Updated 4 May 2018
Dr A R Bridge and Partners supports 11,085 patients in a largely rural area of South Somerset. Services are provided from the main location of Martock Surgery, Church Street, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6JL and a branch surgery; South Petherton Medical Centre located at Bernard Way, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5EG. The branch surgery was not visited during the follow up inspections in June 2017 and March 2018. Martock Surgery was purpose built in 1991 in the centre of Martock. South Petherton Medical Centre was purpose built in 2012 on the outskirts of South Petherton adjacent to the community hospital. There is full access for people with disabilities including a lift. There is an independent pharmacy attached to South Petherton surgery.
There are six GPs, five of whom are partners. Three are male and three are female. Between them they provide 42 GP sessions each week. The GPs are supported by five practice nurses, whose working hours are equivalent to 3.7 WTEs (whole time equivalents), two nurse practitioners who are non-medical prescribers, two health care assistants and a clinical pharmacist. The GPs and nurses are supported by thirty-four management and administrative staff including a business manager, operations manager, finance officer, IT Lead and five health coaches appointed in 2017.
The practice’s patient population is expanding and has lower than average numbers of patients, both male and female, between the age of 20 and 39 years than the national average. There are more than average numbers of patients, both male and female, over the age of 60.
Average male and female life expectancy for the area is two years above the national average of 79 and 83 years respectively and one year above clinical commissioning group (CCG) averages for each gender. Approximately 29% of the patients are over the age of 65 years compared to a national average of 17%. Approximately 61% of patients have a long standing health condition compared to a national average of 54% which can result in a higher demand for appointments.
National GP patient survey results (July 2017) were lower than average with regard to telephone access with 32% of patients finding it easy to get through to the surgery by phone, compared to a national average of 71%.
The general Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) population profile for the geographic area of the practice is in the eighth least deprivation decile. (An area itself is not deprived: it is the circumstances and lifestyles of the people living there that affect its deprivation score. Not everyone living in a deprived area is deprived and that not all deprived people live in deprived areas).
Martock Surgery is open between 8.30am and 6.30pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and between 8.30am and 1pm every Wednesday. Appointments are available from 9am until 11.30 am and 3.30pm until 6pm; with extended hours, pre-booked appointments available from 6.30pm until 7pm every Tuesday and Thursday.
The branch surgery, South Petherton Medical Centre, is open between 8.30am and 6.30pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; between 8.30am and 6pm every Monday; and between 8.30am and 5pm every Thursday. Appointments are available between 9am and 11.30 am; and 3.30pm and 6pm. Extended hours appointments are available between 6.30pm and 7pm every Tuesday and Thursday; and between 8.30am and 11am on alternate Saturdays.
GPs offered patients telephone consultations, appointments and performed home visits where appropriate. The practice offers online booking facilities for non-urgent appointments and an online repeat prescription service. During evenings and weekends, when the practice is closed, patients are directed to dial NHS 111 to access an Out of Hours service delivered by another provider.
The practice is taking part in the Primary Care Improvement Scheme in collaboration with other practices in the South Somerset area, which involves providing a total of 45 hours each week, with opening hours until 8pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays between 8.30am and 12noon on a rota basis.
The practice has a Personal Medical Services contract with NHS England to deliver health care services; the contract includes enhanced services such as health screening, antenatal and postnatal care, immunisations, contraceptive services, chronic disease management, care and treatment of mental health and social related illnesses, drug and alcohol problems and the management of smoking cessation.