Updated 8 August 2019
Crawcrook Medical Centre provides care and treatment to around 6,935 patients in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The practice is part of Newcastle Gateshead clinical commissioning group (CCG) and operates on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract agreement for general practice.
The practice is part of a corporate provider, Medicus General Practice Ltd, which itself is part of the CBC Health group. The provider holds the contracts for three other GP practices in the Gateshead area, while CBC Health holds the contract for the local out of hours service (Gatdoc). CBC Health took over Crawcrook Medical Centre in August 2018.
The practice provides services from the following address, which we visited during this inspection:
- Pattinson Drive, Crawcrook, Ryton, NE40 4US
The practice did have a branch surgery, known as Greenside Surgery but this closed in May 2017 following a period of public consultation.
The practice is located in purpose-built accommodation which opened in 2012. All reception and consultation rooms are fully accessible for patients with mobility issues. Dedicated parking spaces are available to the side and rear of the building, there is car park and on street parking available nearby.
The practice is open on a Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm but practice doors are opened at 7.50am. Appointment times run from 8am to 5.30pm.
The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out-of-hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and GatDoc.
Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone.
The practice has:
- three salaried GPs,
- six regular locum GPs,
- one nurse practitioner;
- two practice nurses;
- two healthcare assistants;
- a service manager;
- a reception/admin supervisor;
- a secretary/patient liason/IT lead, plus another secretary;
- seven reception staff;
- and an apprentice.
The practices age distribution profile showed fewer patients under the age of 40 than the national average and a higher number of patients in the over 40 age groups. Average life expectancy for the male practice population was 79 years and for the female population 83 which were both the same as the national averages.
57% of the practice population were recorded as having a long standing health condition (CCG average 55% ad national average 53%) Higher percentages may result in an increased demand for primary health services. 64% of the practice population were recorded as being in paid work or full-time education (CCG average 60% and national average 63%).