Meet Sarah, an experienced GP at a practice in Gosforth, where she is also a GP Partner and Clinical Director of North Gosforth Primary Care Network.
“General Practice isn’t just reactive healthcare – we identify health conditions and then we actively manage them long term. This requires being proactive… understanding people’s social and personal circumstances so we know how best to support them with their health. But the reality is, Primary Care is drowning. For us to give the level of care we know our patients need and deserve, something has to change, and quickly.
Being a GP is a privilege. It is indescribably rewarding to look after people for long periods of their life, through childhood, pregnancies, illness and ultimately death. It is these long-standing relationships, for me, which make the job so rewarding. We see people at their most vulnerable, support people with multiple long-term diseases and help people navigate an increasingly complex NHS.”
Sarah has an interest in women’s health, offering all forms of contraceptive services. She is also passionate about medical education and is a GP Trainer.
We filmed Sarah on a day in September 2023. On the day of filming, there were 151 appointments with patients and 100 prescriptions processed.
Brunton Park Medical Centre is in Gosforth, Newcastle, and has 7500 patients. 90% of the patient population speak English, and there are a number of elderly patients that the practice looks after. They also visit patients in their homes, and in local care homes.
There are 18 staff at the practice including GPs, nurses, phlebotomist, reception and admin staff, pharmacists, health visitors and health care assistants.