The present surgery was built in 1991 for three GP's, one treatment room nurse and 5,000 patients.. Dr Todd could not get permission to build larger premises in anticipation of what was to come. Since 1991 another factor has placed pressure on space within GP premises, the concept of Primary Care has completely altered. We are now expected to provide far greater facilities, the increase in patients, the need for more than three doctors, more than one nurse, accompanying reception and administrative staff, the current premises were outgrown by 1994. We now have 9 GP’s, 4 Nurses and 2 Health Care Assistants and have applied for Planning Permission to extend the Surgery.

The management of Primary Care has also changed since 1991. Additional staff such as Practice Managers, Computer Managers and Secretaries with keyboard skills, have evolved as standard members of the surgery team, all of whom need accommodation. Despite converting the staff room, roof space and store rooms into offices in 1996/7, there is now an even more urgent need for additional medical treatment and consulting rooms and clinic space.

The Future
Practice Nurses are taking increasing responsibilities within Primary Care as we approach the millennium. Triage and Nurse Practitioners will help offest the ever increasing workload and demands on general practitioners.

The Demographics of Bradley Stoke
The projected population of Bradley Stoke is 25,000 inhabitants. The practice grows by 1,000 patients NETT a year, but to achieve this figure between 1,500 and 2,000 are registered and 500 to 1,000 move on from rented accommodation to other areas or their job changes. The figures belie the immense problems and pressures caused by social isolation, the arrival of new children, changes in lifestyle and the lack of extended family or any community services in Bradley Stoke. The facilities have improved but patients invariably turn to the surgery - for support. The high patient attendance rate per year reflects this need.
The birth rate at the practice is consistently high (20 - 30 deliveries each month) and routinely at any moment in time we have 300 pregnant ladies on the books. This is in addition to the new families moving into the area with young children. We have 1,000 children of five years or under on our books - a much higher figure than the average GP. With these figures come the added workload of their immunisations and growth checks. We have five Health Visitors looking after our children and we keep seven Midwives continually busy with our exploding population.

Our Family Planning Clinics are busy, female patients wanting appointments after work time. Avon Health is aware our figures for contraception are the highest in Avon. We have little room to provide the normal standard medical services, let alone the extra facilities Avon Health would like us to provide