A PARTNER at trouble-hit Moredon Medical Centre has stepped down from his role as top doctor at Swindon NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

It follows a damning watchdog probe into the GP practice where Dr Peter Mack is a managing partner. Moredon was rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and placed in special measures.

Swindon CCG said Dr Mack’s resignation from his role as clinical chairman was with immediate effect. He will now use the extra two days a week that had been devoted to CCG work to addressing the concerns raised by the CQC in their report.

Dr Peter Mack, who has worked as a GP in Swindon for over 20 years, said: “The decision to step down from my role of clinical chair has not been taken lightly, however I feel it is only right to concentrate my efforts on doing what is right for the patients at my practice, many of whom have been coming to Moredon for many years.

“They deserve the best possible service from their local GP practice and, by releasing myself from the CCG, I am able to work with my colleagues on producing a thorough and robust action plan that will enable us to move forward.

“I’m incredibly proud to have been able to represent the interests of Swindon patients at the CCG over the last two years, and I would like to thank Nicki Millin, as well as all other CCG staff, for their hard work and continued support during my time here.”

Dr Mack was appointed clinical chair of the CCG in November 2016 after the death of his predecessor, Dr Peter Crouch.

Announcing the departure of Dr Mack, Swindon CCG accountable officer Nicki Millin thanked him for his tireless efforts over the past two years: “Peter is first and foremost a GP, and it is fully understandable that he now wishes to focus his attention and time on his patients and improving the services at Moredon Medical Centre, and I am fully supportive of this decision.”

Moredon Medical Centre was rated inadequate by the CQC following an inspection in November. The leadership at the centre was heavily criticised and inspectors warned that health and safety and legal requirements were not being met. Inspectors demanded widespread improvements to ensure care was provided in a safe way, establish effective governance and ensure recruitment procedures are set up and operated effectively.

The surgery entered into a partnership arrangement with firm Integral Medical Holdings in June, one of five practices to have partners with the Manchester-based company. Patients have complained about difficulties in booking GP appointments and getting hold of prescriptions since IMH introduced a new central phone line in the autumn.

CQC inspectors said despite efforts by managers to tackle the delays, patients and staff said the problems remained.