Updated 24 May 2018
Dr E Ahmed’s practice (also known as Darwen Healthlink) is housed on the first floor of Darwen Health Centre, James Street West, Darwen along with one other GP practices and a range of other community healthcare services. The practice website is .
The practice delivers primary medical services to a patient population of approximately 16,600 patients under a General Medical Services (GMS) contract with NHS England. It is part of the NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
The practice delivers the following regulated activities:-
- Diagnostic and screening procedures
- Family planning services
- Maternity and midwifery services
- Surgical procedures
- Treatment of disease, disorder or injury
The practice’s patient population has a slightly higher proportion of older people than the local averages, for example 18% are over the age of 65 (CCG average being 13.5% and national average 17%), 21% are under the age of 18 (CCG average 25%, national average 21%) Information published by Public Health England rates the level of deprivation within the practice population group as three on a scale of one to ten. Level one represents the highest levels of deprivation and level ten the lowest. The practice population is 4% Asian.
The practice is staffed by six GP partners (five male, one female) .The provider was in the process of updating its registration with CQC to reflect the addition of the female GP partner.
Other clinical staff consist of two Advanced Nurse Practitioners, two Nurse Practitioners, five practice nurses, and two health care assistants. Clinical staff are supported by two practice managers and a team of reception and administration staff.
The practice is open between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday, with surgeries offered between 9am and 11.30 each morning and 4pm until 6.30pm each afternoon. Extended hours appointments are available on Monday and Wednesday evenings until 8pm. Outside normal surgery hours, patients are advised to contact the out of hour’s service by dialling 111, offered locally by the provider East Lancashire Medical Services.