Updated 7 September 2018
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) has been the registered provider for Lea Road Medical Practice since 1 June 2016. The practice became part of RWT through a model of care called vertical integration. The model of care allows the practice to formally pool its resources and become a single organisation with RWT. For example, all staff were transferred to RWT and are salaried employees of the trust. Vertical integration aims to improve care co-ordination between primary and secondary care.
Lea Road Medical Practice is a well-established GP practice located on Lea Road in Wolverhampton. The practice was first established in the 1950s and was a purpose-built surgery. Forty percent of patients are from ethnic minority groups and the practice is in the second most deprived decile in the city. This may mean that there is an increased demand on the services provided.
At the time of our inspection the practice had 6,700 patients. The practice premises have been extended twice and comprises of a single-storey wing on a double storey building. Parking bays for patients with a physical disability were located to the front of the premises and to the rear a shared car parking area. The ground floor of the building has level access for wheelchairs and pushchairs and automated doors to the reception entrance.
The practice does not provide an out-of-hours service to its own patients but patients are directed to the out of hours service Vocare via the NHS 111 service when the practice is closed.
The practice provides services to patients of all ages based on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England for delivering primary care services to their local community. Services provided at Lea Road Medical Practice include the following clinics; new patient medical health checks, asthma, diabetic, high blood pressure, childhood vaccination, substance misuse, physiotherapy, phlebotomy and screening clinics.
The team of clinical staff at Lea Road Medical Practice is made up of three full time salaried GPs (one female, two male), one part-time salaried GP, two practice nurses, one nurse practitioner, two healthcare assistants, one clinical pharmacist and one medicines management administrator. The practice is supported by a practice manager and assistant practice manager, two medical secretaries, a reception manager, reception staff, administrators, prescription clerks, information coding staff member, two apprentice staff, a handyman and cleaners.
Lea Road Medical Practice is an approved GP training practice for Registrars (qualified doctors who undertake additional specialist training to gain experience and higher qualification in General Practice and family medicine) and medical students. The practice also provides training opportunities for student nurses, physician associates and clinical pharmacists.
Additional information about the practice is available on their website: www.learoadmedicalcentre.nhs.uk