IVYBRIDGE Medical Practice is reassuring its patients after a new report revealed the ­surgery is at risk of providing poor care.

Last week health watchdog the Care Quality Commission publicised pre-inspection risk assessments on 300 surgeries in Devon.

The health centres at both Ivybridge and Modbury were classed in band one, the highest priority for inspection.

A spokeswoman from Ivybridge Medical Practice said: 'The CQC issued a score that sets out how each practice fares against national indicators. This information is based on data from April 2013 to March 2014. Beacon Medical Group does not yet have a score, but the three legacy practices have been graded.

'We're disappointed to learn that Ivybridge was given a priority banding for inspection.

'The other two practices – Ridgeway and Plym River – received among the lowest-­priority bandings.

'Ivybridge was ­highlighted as being a priority because five out of the 38 indicators were judged to be risks.'

Dr Jonathan Cope, managing partner at Beacon Medical Group, added: 'This news was disappointing and is based on historical data.

'We've reviewed our mechanisms for calling in patients for regular checks across the group and have drawn on the best practice.

'These health checks aren't always popular among patient groups, but they're an important marker in how patients are engaged.

'Of course, there's more we can do to make sure as many patients as possible receive the care they need. We're working closely with our patient participation group to get their feedback on the national survey.

'We do value the feedback patients offer, either through complaints or via this ­voluntary group.'

The CQC said Ivybridge Health Centre had elevated levels of risk in the care of patients with dementia and diabetes in the preceding 12 months.

Modbury Heath Centre had an elevated risk in the care of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses in the preceding 12 months.

A spokesman for the CQC said: 'The figures show us where to inspect and when.

'There may be reasons why the data suggests what it does, and that's what we'll be talking

to GPs about in our inspections.'

The CQC has ­developed a new model for monitoring a range of key indicators for NHS GP practices.

These indicators relate to the five key questions asked of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.

The CQC said the 'intelligent monitoring' tool that is used to band the practices has been developed to give the organisation a clearer understanding of each provider, which tells inspectors where they should inspect and what to focus on during an inspection.

Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston tweeted: 'The CQC map is merely

a tool to prioritise inspections, but it will undoubtedly rapidly change practice in those in band one.

'Publication of the CQC tool may drive early change, but ­handle with care, as if other markers had been chosen it could look very different.'

'Overall the CQC tool should be more clearly labelled as a poor way to judge overall quality of practice, but it's still right to publish.

'If the CQC tool had not been published, the CQC could have been accused of not putting the patients first by ­taking the opportunity to drive change prior to inspections.'

Modbury Health Centre refused to ­comment.