A ROCHFORD GP surgery where the partner doctors were locked in a dispute for a number of years has been closed down following ongoing quality concerns, affecting almost 9,000 patients.

Dr Jose Bajen and Dr Inigo Blasco, who ran the Rochford Medical Practice as a partnership, came under fire from the Care Quality Commission in July 2016. In a report by Chief Inspector of General Practice, Professor Steve Field, the surgery was labelled “inadequate” and placed in special measures.

At the time, Professor Field said: “This dispute pervaded through the practice and impacted on staff working at the practice, creating an unhappy working environment.”

Two further inspections in January and February 2017 were carried out with the same “inadequate” result, leading to the special measures being extended. A final report was made following an inspection in March 2018, giving the practice a “requires improvement” rating.

Now, a mutual decision has been made by Dr Bajen and Dr Blasco and the NHS Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group to close the surgery with immediate effect.

As of Monday, the 8,900 patients registered at the Rochford Medical Practice will be welcome at The Puzey Family Practice. The surgery shares the same building, Southwell House, in Back Lane.

Patients are advised to attend any pre-booked appointments and order any new repeat prescriptions in the same way as before. The same switchboard number will remain open.

The decision to close the Rochford Medical Practice has been supported by NHS England and the Local Medical Committee.

Chief nurse at Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group, Tricia D’Orsi, said: “As commissioners, it is our priority to ensure that continuity of GP services is maintained for the patients registered at Rochford Medical Practice. We want to reassure patients that there will be minimal impact on their services.”

Dr Bajen will be working as locum doctor on a short-term basis at the Puzey Family Practice.

A letter will be sent to patients with further information.