Central Gateshead Medical Group

Updated 7 August 2018

Central Gateshead Medical Group provides care and treatment to around 10,503 patients of all ages from the Chowdene, Wrekenton, Felling (except Wardley), Leam Lane, Carr Hill, Low Fell, Bensham and Heworth areas of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The practice is part of Newcastle Gateshead clinical commissioning group (CCG) and operates on a Primary Medical Services (PMS) contract agreement for general practice.

The practice provides services from the following addresses, which we visited during this inspection:

• The Health Centre, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1NB

The surgery is located in a purpose-built health centre which it shares with a pharmacy and a number of other health related services including community podiatry, memory protection team, physiotherapy, speech therapy and audiology. All patient areas and consultation rooms are on the ground floor and there is good access and facilities for patients with disabilities. An on-site pay and display car park is available which includes dedicated disabled car parking spaces.

Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone. Opening hours for reception are as follows:

• Monday – 8.30am to 6.30pm
• Tuesday to Friday – 8.30am to 6pm

Patients attending appointments when reception is closed are able to check in using an automated service.

The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and GatDoc.

The practice has:

• Six GP partners (four male and two female)
• Three salaried GPs (one male and two female)
• One nurse practitioner (female)
• Two practice nurses (female)
• Four healthcare assistants/primary care navigators (all female)
• 16 non-clinical staff members including a practice manager, deputy practice manager, performance team leader, IT manager, medical secretary, reception team leader, receptionists, administrators and apprentices.

The practice is a training practice and involved in the training of medical students, nursing students and pharmacists.

The average life expectancy for the male practice population is 76 (CCG average 74 and national average 79) and for the female population 80 (CCG average 82 and national average 83). Age group percentages are comparable to local and national averages. For example, 15% of the practices’ patient population are in the over 65 age group compared to the CCG average of 16% and national average of 17%.

At 57%, the percentage of the practice population reported as having a long-standing health condition was lower than the CCG and national averages of 54%. Generally, a higher percentage of patients with a long-standing health condition can lead to an increased demand for GP services.

At 57% the percentage of the practice population recorded as being in paid work or full-time education was lower than the CCG average of 61% and national average of 62%. The practice area is in the second most deprived decile. Deprivation levels affecting children and adults were higher than local and national averages.

Updated 7 August 2018

This practice is rated as Good overall. (Previous rating 01 2015 – Good)

The key questions at this inspection are rated as:

Are services safe? – Good

Are services effective? – Good

Are services caring? – Good

Are services responsive? – Good

Are services well-led? - Good

We carried out an announced comprehensive/ inspection at Central Gateshead Medical group on 7 June 2018 as part of our current programme on inspection.

At this inspection we found:

• The practice had some clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the practice learned from them and improved their processes.
• The practice routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence- based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients reported that they were treat with dignity and respect, involved in decisions about their care and treatment and able to access care when they needed it.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

• The practice hosted a weekly patient social group which was attended by approximately 18 core members. The group was open to any patient registered with the practice but was primarily aimed at patients who may be at risk of social isolation. Activities included gardening, quizzes, theatre trips and charity fundraising.

The areas where the provider should make improvements:

• Take steps to assure themselves that locum clinicians employed by the practice are up to date with mandatory training requirements.
• Assure themselves that all potential health and safety risks to staff and patients are documented and assessed.
• Consider ways to improve Quality Outcomes Framework clinical exception reporting rates to ensure they are comparable with local and national averages.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP
Chief Inspector of General Practice

Please refer to the detailed report and the evidence tables for further information.

Updated 7 August 2018

Updated 7 August 2018

Updated 7 August 2018

Updated 7 August 2018

Updated 7 August 2018

Updated 7 August 2018