About the Wellway Medical Group:

Wellway Medical Group (WMG) has been established in Morpeth for over 100 years. The practice currently has 4 sites: a main surgery in Morpeth and smaller surgeries in Pegswood (2 miles away), Lynemouth (7 miles away) and Newbiggin (8 miles away). We have approximately 6200 patients at Morpeth, 2500 patients at Pegswood, 3500 at Lynemouth and 2800 at Newbiggin. All four areas are culturally different, making differing demands on the Primary Health Care Team - the practice area covers a broad spectrum of social class and is best classified as semi-rural.

Morpeth is an historic market town with limited plans for new housing and, because of its easy access into the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, many inhabitants commute daily. Pegswood has grown from a small mining village (the mine closed many years ago) and continues to see an increase in population with new housing estates. Lynemouth also is a small mining village, with the pit (which closed in February 2005) located in the neighbouring village of Ellington (from where patients attend the Lynemouth surgery). Newbiggin is an ex-mining community and former seaside resort which is currently enjoying a period of sustained investment, both in terms of new housing developments and infrastructure.

There are 19 doctors at the practice; 4 full time partners, 11 employed doctors (working a varied commitment) and 4 registrars in joining us every six month.

The Practice is part of a locality-wide PMS Plus Pilot and in addition to our patient list we also provide general medical services to the patients at Northgate Hospital in Morpeth (a residential hospital for patients with learning disability) and 4 long-stay wards at St George's Hospital (the local psychiatric hospital). Partners also hold positions with the LMC and the PMS Reference Group.

In 1994 the Morpeth surgery moved into a new purpose-built building which is situated close to the centre of town and the bus station. The Pegswood surgery is located in a former Health Authority-owned Health Centre, which the Partners bought from the Health Authority in September 1992, completely renovating and extending it at this time. In April 2001 Wellway took over a single-handed Practice in Lynemouth following the retirement of its GP. The Lynemouth surgery subsequently relocated in August 2005 from an end-of-terrace dwelling into a purpose-built PFI-funded Health Centre towards the edge of Lynemouth, on the road to Ellington. The Newbiggin practice currently operates from a Care Trust-owned building in the centre of the town.

The Practice prides itself on its forward thinking and has been involved in many initiatives over the years. In 1969 the Practice was one of the five in the North East to initiate the Northumbria Vocational Training Scheme (NVTS) for General Practice and it has remained a training practice ever since. Presently 3 of the Partners are GP Trainers, with GP Registrars being based at 3 of the 4 sites. Final year Medical Students are also trained in the Practice. In 1991 the Practice became a first wave Fundholder. In 1994 the Practice undertook pilot studies involving Nurse Prescribing, Nurse Practitioner, Social Services and a Practice-based Chiropody service. The Practice worked closely with Northumberland Health Authority, Northumberland Community Health Trust and Social Services to develop these pilots. In 1999 the Practice won the Investors in People Award and has been successfully reappraised against this standard on a regular basis since that time, most recently in June 2005. Also in 1999, 3 Partners became Fellows of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRCGP) after completing Fellowship by Assessment. In 2001 the Practice achieved the Royal College of General Practitioners Quality Practice Award. 3 further doctors in the practice are currently awaiting RCGP assessment in relation to their application for FRCGP.

The Practice is committed to providing a high quality service to its patients and has a fully integrated team working between the four surgery sites involving both doctors, nursing staff, health visitors and social workers along with managerial, reception and secretarial staff.

It is also committed to the concept of the 'Learning Organisation' - this involves all members of the team. The Practice seeks actively to provide opportunities for all team members to contribute and develop their ideas and, we believe, provides an environment where people feel valued and are happy to share their thoughts and concerns.