PATIENTS were put at risk after doctors failed to act on abnormal tests results for up to two months, an investigation has found.

Health watchdogs discovered a catalogue of failings when they inspected the Alma Medical Centre in Southampton leading to it being rated as inadequate and being placed in special measures.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors randomly selected 30 pathology test results of patients which had been returned as potentially abnormal but found they had not been acted upon by surgery staff.

The report says some of these "red flag" results had not been actioned for two months by the surgery which is run by Dr Gail Ord-Hume and Partners.

"We randomly selected three of these results for closer review and found that patients were put at potential risk due to inaction by the practice," the report concludes.

Now senior managers at the Portswood-based surgery have been ordered to make major improvements within six months or face losing their registration.

City health authority bosses insist the surgery is making improvements and lessons are being learned.

In a letter to patients practice staff said they were "disappointed" by the report and added: "We will work to resolve all areas of concern and provide you with a service to be proud of for a long time to come."

The CQC rated the practice as "inadequate" in three key areas relating to safety, effectiveness and leadership.

But the level of care at the surgery was deemed "good" while it was also rated as "requiring improvement" in responsiveness.

The practice's seven GPs serve more than 10,000 patients ranging from students and young people to the elderly.

The practice was flagged up for poor auditing and record-keeping in relation to safety and infection control.

The report found that:

Safety checks on electrical portable appliances had not been conducted since 2013.

Recommendations to minimise the risk of legionella had not been carried out.

Some staff were unaware of where emergency equipment and medicine were stored which in fact was on a shelf too high for some of them to reach.

A lack of infection control audits.

Insufficient recording of fire alarm testing and drills.

Inspectors also ruled there was inadequate staff training, checks on references and employment history of new staff were "inconsistent" and there was a lack of "clear vision" in leadership.

But patients interviewed insisted they were treated with "compassion, dignity and respect" and inspectors said the practice was "well equipped" to meet patients needs.

They also praised arrangements for a dedicated nurse and health care assistant to offer personalised care for over-75s.

CQC deputy chief inspector of general practice Janet Williamson said: “While we found staff caring and rated them good for this, we also found significant areas of concern.

"I am hopeful that the practice will do what is required for the sake of their patients, but if we find that services remain inadequate, we will consider taking further action."

A spokeswoman for Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said she was "disappointed" by the report but insisted the practice was making improvements and the CCG is working in partnership with NHS England to help them.

She said: "The practice clearly has some significant challenges ahead and has already taken a number of steps to make the improvements needed.

"Whilst the challenges faced by the practice should not be taken lightly, we can reassure members of the public that the practice has our support and confidence in their capacity to make the necessary improvements.

"We are however pleased to see that the report rated the practice good for caring, which reflects the compassionate care provided by staff."