Special Features of the Practice

We have over the past 15 years had extensive investment in audit, particularly in the field of prescribing. In accordance with the PACT data for the quarter ended June 2005 our Practice generic prescribing was 82% which compared favourably with the national equivalent of 81% and PCT equivalent of 80%. The number of items our Practice prescribed was 16% below the national equivalent and 19% below the PCT equivalent.

We have also had extensive investments in the development of practice guidelines and management plans in diseases.

The Partners are committed to local community hospital work and medical training to Registrars and medical students.

We provide in-hour medical cover for the Minor Injury Unit at Bideford Hospital and medical emergency cover to George and Elizabeth Wards at Bideford Hospital .  The busy MIU is totally GP dependent and is a vital service for the local community. 

Number  of patients treated in MIU	Year	% increase
10,306	2000/01
10,659	2004/05	3.43
11,032	2005/06	3.50

We also have a daily commitment to the GP beds in Bideford Hospital where we are able to care for patients who in most other areas would be transferred to secondary care. Likewise we receive and care for early discharge patients from North Devon District Hospital into GP beds thus relieving pressure on the hospital.

Practice Population and Demography  

Capitation	@ 03/01/01				@ 25/05/06
Age / Sex	M	F	Total	%	M	F	Total	%
Under 5	357	342	699	5.05	340	335	675	4.69
5-15 yrs	885	832	1717	12.4	892	806	1698	11.79
15-24 yrs	783	716	1499	10.83	886	848	1734	12.04
25-64 yrs	3528	3569	7097	51.27	3655	3793	7448	51.72
65-74 yrs	642	706	1348	9.74	686	703	1389	9.65
75-84 yrs	418	617	1035	7.48	418	588	1006	6.99
85 yrs+	137	310	447	3.23	144	306	450	3.13
Total	6750	7092	13842	100	7021	7379	14400	100

Doctors’ Personal List Size

The Partners believe in continuity of care and they work on a personal list basis where possible. However, the advanced access initiative enforced by the Government has slightly eroded this philosophy of care.

Annual number of Consultations and Visits

Our Practice area covers approximately 150 square miles, which is a mixture of rural and urban area, with the population centred round the main town of Bideford and its surrounding area. During the summer the population rises significantly, placing additional pressures on our health resources.  Based on 14,353 patients on 13/12/05 the consultation rate for 2005/06 was calculated as below:  

2005/06	No. of Surgery Consultations	Rate per  patient	No. of Telephone Consultation	Rate per patient	No. of  Visits	Rate per  patient
Doctors	41,267	2.875	11,738	0.818	2,580	0.18
Practice Nurses including HCAs	28,935	2.016	0	0	0	0
Total	70,702	4.926	11,738	0.818	2,580	0.18

  List of Services Provided

The Doctors at the Medical Centre provide general medical services including child health surveillance, family planning and maternity care, health promotion advice and non- general medical services.

All the Doctors are able to perform some minor operations not requiring hospitalisation at the Medical Centre.  In particular Dr Loka offers additional sessions on minor surgeries such as sigmoidoscopy, injection and banding of piles and vasectomy.

Our specialised nurses also run clinics for:

• Asthma and COPD
• Diabetic
• Hypertension
• CHD and Stroke
• Well Person
• Travel (Advice and Vaccination)
• Leg Ulcer
• Childhood vaccinations
• Contraceptive monitoring

Other services offered by the Treatment Room include immunisation, blood and urine tests, ear syringing, health checks, cervical smear tests, wart and verucca removal etc.

Dr Loka is planning to offer more sessions on minor surgeries such as injection and banding of piles, vasectomy, carpal tunnel repair and hernia repair to the local population under the local enhance services scheme.

Dr Stapley is planning to offer an acupuncture clinic in the future, as an evidence-based and effective method of pain management.

Such services enable local patients to be treated more effectively at a faster speed and with less waiting time.

 

 

---