Horfield Health Centre

About the practice

The team at Horfield set out to be the practice of choice for residents in the Horfield / Lockleaze area.

As a large and busy practice, the team work hard to ensure a great team spirit. They also embrace innovation and improvement and are committed to delivering excellent patient care, supported by a personal list system, to maximise patient benefit from continuity of care.

The practice offers a mix of same day, routine and 3-day advance face-to-face appointments and telephone consultations. The daily duty doctor leads the newly created Urgent Care team (paramedic and nurse) to help manage same day demand. The focus is upon patients seeing their own GP, particularly where managing long term conditions, to provide continuity of care.

Horfield offers the standard range of primary care services, including enhanced services, minor surgery, substance misuse, urgent care team, sexual health etc.

Horfield Health Centre is Part of COLIN cluster in North & West Bristol locality.

Working environment, values and culture

The team at Horfield define the practice culture as patient and quality focused, professional and hard-working. The team are also friendly and supportive and thrive in a busy working environment where innovative ideas are encouraged to support the strong improvement agenda.

The health centre is modern, bright, welcoming, purpose built and home to a range of artwork to help create an attractive working environment.

The most recent survey reports that staff think Horfield is a great place to work for many different reasons including a big and supportive team, fantastic building, friendly and fun, efficient, welcoming and encouraging, and because everyone cares about the end result for patients.

In work, the team get together via team meetings and an annual whole practice Home Day. Out of work, there are a variety of social events, including walks, Christmas party, bowling evenings etc.

What we offer

Staff can benefit from a range of ways of working that include part-time options, job share and flexible hours, where possible and appropriate.

The social committee support and organise a range of social events.

Learning and development

staff are supported in their professional development with paid study leave in support of agreed personal development plans.

The large and experienced team support each other across a wide range of learning. Lead GPs for all key clinical areas share updates and provide advice, there is an established Significant Event Audit process and meeting, regular team and management meetings, and GP education events.

The practice also holds educational talks and invests in external training, all in addition to the training portfolio provided via our LMC.

New staff members benefit from a bespoke and detailed induction and are supported from the beginning by a clinical mentor and/or buddy.

Designed by the line manager, the initial two week induction plan covers essentials such as health and safety, IT, Information Governance, ways of working, CQC, legal responsibilities, employment policies and meeting all teams.

Our patients

Horfield’s patient list is mixed and includes students, young families, travellers, ethnic minority groups (particularly Somali and Polish), working class, young professionals and the unemployed (the majority within working age). The area is also home to some social housing areas with significant deprivation.

The practice receives mainly positive feedback from patients.