Updated 10 July 2019
Union Brae and Norham Practice provides care and treatment to around 7,100 patients in Berwick, Northumberland. The practice is part of Northumberland clinical commissioning group (CCG) and operates on a Personal Medical Services (PMS) contract agreement for general practice.
The practice provides services from the following two addresses. We visited the main surgery at Union Brae during this inspection:
- Union Brae, Tweedmouth, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2HB
- Pedwell Way Surgery, Norham, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2LD
The Union Brae surgery is located in a purpose-built two-storey building. All patient facilities are on the ground floor. There is a car park, an accessible WC, wheelchair and step-free access.
The Pedwell Way surgery is located in a converted building and is fully accessible. All patient facilities are on the ground floor. Parking spaces are available directly outside the surgery.
The practice offers dispensing services (from both surgeries) to those patients on the practice list who live more than one mile (1.6km) from their nearest pharmacy.
Patients can book appointments in person, on-line or by telephone and could attend either site.
The service for patients requiring urgent medical attention out of hours is provided by the NHS 111 service and Vocare (known locally as Northern Doctors Urgent Care).
The practice has:
- Two GP partners (one male and one female),
- three salaried GPs (all female),
- two nurse practitioners (both female),
- two practice nurses (both female),
- three healthcare assistants,
- a practice manager, and
- 18 staff who carry out reception, administrative and dispensing duties.
The age profile of the practice population is broadly in line with the local averages; however, the proportion of patients over the age of 65 is well above the national average (25% compared to the national average of 17%) and there is a lower than average proportion of patients under the age of 18 (18.5% compared to the national average of 21%). Information taken from Public Health England placed the area in which the practice is located in the fifth less deprived decile. In general, people living in more deprived areas tend to have greater need for health services.