The Care Quality Commission
  • Doctor
  • GP practice

New Road Medical Centre

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Chester Road North, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 7JB (01922) 604546

Provided and run by:
Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about New Road Medical Centre 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 New Road Medical Centre, you can give feedback on this service.

31 May 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about New Road Medical Centre on 31 May 2019. 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.

11 July 2017

During an inspection looking at part of the service

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

22 November 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Dr's P L & S Kaul and Dr G K Gill also known as New Road Medical Centre on 22 November 2016. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

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

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording incidents and significant events. Patient safety and medicines alerts were effectively managed and where necessary appropriate actions were taken.

  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed; with the exception of those relating to the absence of some emergency medicines, the following up of children who failed to attend hospital appointments and assurance from the property owners that health and safety assessments had been carried out.

  • Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) showed patient outcomes were low in some areas compared to the national average. Although some audits had been carried out, we saw no evidence that audits were driving improvements to patient outcomes and a formal plan to target these areas had not been established.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment and worked with other health care providers such as district nurses to respond to and meet the needs of the practice patient population groups.
  • Although patients we spoke with said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they felt involved in their care and decisions about their treatment, the July 2016 national GP patient survey showed patients rated the practice lower than others for some aspects of care. The practice developed an action plan to address identified issues.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand. The practice identified areas for further improvements to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
  • Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day. National GP patient survey showed patient’s satisfaction with how they could access care and treatment was above local and national averages.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.
  • There was a leadership structure and staff felt supported by management.
  • There were areas where the governance structure and systems was not effectively operated. For example, the practice did not develop a targeted formal plan to improve quality and performance. The practice had not implemented a structure of formal meetings or operated an effective system to manage pathology results or internal mail from other healthcare specialists.

The areas where the provider must make improvement are:

  • Ensure the practice safeguarding procedures are followed to ensure where appropriate staff are following up children who had not attended hospital appointments.

  • Ensure that in the absence of some emergency medicines risks are identified and assessments carried out to mitigate risks associated with anticipated emergency situations.

  • Ensure that governance arrangements and systems are established and effectively implemented across the practice, including a programme of quality improvement including clinical audit

The areas where the provider should make improvement are:

  • Continue to gain assurance from the property owners that they have carried out a fire and legionella risk assessment.

  • Continue exploring and establishing effective methods to identify carers in order to provide further support where needed.

  • Explore effective ways of encouraging the uptake of national screening programmes such as cervical, bowel and breast cancer.

  • Continue exploring and establishing effective methods to improve patient satisfaction.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice