Updated 27 September 2019
Temple Sowerby Medical Practice is located in the village of Temple Sowerby, to the east of Penrith in the Eden Valley. The practice provides care and treatment to 4,665 patients from Temple Sowerby, Penrith, Appleby and the surrounding areas. It is part of the NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and operates on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract. The practice is a rural dispensing practice and can dispense medication to all of their patients, with the exception of those residing in Penrith and Appleby.
The practice provides services from the following address, which we visited during this inspection:
- Temple Sowerby Medical Practice, Linden Park, Temple Sowerby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1RW
The practice is located in a modern purpose built two storey building which was erected in 2004. All reception and consultation rooms are fully accessible. If patients with mobility problems need to access the upper floor of the building a lift is in operation. On-site parking is available, which includes disabled parking bays.
The practice is open between 8.30am to 1.00pm and 1.30pm to 6.30pm on a Monday to Friday. Appointments with a GP are available form 8.30am to 12 midday and from 2pm to 6.30pm. Nurse appointments are available from 9am to 12 midday and from 2pm to 6.30pm. The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out-of-hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and Cumbria Health on Call Limited (ChoC).
Temple Sowerby Medical Practice offers a range of services and clinic appointments including chronic disease management clinics, new patient health checks, children’s clinics, immunisations, cervical screening, travel advice, contraception and minor surgery. The practice consists of:
- Two GP partners (both female)
- One salaried GP (female) and two retainer GPs (male)
- Two advanced nurse practitioners
- A practice nurse
- Two healthcare assistants
- A phlebotomist
- Nine non-clinical staff including a practice manager and reception/administration/secretarial staff
- Four dispensing team staff consisting of a dispensing manager, two dispensers and a dispensing assistant.
The area in which the practice is located is in the eighth (out of ten) most deprived decile. In general people living in more deprived areas tend to have greater need for health services.
The practice’s age distribution profile showed higher percentages of patients aged over 45 than the national average. Average life expectancy for the male practice population was 79 (national average 79) and for the female population 82 (national average 83).