Updated 17 October 2018
Bluebell Medical Centre, Middlesbrough, TS5 8SB is a new purpose-built GP practice situated in a residential suburb of a large north-east town. The practice patient list size is approximately 10,484, with new patients still joining every day, at present. Formerly known as Dr Murphy and Partners, Bluebell Medical Centre moved into its existing site in May 2017, when it amalgamated two practices, thereby closing its Woodlands Road and Acklam Road sites.
The practice is made up of five management partners. Three of the partners are GPs, (two are male and one is female). There is a full-time practice manager who is also a management partner. There are two full-time, female, nurse practitioners. One of the nurse practitioners is also a management partner. There are three practice nurses and two health care assistants who are all part-time females. There is a deputy practice manager, a pharmacist and a team of administrators, secretaries and receptionists.
The practice is open between 8am and 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and 7.15am to 7.30pm on Wednesday and Thursday. The practice operates a same day appointment system. Each clinician manages their workflow from their telephone triage screen and appointments are booked throughout the day from 8am to 6pm. There are also some pre-bookable routine appointments available.
When the practice is closed, out of hours’ health care is delivered by a federation of GPs across South Tees (ELM Alliance). Patients can access this service by telephoning NHS 111 and patients are directed to this information via the practice website, and from displayed information inside the practice building.
Bluebell Medical Centre is rated a score of two, on the index of multiple deprivation. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2015 is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in England. The Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks every small area in England from one (most deprived area) to ten (least deprived area). People living in more deprived areas tend to have a greater need for health services.