• Doctor
  • GP practice

The Gables Medical Group

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

The Gables Health Centre, 26 St Johns Road, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 7DU (01670) 829889

Provided and run by:
The Gables Medical Group

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 5 May 2026 to 12 May 2026. The Gables Medical Group is a GP practice and delivers service to 6,314 people under a contract held with NHS England. There is a dispensary within the practice. The National General Practice Profiles states that 98% of the practice population were white, and less than 1% were Asian, black, of mixed race, or of another ethnicity respectively. Information published by Office for Health Improvement and Disparities shows that deprivation within the practice population group is in the 3rd decile (3 of 10). The lower the decile, the more deprived the practice population is relative to others. This assessment considered the demographics of the people using the service, the context the service was working within and how this impacted service delivery. Where relevant, further commentary is provided in the quality statements section of this report.

The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Records of non-clinical staff immunisations were not maintained. Managers made sure staff received training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff did not always complete structured medication reviews when they were due.

People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff involved those important to people took decisions in people’s best interests where they did not have capacity.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and treatment. The service enabled, encouraged and maintained staff well-being.

People were involved in decisions about their care. The service provided information people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback. People were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care.

Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. There was a culture of continuous improvement with staff given time and resources to try new ideas.

17 February 2016

During a routine inspection

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at The Gables Medical Group on 17 February 2016. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

  • Staff understood and fulfilled their responsibilities to raise concerns, and to report incidents and near misses.
  • Risks to patients were assessed and generally well managed.
  • The practice carried out clinical audit activity and were able to demonstrate improvements to patient care as a result of this.
  • The majority of patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.
  • Urgent appointments were usually available on the day they were requested. The practice had introduced a daily open surgery as a result of increased demand for appointments and were continually monitoring its effectiveness.
  • The practice had a number of policies and procedures to govern activity, which were reviewed and updated regularly.
  • The practice had proactively sought feedback from patients and had a ‘virtual’ patient participation group.
  • Information about services and how to complain was available and easy to understand.
  • The practice had effective systems in place to support patients with long term conditions and were proactive in their treatment of patients with diabetes.

However there were areas of practice where the provider needs to make improvements.

Importantly, the provider should:

  • Carry out a risk assessment detailing why it is not felt to be appropriate or necessary to have a defibrillator or oxygen at the branch surgery
  • Purchase spillage kits and ensure staff are aware of their location and how to deal with spillages of body fluids
  • Consider having a formal written business plan
  • Consider developing an ‘actual’ as well as ‘virtual’ patient participation group

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

24 September 2013

During a routine inspection

People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. We saw that staff dealt with enquiries from patients as discretely as possible. One person told us, 'They make you feel as if you are the only patient they have.'

The practice had in place safeguarding policies for both children and vulnerable adults. There was an identified lead clinician with clear roles and responsibilities to oversee safeguarding within the practice.

The practice was well organised and presented as clean, tidy and generally well maintained. There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

The provider had a recruitment policy in place. General practitioners and nurses employed within the practice were checked to ensure they had an up to date registration with the appropriate professional body.

The practice had in place a complaints policy and responded to complaints in an appropriate and timely manner.