New Road Medical Centre

Background to this inspection

Updated 27 July 2017

Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill also known as New Road Medical Centre is located in Walsall, West Midlands in a multipurpose modern built NHS building, providing NHS services to the local community. Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill consist of two sites both managed under separate General Medical Services (GMS) contracts with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). GMS is a contract between general practices and the CCG for delivering primary care services to local communities. Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill is part of Walsall Alliance, which is a Federation consisting of 31 practices in Walsall enabling collaboration on a wider population basis.

Based on data available from Public Health England, the levels of deprivation in the area served by New Road Medical Centre are below the national average, ranked at four out of 10, with 10 being the least deprived. Deprivation covers a broad range of issues and refers to unmet needs caused by a lack of resources of all kinds, not just financial.

The practice population group from birth to ages 85 and over were comparable to local and national averages for most age groups. For example, patients’ aged from birth to four years old were comparable to local and national averages. Patients aged 60 to 69 were also comparable to local and national averages however, patients aged 70 to79 were above average.

The patient list is 1,896 of various ages registered and cared for at the practice. Services to patients are provided under a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The surgery has expanded its contracted obligations to provide enhanced services to patients. An enhanced service is above the contractual requirement of the practice and is commissioned to improve the range of services available to patients.

The surgery is situated on the ground floor of a multipurpose building shared with other health care providers. On-site parking is available with designated spaces for cyclists and patients who display a disabled blue badge. The surgery has automatic entrance doors and is accessible to patients using a wheelchair.

The practice staffing comprises of three GP partners (two male & one female), on regular female locum GP, one independent nurse prescriber, two practice nurses, one practice manager, a team of secretaries and receptionists. Practice staff worked across both sites. The practice is a student nurse teaching practice offering placements and mentoring for students from the local university.

The practice is open between 8.30am and 6.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesday opening times are between 8.30am and 7.30pm; Thursdays are from 8.30am to 1pm.

GP consulting hours are from 9.30am to 11.30am and 4pm to 6pm Mondays; 8.40am to 10.30am and 5pm to 7pm Tuesdays; 8.40am to 10.30am and 4pm to 6pm Wednesdays; 9.30am to 11.30am Thursdays; 9.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 4pm Fridays. The practice has opted out of providing cover to patients in their out of hours period. During this time services are provided by NHS 111. During in service closure times services are provided by WALDOC (Walsall doctors on call).

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 27 July 2017

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill also known as New Road Medical Centre on 22 November 2016. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the November 2016 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was an announced focused inspection carried out on 11 July 2017 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breaches in regulations that were identified in our previous inspection on 22 November 2016. This report covers our findings in relation to those requirements and also additional improvements made since our last inspection.

Overall the practice is now rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

Since our November 2016 inspection, the practice established effective processes and practices to keep patients safe and safeguarded from abuse. For example, staff operated a comprehensive and well embedded system for monitoring and tracking patients who failed to attend hospital appointments.
During this inspection, we saw completed risk assessments which demonstrated effective management of risks such as fire safety and control of substances hazardous to health.
Following our previous inspection, the practice reviewed arrangements for dealing with medical emergencies. At this inspection, we saw evidence of actions taken to ensure timely access to appropriate emergency medicines and equipment.
When we carried out our November 2016 inspection, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data we viewed showed areas where the practice was performing below local and national averages. During this inspection, staff explained that an action plan had been developed to improve the practice performance. Published and unverified data showed that QOF outcomes had improved.
Documents provided by the practice as part of this inspection, demonstrated effective use of clinical audits to drive improvements in patient care.

Further actions taken to identify carers since the previous inspection, showed a slight increase in the practice carers list. Staff explained that carers were offered support where needed and the new patient registration form included questions which identified carers. We were told that reception staff actively updated records when patients attended the practice. A carer’s corner which included information on various support groups was located in the reception area.
Since the previous inspection, the practice developed and reviewed a number of policies and procedures to govern activity, which all staff had access to. Oversight of procedures and risks had improved since the previous inspection. As a result, arrangements for managing pathology results, practice performance and patients who failed to attend appointments had improved.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP)

Chief Inspector of General Practice