Two troubled Swindon GP practices will move on from the hospital trust's management to continue with their "improvement journey".

Moredon Medical Centre and Abbey Meads Medical Practice were taken on by Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in November 2019 after they were rated 'inadequate' by the Care Quality Commission.

The surgeries were pulled out of special measures under GWH's management but, almost three years on, both Abbey Meads and Moredon have been rated 'requires improvement' by the health watchdog as recently as August.

GWH's CEO Kevin McNamara says the hospital trust will focus on ensuring the GP practices' "smooth" transfer to a new provider now they are in a more stable position.

The trust admits that, while both practices have made progress on issues such as access, safeguarding and recruitment, they still have some way to go.

Swindon's Integrated Care Board hopes the Abbey Meads and Moredon can benefit from the experience of a more "established" primary care network.

The 30,000 local patients using these services have been reassured that they should not notice any disruption over the coming months and years.

Standards plummeted at Moredon and Abbey Meads in 2019 following a disastrous attempt by private firm Integral Medical Holdings to streamline patient care. Patients struggled to get through and had trouble making appointments.

GWH took on the two practices, which include Crossroads and Penhill surgeries to bring "stability".

Inspectors criticised the surgeries' poor leadership and safeguarding when they visited in May this year.

GWH's CEO Kevin McNamara said: “The practices are now in a secure enough position to begin the next phase of their improvement journey outside of the Trust, where they can benefit from the experience, knowledge, and scale of another established primary care network.

“In the last few years, we have focused on the things we know matter most to patients, with reduced call waiting times, increased appointment availability, and more GPs.

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“The practices are now in a more positive place, and we are committed to building on this great progress, while we focus on a smooth transfer to a new provider, and as we work together in the future to provide integrated care to the people of Swindon.

“Significant progress has been made since we welcomed the practices to the Trust in 2019, providing stability to the teams and continuity of care to 30,000 local patients.

“I’d like to thank practice staff who should feel incredibly proud of the progress we have made so far.

The regional ICB's CEO Sue Harriman said: “The team at the trust stepped in at this difficult time and provided the practices with expert leadership and much-needed stability.

“I would like to thank everybody involved for their work in helping to keep these vital services open, while continuing to provide patients with safe and high-quality care.

“The trust’s vision to join primary and secondary care services together to create a truly integrated system in Swindon was reflective of the organisation’s forward-thinking nature, and the excellent progress made will act as a foundation to support further improvements.

“We are working with the trust, as well as practice staff, to ensure that patients do not experience any disruption as work takes place behind the scenes, and the good work started by the Trust continues, both in the coming months and years."