Updated 15 May 2019
The partnership of GPs registered as Okehampton Medical Centre runs one registered location, which was inspected on 9 April 2019. This was a focussed inspection. The practice is located at:
Okehampton Medical Centre
East StreetOkehamptonDevonEX20 1AY
The practice provides a primary medical service to 14,655 patients of a diverse age group. The practice population is in the sixth deprivation decile for deprivation. In a score of one to ten the lower the decile the more deprived an area is. Some surrounding villages have higher levels of deprivation. There is a practice age distribution of male and female patient’s equivalent to national average figures. Average life expectancy for the area is similar to national figures with males living to an average age of 80 years and females to 85 years.
The partnership at the practice comprises of five GPs partners supported by four salaried and two retainer GPs (four male and seven female). The team are supported by a practice manager, three practice nurses, seven minor illness nurse prescribers, a primary care paramedic, three healthcare assistants and four phlebotomists. There are administrative and reception staff.
This is a dispensing practice enabling patients living more than one mile away from a pharmacy to use the dispensing services at Okehampton Medical Centre. The dispensary is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 6.00pm. Patients not eligible for the dispensing service can have their prescriptions dispensed at a pharmacy of their choice.
Okehampton Medical Centre is an approved training practice providing vocational placements for GP registrars. Two GP partners are approved to provide vocational training for GPs, second and third year post qualification doctors. Teaching placements were due to commence for medical students and student nurses. A GP registrar was on placement when we inspected.
Patients using the practice also have access to community nurses, mental health teams and health visitors. Other health care professionals visit the practice on a regular basis.
Okehampton Medical Centre is open from 8.15 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday. The practice has a ‘same day’ team, comprising of GPs and nurse practitioners with urgent appointments available on the day for patients. Appointments are available early morning, late evening and weekends by appointment (the practice website provides more information about this). Telephone consultations are offered during the day, early morning and late evening several times a week, which benefit working patients.
There is a minor injury unit within the practice which is open between 8.15 am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. This is a walk-in service, where no appointment is needed. This service is able to treat patients with minor injuries, such as lacerations, sports injuries and infections. All other patients experiencing major trauma, head injuries, poisonings or major collapse are directed to the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital in Exeter.
The opening hours of the practice have been agreed locally under the contract. Outside of these times patients are directed to contact the out-of-hours service by using the NHS 111 number.
The practice is registered to provide the following regulated activities: Diagnostic and screening, Surgical procedures, Family planning services, Maternity and midwifery services and Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.