Revamped Northumberland GP surgery increases patient space and responds to feedback

NPC Widdrington has undergone a long-awaited transformation, bringing increased clinical space, improved parking and new family facilities.

Located in Widdrington Station, NPC Widdrington is a Northumbria Primary Care (NPC) surgery. NPC, a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, manages 12 practices across 22 sites in Northumberland and North Tyneside. NPC Widdrington joined the organisation in August 2023, alongside its sister surgery NPC Felton.

Refurbishments to the reception and waiting area have created a warm and welcoming space, with a private room for young families to use. The family room is equipped with expressing facilities for mothers and can be a space for children who are uncomfortable in what can sometimes be a busy waiting area.

Five new rooms have been added to the surgery, allowing for the opportunity to increase its clinical offering in the future. This is an important step to future-proof the surgery. Existing rooms in the practice have also been modernised and fitted with new furniture and equipment.

Patients will also benefit from increased car parking spaces. The off-street car park previously had space for 23 vehicles. With work now complete, this has been more than doubled to 48 spaces.

Elaine Medhurst, practice manager at NPC Felton and Widdrington, said:

“The work done to our surgery is fantastic. It has made the space much more comfortable and welcoming for patients and staff. We’ve put a lot of work into understanding how we can improve the experience of our patients when they visit us, and this update reflects that.

“We’re very excited for patients to come and see the new and improved NPC Widdrington. We hope they love it as much as we do.”

Jamie Mitchell, deputy director of estates and facilities at Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, said:

“We’re really pleased with the improvements made to NPC Widdrington’s surgery. When the practice joined NPC last year, it was clear that the building needed some work to bring it up to date. We’ve listened to issues that patients have flagged and made improvements based on their suggestions.

“It’s important that our buildings are welcoming spaces to patients. For some people, going to their GP can be a vulnerable time. By making improvements to the surgery and creating a warm and friendly environment, we hope that patients feel more comfortable when visiting us.”