Updated 3 February 2020
The Westgate Practice is located within Greenhill Medical Centre. It has one branch at Shenstone which is run as “an extension” with most clinical staff rotating though it. Shenstone Surgery is located at 26 Lincoln Croft, Shenstone, Lichfield. WS14 0ND. We visited the Shenstone branch on 3 October 2019 as part of our inspection.
Patients registered at the practice may visit either location to receive services. The practice offers clinical treatment on the ground floor of the building at the main site and the branch is a single storey building. The branch at Shenstone has disabled access at the rear of the building and had tried to gain permission to add an access ramp to the front of the building which has not been supported by the local council.
The practice has 10 partners and 12 salaried GPs, with an equal split of male and female. The practice is a training practice for GP registrars. GP registrars are qualified doctors who undertake additional training to gain experience and higher qualifications in general practice and family medicine. The practice also participates in the teaching of student doctors from two local universities.
The practice has five advanced nurse practitioners; eight practice nurses and three health care assistants and two phlebotomists. The practice supports nursing students from a local university.
The practice has reviewed its management team since our last inspection in October 2018 and has identified lead roles for staff. A dedicated business manager and clinical pharmacist have joined the team at the practice. A patient services team of over 30 staff support the clinical and management staff.
The practice offers a GP service to around 28,800 patients. Over 25% of the practice population is 65 years of age or older. The practice had a commercial pharmacy available within the building but is not a dispensing practice.
The service is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the following regulated activities: treatment of disease, disorder or injury; maternity and midwifery services; family planning; diagnostic and screening procedures and surgical procedures. The Westgate Practice is registered with CQC as a partnership and holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. A GMS contract is a contract between NHS England and general practices for delivering general medical services and is the commonest form of GP contract. The practice is part of the NHS South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The practice is a member of the Lichfield Primary Care Network (PCN).
The practice is open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. They offer extended hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6.30pm until 8pm, through the Lichfield five practices network. Out of hours service is provided by Staffordshire Doctors Urgent Care via NHS 111. Further information can be found on the practice website: www.westgatepractice.co.uk