Assura Derwentside GPCo

Assura Derwentside LLP is a local GP Provider Company (GPCo) set up by Assura and incorporating 14 of the 15 local practices. This provides cover for a population of approximately 75,000 people in the local community. The aim of the partnership is to work collectively in order to bring medical and health services closer to patients homes.

This has been a major driver from government for some time, but in addition, GPs too recognise that some services are better delivered locally and do not always need the services of highly specialised consultants in an acute care setting. One of the things that we will be looking at therefore is the pathway of care and how it can best be delivered and by whom.

There are many professionls such as specialist nurses, optometrists, physiotherapists, dieticians etc who are well placed to deliver many aspects of care, and they already do.

There are also other organisations (charities, lifestyle specialists, weight loss, health & fitness) etc which fall outside the traditional boundaries of health services who we will engage in order to assist in the delivery of some elements of care and ongoing support for patients, particularly related to areas like weight management.

The success of the GPCo is dependent on partnership working within the company but also across other boundaries of health care organisations in the locality. There is a formal structure within GPCo which is co-ordinated by the Clinical Management Board (CMB) of which there are details on this website.

The GPCo will also depend heavily on tapping into the clinical and management expertise of all of the GPCo members within their individual practices.

At the point of setting up the GPCo and developing services, we seek to find suitable premises and accommodation which meets patients needs in terms of location and suitability.

Some GP Practices have space available within them, although it is likely that the platform for the delivery of care will be concentrated where possible in existing accommodation at Shotley Bridge Community Hospital where services have been provided over many years but latterly some of the services have been eroded and taken back into acute care settings.

This may have achieved financial gains, but has placed the burden of costs onto patients who need to travel long distances and thereafter wait for unacceptably long periods for relatively short treatments or consultations.

If you have any comments, queries or suggestions that have not been answered in the FAQ part of the website please do not hesitate to get in touch with Catherine McBride, Business Director.

Please click here to email Catherine McBride.