• Doctor
  • GP practice

The New Surgery

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

8 Shenfield Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AB (01277) 218393

Provided and run by:
The New Surgery

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about The New Surgery on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about The New Surgery, you can give feedback on this service.

31 January 2020

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about The New Surgery on 31 January 2020. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

22 July 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out a desk top review of The New Surgery on 22 July 2016. This was to check the practice had responded appropriately the findings of their announced comprehensive inspection conducted on 20 January 2016. At this inspection the practice was rated as good overall, good for safe, effective, caring and well led domains. The responsive domain was rated as requires improvement.

During our last inspection we required the provider to ensure that all complaints received were fully investigated. Patients were also required to be provided with information as to how they could escalate their concerns should they remain dissatisfied with the outcome or how their complaint was handled. We issued the practice with a requirement notice for improvement in relation to their complaints system.

Additionally, they were asked to review the arrangements for obtaining patient consent. It was required to reflect staff responsibilities for determining who holds parental responsibilities when children are treated. We did not issue a requirement notice for this area of improvement but advised the practice that they should make improvements in relation to providing effective services.

After the inspection report was published the provider sent us an action plan that detailed how they would make the necessary improvements. We were the provided documentary evidence of the improvements they had made and we were able to carry out a desk top inspection without the need to visit the practice.

During this desk top inspection, we reviewed two complaints that had been reported since February 2016. We found both complaints had been acknowledged, investigated and responded to appropriately with all aspects addressed. The complainants had also been informed of how to escalate concerns if they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the practices findings.

We found the practice had revised their consent policy. It has been shared with staff who had confirmed they had read and understood it. Where children were brought to the surgery by a person without parental responsibility, a signed consent form was taken from somebody with parental responsibility before care and treatment was provided. Parents were also required to present the Child Immunisation History (Red Book) and letter of invite for their children’s immunisations in order to evidence that they had parental responsibility for the child concerned.

Overall, we found that the practice had made the necessary improvements required of them.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

20 January 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The New Surgery on 20 January 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good. The practice is rated good for safe, effective, caring and well led domains. The practice is rated as requires improvement for the responsive domain.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • The practice ensured that when things went wrong that these were investigated and learning was shared with staff.
  • There were systems for assessing risks including those associated with medicines, equipment and infection control. A fire safety risk assessment had been conducted and staff had undertaken fire safety training.
  • Health and safety information was practice specific and a health and safety risk assessment had been carried out.
  • There was a detailed business continuity plan to deal with untoward incidents that may affect the day to day running of the practice.
  • Staff were recruited robustly with all of the appropriate checks carried out to determine each person’s suitability and fitness to work at the practice.
  • Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered following best practice guidance.

  • There were procedures in place for obtaining patients consent to care and treatment. However some staff were unaware of their responsibilities to identify parental responsibilities when obtaining consent in relation to treating children.

  • Clinical audits and reviews were carried out to monitor and improve patient care and treatment.

  • Staff told us that they were supported and received role specific training to meet the needs of patients. Staff had undertaken appropriate role specific training. There was a system for staff appraisal.
  • Patients said they were treated with dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment. They said that staff were helpful, polite and courteous.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Complaints were investigated and responded to promptly and apologies given to patients when things went wrong or their experienced poor care or services. However in responding to complaints the practice did not always address all of the elements of the complaint fully. Complaint responses did not include details of how the complainant could escalate their concerns should they remain dissatisfied with the outcome or how their complaint was handled.
  • The practice offered a range of appointments including face to face, telephone and online consultations. Routine appointments could be booked in advance. Same day appointments were available.
  • Patients said they often found it difficult to get through to the practice by telephone and to make an appointment with a named GP. Some patients reported having to wait for up to four weeks to see their named GP or 10 to 12 days to see a different GP for a routine appointment. Some also experienced long waiting times (up to 40 minutes after their appointment time).
  • The practice was accessible to patients with mobility difficulties had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.

There were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly the provider must:

  • Ensure that all complaints received are fully investigated and that patients are provided with information as to how they can escalate their concerns should they remain dissatisfied with the outcome or how their complaint was handled.

Additionally the should:

  • Review the arrangements for obtaining patient consent so that they reflect staff responsibilities for determining who holds parental responsibility when children are treated.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

20 February 2014

During a routine inspection

The New Surgery consisted of the main surgery and a smaller branch surgery, The Brambles, which had been acquired recently. We found both surgeries to be welcoming with friendly staff.

Practice information was displayed for people who used the service, including health promotion, access to support and other available services. Appointments could be made at either surgery, in person, by telephone or online using the surgery's website.

We spoke with seven people who all spoke highly of the services provided to them.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual wishes. One person said, "It's fine here. It's really good that the doctor will telephone you if you need to speak with them." Another person said, "They know me here, even though I don't bother them much. I got an appointment really quickly today as I didn't feel well."

We saw that there was a system to ensure repeat prescriptions were available promptly and medicines that were kept at the surgery were stored safely.

Staff were supported through appraisal and the clinical and senior staff held regular meetings, however, these did not extend to most of the non-clinical staff. We spoke with five staff who said they enjoyed working in the practice.

The practice had a complaints policy in place. Any dissatisfaction from people who had used the service was treated promptly and appropriately. There were systems in place to ensure that staff members learnt from any complaints in an effort to prevent future occurrences.