AN INVESTIGATION into a doctor’s conduct in Romney House Surgery in Tetbury is expected to be concluded by the end of summer, investigators confirmed.

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England, who commissioned the investigation in January, are ensuring allegations of bullying, harassment and poor patient experience - all in relation to a doctor - are “properly and fairly investigated”, a spokesperson for the NHS bodies said.

The investigation, run by Independent investigators Capsticks, started in February and had been expected to finish by the end of March.

Investigators had been interviewing patients who submitted complaints so they can submit a report to the NHS groups.

Explaining the delay, the NHS spokesperson said: “As a result of the time needed to accommodate all interviews around people’s availability, ensure interview notes and submissions are thoroughly reviewed and approved and the report produced, the team has advised that the investigation will be concluded by the end of the Summer.”

Allegations of bullying and harassment at the surgery gained the spotlight after residents at a town meeting on November 16 claimed Dr Katharina Nehrig, who resigned at the end of last year, was ‘forced out’ of the surgery due to alleged bullying.

Residents said this followed two other female doctors leaving the surgery in recent years - Dr Angela Kirby departed three years ago and Dr Caroline Maxwell went four years back.

A petition in November calling for the problems at Romney House to be resolved gained 880 signatures.

The petition was initially started by Alison Hesketh in hopes that Dr Nehrig would reconsider her resignation, and its wording raises concerns that Dr Nehrig’s departure would cause a decline in the level of service at Romney House.

A second petition, planned to be presented to the House of Commons, had been circulating in the town in January, but campaigners are now holding that off until the investigation is concluded.

During the public meeting in November Kesh Makhecha, practice manager at the surgery, told residents that Dr Nehrig cited personal reasons for her decision to leave.

The issue was also brought to Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown’s attention as he called for an independent and thorough investigation into the matter in early January.

The MP, who had written to the General Medical Council, GCCG, NHS England, and the Secretary of State for Health, said earlier this year: “It is important that this whole matter is dealt with the utmost thoroughness but calmly in order to attract new GPs to work in the Tetbury surgery and assure all residents of Tetbury that they will have a first class and well managed GP Practice for the future.”