery has been contacted for comment.