The doctor's surgery was placed in special measures after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection
A doctor's surgery where patients queued outside to get an appointment has been placed in special measures.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) took action against Princes Park Health Centre in Liverpool following an inspection in April.
The practice, run by SSP Health Limited, was rated as "inadequate, external" for failing to deploy "sufficient number of GPs to meet the demands of patients".
SSP Health Limited said the CQC reached "incorrect" conclusions.
Although CQC inspectors said they "received some positive comments from patients", they also identified a number of "significant concerns".
Patients "regularly had to queue outside the practice for it to open to ensure they get an appointment for that day", they reported.
The high usage of locum and agency GPs led to a lack of continuity of care, and increased the risk of patient incidents and complaints occurring, according to the CQC.
Sue McMillan, deputy chief inspector of General Practice at the CQC, said the lack of adequate GP cover, poor continuity of care for patients and "a failure to share learning from incidents" were among the issues raised.
"Immediate action must be taken in light of these findings so that people get safe, high-quality primary care," she said.
A spokeswoman for SSP Health Limited said: "We apologise for any worry or distress this news may cause patients and confirm that we have always been and remain committed to providing GP services which are of the highest possible standards for patients. "
She added the CQC team had "reached incorrect, subjective and disproportionate conclusions."
