The MP for Stevenage has said ‘time is running out’ for the private company running the troubled new Surgicentre at Lister Hospital.

Stephen McPartland said today he is still concerned about the large numbers of constituents contacting him about operation delays and cancellations at the Clinicenta-Carillion owned surgery unit which opened last September.

The owners were heavily criticised in a review by the Care Quality Commission in April, and company bosses were called in to Westminster by Mr McPartland to explain their poor performance to Comet country MPs.

Despite promised action by the company, the problems are ongoing.

Mr McPartland said: “It is public knowledge that I organised a meeting of MPs and summoned Clinicenta-Corillion to explain the variety of difficulties local people are encountering in accessing their services. It is clear that the shared pathway process, which was implemented by the previous government, is deeply flawed and in urgent need of reform.”

He added that he will take the matter up with ministers to find a solution.

“I will continue working with the CQC and primary care trust to improve this service, but time is running out for Clinicenta-Carillion. I will be meeting with health ministers shortly to raise my continuing concerns and identify a new way forward for this service, which puts patients first.”

Clinicenta-Corrilian has a five year contract to manage routine operations at the centre which are performed by NHS doctors seconded from the East and North Herts NHS Trust.