Updated 24 April 2019
Priory Medical Group provides care and treatment to approximately 15,200 patients of all ages from the North Shields, Tynemouth and Wallsend areas of Tyne and Wear. The practice is part of NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group and is registered with the CQC for family planning, surgical procedures, maternity and midwifery services and treatment of disease and diagnostic and screening procedures. It operates on a general medical services (GMS) contract.
The practice provides services from the following addresses, which we visited during this inspection:
Main surgery
19 Albion Road
North Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE29 0HT
Tynemouth branch surgery
Percy Street
Tynemouth
North Shields
NE30 4HD
Hadrian Park branch surgery
Addington Drive
Hadrian Park Estate
Wallsend
NE28 9UX
The main surgery is located in a two-storey building but a lift is available for patients with mobility issues. Pay and display on-street parking is available nearby. The two branch surgeries are located in single storey premises and car park spaces plus nearby on street parking are available. All of the surgeries have disabled toilets, step free access and automatic doors to aid disabled access.
The practice is a teaching and training practice and also participates in research opportunities.
Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone. Opening hours are as follows:
Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 6pm (appointments from 8.30am to 12.30pm then 1.30pm to 6pm)
Friday – 8.30am to 5.30pm (appointments from 8.30am to 12.30pm then 1.30pm to 5.30pm)
Patients registered with the practice are also able to access pre-bookable routine appointments with a GP, nurse or healthcare assistant from 4pm to 8pm on a weekday, 9am to 2pm on a Saturday and 9am to 1pm on a Sunday at one of several hubs in the North Tyneside area. Priory Medical Group acts as one of the hubs and remains open until 8pm on a Tuesday and Wednesday for access by any patients who are registered with a practice in the North Tyneside area.
The practice also offers electronic consultations via the practice website.
The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and Northern Doctors.
The practice has:
- 6 GP partners (three male and three female)
- 5 salaried GPs (all female)
- 4 practice nurses (female)
- 2 healthcare assistants (female)
- A pharmacist and a pharmacy technician
- 23 non-clinical members of staff including a practice manager, operational lead, senior administrator, lead receptionists, medical receptionists and secretaries.
The average life expectancy for the male practice population is 78 (CCG average 78 and national average 79) and for the female population 83 (CCG and national average 83). 18% of the practices’ patient population are in the over 65 age group.
At 54%, the percentage of the practice population reported as having a long-standing health condition was lower than the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) average of 56% but higher than the national average of 51%. Generally, a higher percentage of patients with a long-standing health condition can lead to an increased demand for GP services.
At 65% the percentage of the practice population recorded as being in paid work or full-time education was higher than the CCG average of 60% and national average of 62%.
The practice area is in the sixth most deprived decile. Deprivation levels affecting children and adults were lower than local and national averages.