Updated 14 December 2018
Caldbeck Surgery is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide primary care services. The practice is located in the village of Caldbeck on the edge of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.
The practice provides services to around 4,400 patients from one location: Friar Row, Caldbeck, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8DS. We visited this address as part of the inspection.
Staff at the practice comprises six GP partners (five female, one male), three practice nurses (all female), one healthcare assistant (male), a practice manager, an assistant practice manager, a medicines manager, a team of administrative, reception and dispensary staff, three delivery drivers and a cleaner.
The practice is part of North Cumbria clinical commissioning group (CCG). The practice population is weighted more towards older people in terms of age distribution. There are more patients in all age groups over 65 than both the local and national averages, and fewer patients in all age groups under 65. Information taken from Public Health England placed the area in which the practice is located in the fourth least deprived decile. In general, people living in more deprived areas tend to have greater need for health services. Life expectancy for both male and females is slightly above local and national averages (female – 85 compared to the CCG average of 83, and male – 81 compared to the CCG average of 79).
The practice is located in a purpose-built two-storey building. Patient facilities are all on the ground. There is dedicated car parking at the site, plus additional free parking nearby. There is a disabled WC and step-free access. The practice has a dispensary where patients can collect medications. The practice dispenses medicines to patients on the practice list who live more than one mile from a pharmacy. They also offer a delivery service to take medicines to patients who struggle to come in to the surgery or attend a pharmacy.
Opening hours are between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone. From October 1st, extended access appointments in the evenings and weekends are available at a nearby “hub”.
The practice provides services to patients of all ages based on a General Medical Services (GMS) contract agreement for general practice.
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).