About the practice
The practice was first established in the 1920s by Dr Sidney Tinsley, a single-handed GP who consulted from 4 North Road in Spennymoor.
Over the years, the practice has grown and evolved, with changes in partnerships reflecting its ongoing development and commitment to serving the local community. In 1978, the practice relocated to its current premises within the health centre, marking an important milestone in its history.
The practice has a strong ethos for education and training. In 1984, it became a recognised training practice in partnership with Newcastle University and the Northern Deanery GP Training Scheme, supporting the development of future generations of medical students and GPs.
Between 1994 and 2015, Dr Wood and partners (Dr Wood, Dr Staines, Dr Van den Brul, Dr Herd, and Dr Henderson) formed one of the longest-running GP partnerships in the region, serving the people of Spennymoor for over 20 years.
In 2015, the practice was renamed Bishop’s Close Medical Practice.
Over the years, the core values of the practice have remained constant: placing patients at the centre of everything we do and providing high-quality healthcare in a professional, supportive, and welcoming environment.
Primary Care Network (PCN)
Through the development of PCNs, practices can work collaboratively to offer a wider range of services and improve access to healthcare professionals. PCNs has recruited additional healthcare staff, enabling patients to access a broader range of services either within their own GP practice or at nearby locations.
Sedgefield North Primary Care Network
Bishop’s Close Medical Practice is a member of Sedgefield North Primary Care Network (PCN).
The Clinical Director for the PCN is Dr Matt Shield.
Sedgefield North PCN serves approximately 56,000 patients and comprises the following practices:
- St Andrew’s Medical Practice
- Bishop’s Close Medical Practice
- Ferryhill & Chilton Medical Practice
- Skerne Medical Group
- West Cornforth Medical Practice
By working together, these practices aim to improve patient care, enhance access to services, and support the health and wellbeing of the local community.
Click here to go to the PCN website.
The PCN is also on Facebook.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
An Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a statutory NHS organisation responsible for planning, funding and commissioning NHS services for a defined local population.
ICBs form part of a wider Integrated Care System (ICS), which brings together NHS organisations, local authorities, voluntary organisations and other partners to improve health and wellbeing across communities.
The ICB is responsible for assessing local health needs, planning services, allocating NHS funding and ensuring that high-quality healthcare services are available to meet the needs of the population it serves.
Bishop’s Close Medical Practice is part of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System, working alongside partner organisations to help deliver coordinated and patient-centred care across the region.
For more information about our board, please go to: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/
South Durham Health Community Interest Company (SDH CIC)
Bishop’s Close Medical Practice is a member of South Durham Health Community Interest Company (SDH CIC), a not-for-profit organisation formed by 24 GP practices across County Durham.
SDH CIC works collaboratively on behalf of practices across the Sedgefield and Easington localities, providing services for approximately 170,000 patients.
The organisation supports practices by delivering a range of healthcare services, promoting innovation, and encouraging collaboration between primary care, community services and other healthcare providers. Its overall aim is to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of healthcare for people living in South Durham.
For more information about South Durham Health CIC and the services it provides, please visit their website.
Click here to go to their website.
Patient Survey
The GP Patient Survey is an independent survey run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of NHS England. The survey is sent out to over two million people across England. The results show how people feel about their GP practice.
Quick Links
Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together groups of GP practices to work in partnership with community services, health and care organisations, and other local professionals. Their purpose is to offer more joined up, proactive care to the communities they serve and to support delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan. Each PCN tailors its work to the specific health needs of its population, drawing on insights from Public Health, ICBs, and GP clinical systems.
Over the last five years, PCNs will expand their teams by recruiting additional roles, enabling them to provide a broader range of services either within GP practices or close by. They will also strengthen links with community services to better support people whose needs extend beyond traditional healthcare.
Our PCN is Sedgefield North, led by Clinical Director Dr Matt Shield. It serves around 56,000 patients across the following practices: St Andrew’s Medical Practice, Bishop Close Medical Practice, Ferryhill & Chilton Medical Practice, Skerne Medical Group, and West Cornforth Medical Practice.
Click here to go to the PCN website.
The PCN is also on Facebook.
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for health and adult social care services in England. Its role is to ensure that care providers deliver safe, effective, compassionate, and high quality care, and to drive ongoing improvement across the sector.
What the CQC does
- Monitors and inspects services to check they meet essential standards of quality and safety.
- Regulates providers through registration, enforcement powers, and ongoing oversight.
- Publishes inspection findings, including clear performance ratings, so people can make informed choices about their care.
Why this matters
CQC oversight helps protect patients, promotes transparency, and supports better care by holding services to consistent national standards.3.
For more information about the CQC go to www.cqc.org.uk
Disabled Facilities
We are committed to making our surgery accessible to all patients. The practice offers full wheelchair access, disabled toilet facilities, and a hearing loop system at reception to support patients with hearing difficulties. Please speak to a member of our team if you require any assistance during your visit. All of our consultation rooms are on the ground floor. We also provide disable parking at the front of the building, for easy access.