Updated 17 May 2018
Melrose Surgery provides primary medical services to the population of central Reading and is located opposite the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The practice serves a population of over 10,500 patients in an area of medium deprivation. The population is younger than national average and has a high ethnic diversity. In addition, there is high incidence of drug and alcohol addiction, heavy smokers and patients affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. These factors alongside socio-economic deprivation are linked to a high prevalence of patients with long term conditions such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (lung disease).
The practice has a larger proportion of patients of working age and young children (up to four years old) compared with both local and national averages. There are a high number of patients from ethnic minority backgrounds including Pakistani, Nepalese and Afro-Caribbean cultures. The practice has students registered with them from the local university and broadly a transient population overall. In addition the practice looks after residents from three nursing and care homes.
All services are provided from a four storey, grade II listed building at:
73 London Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5BS
The practice has access via steps to the main reception entrance with disabled and wheelchair access at the rear of the main building. Improvements to disabled access are planned for summer 2018.
There are two GP partners, three salaried GPs, and three regular locum GPs, with a mix of females and males. Three practice nurses (including a male and two females) including a nurse prescriber also provide care to patients. One health care assistant is also employed. A practice manager, administration staff and reception staff support the operation of services.
The GPs currently undertake 32 sessions per week between them. Daily nurse appointments are available. Extended hours are available two days a week, one morning and one evening and in addition a Saturday morning clinic every other week. Extended hours appointments are available with nurses and GPs.
The practice is open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
The practice has opted out of providing out of hours services to their patients. Out of hours services are provided by Westcall. The out of hours service is accessed by calling NHS 111. There are arrangements in place for services to be provided when the surgery is closed and these are made clear to patients.
The practice formed a new legal entity following a merger with another practice in March 2017. Since the merger a number of improvements to the premises have been made.