The NHS and Other Organisations Working With Your GP Practice

Primary Care Network

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.

South Durham Health CIC

The Practice is part of the South Durham Health Community Interest Company (SDHCIC), a not for profit partnership of 24 GP practices across County Durham. Working collectively, this group supports the delivery of improved, more coordinated care for around 170,000 patients living in the Sedgefield and Easington areas. Its shared purpose is to strengthen and develop health services for communities across South Durham.

Click here to go to their website.

North East and Cumbria ICB

An Integrated Care Board (ICB) is a statutory NHS body responsible for planning, coordinating, and funding health services within a defined local area. It sits within a wider Integrated Care System (ICS), which brings together NHS organisations, local authorities, and other partners to improve health outcomes and overall wellbeing for the communities they serve.

What an ICB does

Allocates NHS resources to meet local health needs.
Plans services such as primary care, community care, mental health, and hospital services.
Works with councils and community partners to address broader factors that influence health, including social care and public health.

How it fits into an ICS

The ICS provides the overarching framework for collaboration across health and care.
The ICB is the statutory decision making body within that system, ensuring services are joined up and aligned with local priorities.

For more information about our board, please go to: https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/

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 https://www.cqc.org.uk/

Healthwatch County Durham

Healthwatch County Durham is an independent champion for people who use health and social care services in our area. They listen to your experiences (good and bad) and share what they hear with those who design, deliver and fund local services.

For more information about Healthwatch County Durham go to
Home | Healthwatch County Durham

You and your General Practice

A new guide from NHS England, You and Your General Practice, describes what practices and patients can expect of each other.

Patients are encouraged to be on time, be prepared, and avoid wasted appointments by cancelling early.
Patients can ask to be supported by general practices in a variety of ways.
You and Your General Practice also describes how patients and their representatives can give feedback or raise concerns.

Please note, with regard to opening hours stated in the document:

GP contracts in our area provide for practice opening hours between 8am and 6pm.
We are closed between 1pm and 2pm
We close one afternoon per month for staff training

When the surgery is closed, call NHS 111 for free where the right healthcare professional will see you, as close to your home as possible.

NHS England » You and your general practice – English

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.

GP Patient Survey