Updated 18 November 2019
GatDoc provides out of hours general practitioner cover in the evenings, overnight, at weekends and on bank holidays. The service provides telephone contact and access to general practitioners and home visits when required. The service covers over 206,000 patients, predominantly from the Gateshead area of Tyne and Wear.
The service is provided by Community Based Care (CBC) Health Ltd. CBC Health Ltd is a not-for profit member organisation who also hold the contracts for several GP practices in the Gateshead area and two extra care facilities.
In addition, they offer services including:
• Provide back office support to a number of GP practices (i.e. HR functions, health and safety and long-term condition recalls) under their ‘bureau’
• Provide pharmacy support to the majority of GP practices in the Gateshead area to aid issues such as medicines optimisation under their ‘Pharmicus’ arm.
Patients can access the out of hours service from 6pm to 8am Monday to Friday and 24 hours throughout Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. Calls to the service are handled by the North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) via the 111-telephone number. GatDoc operates a triage model where all patients receive clinical telephone assessments. This prevents unnecessary journeys for patients and enables appropriate coordination of home visits and appointments according to clinical urgency and demand.
A team of sessional GPs provide the service, some of whom work at local practices. The clinicians are supported by administrators, receptionists and drivers as well as a management team responsible for the day to day running of the service. If patients need to be seen in person they are asked to attend the GatDoc premises which are in the urgent care centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.
The provider is registered with CQC to deliver the Regulated Activities; treatment of disease, disorder or injury, and transport services, triage and medical advice provided remotely.