Stoke Gifford and Conygre Medical Centre

About the practice

The practice is part of the South Gloucestershire locality and The Stokes PCN

Stoke Gifford and Conygre is a friendly forward looking medical practice offering a high standard of care within a supportive team, sensitive to the needs of the whole person.

The practice has a very friendly and professional workforce that includes excellent administrative and prescribing teams that minimise GP non-clinical work.

Both practice sites are purpose-built and partner owned with a recent modernisation and extension at SGMC and refurbishment at CMC.

Same day appointment requests are either allocated to NPs or triaged by on-call GP. The on call GP would have a list of up to 40 calls and a number of protected appointments that they can book into with other GPs. On-call is for half a day. 66% of GP appointments are pre-bookable for 3 or 5 days in advance. The system allows the team to respond to demands while ensuring those in greatest need are triaged and seen quickly.

The system is working well for GPs and patients and has fostered greater team working between GPs.

The practice continues to work hard to develop staff teams to reduce the GP administrative burden and this is making a significant difference to workload.

They also work with a number of local organisations in developing non-clinical social prescribing pathways.

Working environment, values and culture

Staff are motivated, supportive and very professional. There is a great team spirit and sense of purpose throughout the practice.

The practice is constantly looking at how they can develop services and improve and try and involve all teams in this process.

What we offer

The practice offers a range of working patterns and continues to look at how it can build in flexibility.

Staff are able to apply for unpaid maternity/paternity leave in addition to the generous maternity terms. Childcare vouchers are also offered.

Learning and development

The practice recognises that ongoing education and buddying is important and work hard to ensure ongoing CPD across all teams.

The practice is eager to embrace change and continuously improve and is a training and teaching practice for doctors, nurses and apprentices.

There is an induction programme and graduated start for new GPs and they are buddied with a partner. The GP training programme includes: NICE updates; significant events; external speakers etc.

Whenever possible, daily morning meetings support this and are in addition to a monthly training window, clinical team meetings and operational meetings.

The partnership also has designated leadership roles that can offer specific advice and guidance.

There is also monthly virtual ward and GP training and monthly clinical team meetings where there is a training agenda that includes external speakers.

GPs get paid time off for training according to the number of sessions worked.

There is an induction guide for new starters and a GP partner will work through this with them. The sessions initially have additional breaks added and admin and tests are held back until the new starter is familiar with the work. New starters are buddied with a GP partner and are encouraged to have regular one-to-ones.

The practice runs an employee of the month programme and has regular social events that are well attended and looked forward to.

Our patients

The practice looks after a mix of patients, with more elderly patients with complex needs at Conygre Road and more younger patients and retiring patients at Stoke Gifford. This is changing and the list is expected to grow as local new building continues. The teams also look after two care homes.

The practice carries out a survey of 60-100 selected patients every month and, on average, finds that around 85% would recommend the practice to friends and family.