Trio of GP surgeries get new title as teams work together to offer care to patients

Barmston Medical Centre, Pennywell Medical Centre and The Galleries Health Centre now known as Monument Surgeries to reflect their partnership and already have a shared management support team.

Since becoming part of Sunderland GP Alliance in 2016, the practices have made progress to develop a more joined up approach and collaborative ways of working.

Leaders at Monument Surgeries now hope to go even further to integrate the way services are delivered and improve the overall experience for patients who need help and support.

Patients registered at any of the centres will receive a letter to let them know about the new name.

There will be no changes to care and treatment and patients will remain registered with their usual GP and the contact details are the same.

Judith Taylor, Head of General Practice at Sunderland GP Alliance said: “This is an important moment in the history of our practices in Barmston, Pennywell and Washington as we announce our new name – Monument Surgeries.

“Patients can be reassured that this does not change the way they access services or the local practice they go to, but we do hope it will offer them more choice and flexibility in the future.

“Many people do not know, for example, that their local practice is actually part of a wider family of practices that have been working together over many years to make sure we offer the very best service for our patients.

“Our new name, Monument Surgeries, will help our patients and staff understand that their local practice is part of that wider family as we continue to work together to make sure local people get the very best service.”

Sunderland GP Alliance was founded in 2015 and is a not-for-profit organisation which supports general practice across the City and help GPs work collaboratively for the benefit of patients and staff.

As well as the Monument Surgeries, Sunderland GP Alliance runs two other medical practices in Silksworth and South Hylton and the Sunderland Extended Access Service for GP appointments in the evening and at weekends.

Thirty five of the city’s 39 GP practices are members of Sunderland GP Alliance.

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