Newcastle quayside (standby/iStockPhoto.com)
Why I work in Newcastle-upon-Tyne “The pharmacy is in the suburbs and we get to know our customers. There is also a large multi-ethnic community, so we get to work with all different kinds of conditions which is interesting. Newcastle is a great place to live — it’s vibrant, has all the night life but it’s only 10 or 15 minutes to the countryside.” — Nicola Bawn, pharmacy manager Chambers Chemist.
Population 271,600
Local authority Newcastle city council is a two star “ improving well” authority according to the Audit Commission. The metropolitan district council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats.
MPs Four, all Labour. Chi Onwurah (Newcastle Central); Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle North); Ian Mearns (Gateshead) and Nick Brown (Newcastle East).
Health service Newcastle Primary Care Trust has “fair” services and makes “fair” use of resources. The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has “excellent” services and makes “excellent” use of resources. Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, a mental health and disability trust and one of the largest in England, has “excellent” services and makes “good” use of its resources. The North East Strategic Health Authority is based in the city, as well as the North East Ambulance Service Trust (“excellent” services and “good” use of resources).
Pharmacy school There is no pharmacy school in Newcastle but there is one at the University of Sunderland 13 miles away.
Local pharmaceutical committee There are 62 pharmacies in Newcastle represented by North Tyne LPC.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society branch The Northumbrian branch covers the city. It has 761 members, seven fellows, 41 preregistration trainees and 202 technicians.
Open space Newcastle is a Roman city on the north bank of the river Tyne. Founded by the Emperor Hadrian, whose wall still runs through the centre of the city. Alnwick Garden, created by the Duchess of Northumberland is nearby and boasts one of the largest European plant collections and one of the world’s largest tree houses — the size of two Olympic swimming pools. The North Pennines and Northumberland coast, both areas of outstanding natural beauty are a day trip away, as is the Northumberland national park.
Schools Outstanding primaries: Kingston Park; Moorside Community; St Cuthberts; St John Vianney. Outstanding secondaries: Gosforth High; Sacred Heart High; Colleges: Newcastle College (FE and tertiary). Other outstanding schools are: Hadrian School (special); and independents: Central Newcastle High School (junior department) and Westfield School.
Commuter links Road links: Sunderland A167 (13 miles); Durham A roads (18 miles) ;A1 Angel of the North (6 miles).Trains: London Kings Cross (three hours) ; Birmingham (from two hours 54 minutes); Middlesbrough (78 minutes); Sunderland (from 19 minutes).
Property prices Two-bed flat: £75k to £175k; three-bed semi: £200k to £300k; four-bed detached: £300k to £550k.
