BOSSES at Frinton’s once-struggling Caradoc Surgery claim it has undergone a complete turnaround in the last year.

The surgery reached crisis point last year after its last permanent doctor was forced to take early retirement due to ill health.

Recruitment struggles left the surgery short-staffed and patients were often lined up in long early-morning queues along Station Approach in a desperate bid to secure an appointment.

Healthcare provider Anglian Community Enterprise (ACE) took over in November.

Caradoc patient participation group chairman Neil Churcher says the surgery has been transformed over the last few months.

He said: “It is now easy to get an appointment.

“It is being very professionally run and, in my view has experienced a complete turnaround. Patients are very satisfied.”

Nicola Carmichael, director of operations at ACE, said: “As a social enterprise, we are committed to supporting excellent services in our local community and we are delighted Caradoc surgery patients are so happy with the service they are receiving.

“We are particularly pleased that, in the light of such great national difficulties with GP recruitment, we have now succeeded in recruiting three full-time GPs to the surgery.

“We are very pleased to have welcomed Dr Carlo Knorr to the practice as clinical lead.”