Torbay practices team up to address health challenges
Ten Torbay GP practices have teamed up to provide stronger health services for the area’s patients.
The surgeries will work together as ‘Torbay General Practice’ to tackle wider health issues more effectively, although their day-to-day services – such as GP consultations and nurse appointments – are unaffected.
While the practices have been collaborating for some time, the arrangement has now formalised, with the launch of a new identity, website and social media presence.
Dr Leanne Bullock, TGP Chair and GP Partner at Chilcote Surgery, said: “Working together as TGP enables our practices to be greater than the sum of their parts for the patients we serve.
“Like many parts of the country, Torbay’s population faces a number of health challenges. The age profile of the area is comparatively high, which means long-term health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, are increasing.
“Working together more closely means we can address those issues more effectively. It allows us to organise services and systems that are more robust and sustainable and can operate on a bigger scale, with greater impact.
“There’s a wealth of knowledge and experience across the practice teams in Torbay. This arrangement maximises those strengths and skills, for the benefit of everyone.”
Torbay General Practice is made up of ten GP practices:
Compass House Medical Centres
Pembroke House Surgery
Chilcote Surgery
Southover Medical Practice
Brunel Medical Practice
Chelston Hall Surgery
Croft Hall Medical Practice
Mayfield Medical Centre
Corner Place Surgery
Old Farm Surgery.
The group has a representative team, which is made up of one GP and the practice managers from each of the group’s ten practices.
The team meets regularly to plan programmes of work for patients, including the extended hours service, covid vaccination service and Care Home Visiting Service. Each practice contributes to the management, running and staffing of these services.