SEVEN doctors’ surgeries in Pennine Lancashire have been labelled as a ‘high priority’ for inspection by the official health watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said patients of practices given the top risk banding ‘may not be receiving high-quality and compassionate care’.

Three of the surgeries are in Blackburn – Brookhouse Medical Centre in Whalley Range, Dr N Nagpal’s Practice in William Hopwood Street, and Dr Issak Hussan Bhojani’s Practice at Bangor Street Health Resource Centre.

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Peel House Medical Practice and Richmond Medical in Accrington were also given the top banding, of one out of six, along with St James’ Medical Centre in Rawtenstall and Daneshouse Medical Centre in Burnley.

The bandings are based on statistical evidence submitted by each practice and will help the CQC decide how it should prioritise its inspections under its new and in-depth regime, which it rolled out formally last month.

But the regulator stressed it can only judge the quality of care within a service once it has carried out an inspection.

It said the initial analysis indicated which services appear to be doing well, as well as where people may not be receiving high-quality and compassionate care.

Several of the risks identified at Dr Nagpal’s and Dr Bhojani’s practices were based on responses to a patients survey around the quality of care and services.

Dr Bhojani said the scores for both practices were affected by ‘very poor’ response rates and ‘therefore the results are not likely to represent our practice populations’.

He added: “We are confident that we provide a high level of patient care and we will of course work with the CQC to ensure that we maintain this and, where necessary, work towards improvement.”

Dr Fiona Ford, of Richmond Medical, said she was ‘well aware’ of the reasons why the practice was flagged as an inspection priority, such as the high rate of hospital attendances from its patients.

She said some of the factors were outside the surgery’s control, such as the high proportion of patients on low incomes and benefits.

She added:: “We are doing some work on each of the issues in order to make sure we’re doing all we can.”

Peel House Medical Practice said in a statement: “The practice is aware of the CQC’s report outlining issues around access and appointment availability.

“These are areas which are already under active review within the practice in conjunction with our Patient Participation Group.

“Whilst we share these concerns, we also welcome a further opportunity to explore new ways of improving access to our clinical services, all of which are stated in this most recent report to be ‘OK’ or ‘Better than Average’.

Daneshouse Medical Centre, where concerns were raised in patient surveys, refused to comment.

Brookhouse Medical Centre, where concerns were raised about the number of women receiving cervical screening test, and St James’ Medical Centre, where patient surveys suggested dissatisfaction with the opening hours, did not respond.

About one in seven practices in England were given the highest risk banding.

Professor Steve Field, the chief inspector of general practice, said: “It is important to remember that the data is not a judgement as it is only when we inspect we can determine if a practice provides safe, high-quality and compassionate care.”

Most practices in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen were given a risk banding of six, indicating they are a low priority for inspection.