The Care Quality Commission
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  • GP practice

Archived: Bridges Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Trinity Square Health Centre, 24 West Street, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear, NE8 1AD (0191) 300 9889

Provided and run by:
Mrs Val Hempsey

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

17 October 2019

During an annual regulatory review

We reviewed the information available to us about Bridges Medical Practice on 17 October 2019. We did not find evidence of significant changes to the quality of service being provided since the last inspection. As a result, we decided not to inspect the surgery at this time. We will continue to monitor this information about this service throughout the year and may inspect the surgery when we see evidence of potential changes.

1 June 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Bridges Medical Practice on 1 June 2016. Overall, the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • There was an open and transparent approach to safety and an effective system in place for reporting and recording significant events.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and well managed.
  • Data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework showed patient outcomes were above average for the locality and compared to the national average.
  • Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
  • Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect and they were involved in their care and decisions about their treatment.
  • Data from the National GP Patient Survey showed patients rated the practice slightly lower than others for several aspects of care.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • Patient feedback about appointment availability was mixed. However, generally, patients told us they could get an appointment with a named GP, there was continuity of care and urgent appointments were available the same day.
  • The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
  • There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
  • The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the Duty of Candour.

We saw an area of outstanding practice:

  • The practice had produced a DVD and YouTube video to give patients with learning disabilities an overview of what was involved in an annual health check. It gave an overview of what an annual health check was for and what type of questions the GP or nurse might ask. The video had received 511 views on YouTube. The practice had distributed copies of the DVD to local day centres and residential facilities for people with learning disabilities. A link to the YouTube video was also sent via social media to help reach a larger audience. The DVD was sent to practices within the surrounding local clinical commissioning groups.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice