BRACKNELL'S Urgent Care Centre 'requires improvement' according to a health watchdog who say immediate work is needed to improve the centre's inadequate leadership. 

The walk-in centre, based at Brants Bridge, has been reinspected by the Care Quality Commission after being told to make urgent changes following a visit in August 2015 before a full rating could be finalised.

During an announced inspection on October 7, CQC inspectors decided the centre did require improvement despite the level of care and responsiveness being considered 'good'. 

Poor leadership meant the centre was rated 'inadequate' in one of five areas rated by inspectors who said there was not always appropriate staff cover after 8pm in the evenings.

Professor Steve Field, chief inspector of general practice, said: "The provider had not worked effectively with local Healthwatch. The culture in the centre was not conducive to open communication among staff and from leaders to staff.

"Leaders were not identifying problems reported to us by staff in order to ensure that where improvements to the service were identified, they were acted on."

Dr Jim Gardner, of Bracknell Urgent Care Centre announced a new head of urgent care had been appointed at the centre and that the 'overwhelming' feedback from patients was positive. 

He said: "The report also detailed the positive work we are doing at Bracknell Urgent Care Centre with particular focus on the excellent care delivered by the team and the responsiveness to people’s needs. The overwhelming feedback from patients at the Brants Bridge site has been positive with patients regarding the service as caring and efficient.

"However, we have been working with the CCG over the last few months to improve the team make up to meet increasing patient needs.

He added more robust reporting structures had been introduced for staff and the centre was investing heavily in the community with the launch of a new Support and Advice hub for patients. 

Following its original inspection in August, the centre, run by One Medicare Ltd, admitted it had underestimated how many patients would go to them for treatment, with 10 per cent more cases than had been anticipated since it opened in April 2014.

The centre is open every day 8am to 8pm providing advice and treatment for minor injuries and illness, such as cuts, sprains, bruises and broken bones, as well as x-ray facilities.