GP surgery bosses called to speak before committee
Castlegate and Derwent SurgeryBosses at a town's only GP surgery, which was placed into special measures, will be called to speak before a council committee.
Castlegate and Derwent Surgery, in Cockermouth, was given the lowest rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following a February inspection.
MP for Penrith and Solway Markus Campbell-Savours asked Cumberland Council's health overview and scrutiny committee if it was going to use its powers to get the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board to explain the history of its problems, alongside the surgery and CQC.
Earlier this month, the surgery apologised to patients, saying the inspection occurred during "unprecedented winter demand and staff shortages".
A surgery spokesperson said it had made "significant improvements" since the inspection.
The Labour MP told members of the committee his office had received emails from residents outlining concerns over the quality of care provided by the GP surgery.
He said the practice had issues repeatedly flagged by the CQC since 2023 and the report highlighted concerns over leadership and governance.
He added he felt the committee should conduct a "useful inquiry" into the current situation, which had left residents in Cockermouth feeling "so let down".
Councillors agreed they needed to carry out a "deep dive" to look into the failings, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Green councillor Helen Davison said: "This is the only surgery that serves Cockermouth so residents have little choice where to go."
Meanwhile Labour councillor Martin Harris said he was registered with the practice and there may be mitigating circumstances and reasonable questions needed to be asked.
Labour's Gillian Troughton suggested it could be an item on the agenda for the next meeting on 30 July and Conservative John Mallinson said they needed to be "open and transparent" over the matter.
Members agreed it should be included in July's meeting when representatives from both the surgery, integrated care board and inspection team would be invited to speak.