• Doctor
  • GP practice

Bishop's Close Medical Practice

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Spennymoor Health Centre, Bishop's Close, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 6ED (01388) 811455

Provided and run by:
Bishop's Close Medical Practice

Assessment report published 27 August 2026

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Responsive

Good

13 August 2026

We looked for evidence the provider met people’s needs, and staff treated people equally and without discrimination. At our last assessment, we rated this key question as good. At this assessment, the rating remains the same.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Person-centred Care

Score: 3

We did not look at Person-centred Care during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

Care provision, Integration and continuity

Score: 3

We did not look at Care provision, Integration and continuity during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

Providing Information

Score: 3

We did not look at Providing Information during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

Listening to and involving people

Score: 3

We did not look at Listening to and involving people during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.

Equity in access

Score: 3

The provider made sure people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.

The practice performed better than the national average in the results of the 2026 National GP Patient Survey. This showed people could access the practice when they needed it in a way that suited their needs, such as by telephone, in person or through the provider’s website. For example, 82% of respondents to the survey described their overall experience of contacting this practice as being good, compared to a national average of 73%.

Leaders and staff had reviewed patient feedback and were taking action to further improve access and engagement. At the time of the assessment, the provider was in the process of launching a new patient website and was using social media to promote online services and the NHS App. The provider also used these platforms to introduce newly appointed GPs, helping patients to understand changes within the clinical team and supporting continuity of care by familiarising them with the clinicians providing their care.Treatment rooms were available on the ground floor with level access to the practice and an automatic external door.

Equity in experiences and outcomes

Score: 3

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who were most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes. They tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this.

Staff treated people equally and without discrimination. Leaders proactively sought ways to address any barriers to improving people’s experience and worked with local services, including within the voluntary sector, to address any local health inequalities. For example, patients whose circumstances may make them vulnerable such as those with a learning disability or dementia were offered often longer appointments and at quieter times.

The practice was responsive to the needs of older patients and offered home visits and urgent appointments for those with enhanced needs and complex medical issues. We saw staff liaised regularly with community services to discuss and manage the needs of patients with complex medical issues.

Staff understood the importance of providing an inclusive approach to care and made adjustments to support equity in people’s experience and outcomes. Staff followed processes to ensure people could register at the practice, including those in vulnerable circumstances such as homeless people and Travellers.

Staff used systems to capture and review feedback from people who used the practice, which included those who did not speak English or have access to the internet. This was reflected in the feedback shared from people who used the practice, which was positive.

Information was available on the practice website on how to access an appointment online and by the telephone or in person when the practice was open, and how to access urgent care when the practice was closed.

Planning for the future

Score: 3

We did not look at Planning for the future during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Responsive.