THE PARTNERS

THE PRACTICE MANAGER

Mr Stephen Middleton is responsible for the smooth running of the surgery, dealing with administration, finance, the building and staff organisation. If you have any suggestions, queries or complaints, please ask to speak to him.

PRACTICE NURSES

Sarah England RGN, Laura Matthews RGN and nurse technician Linda Argent are highly trained and perform a variety of procedures and clinics, including immunisations, dressings, blood tests, ear syringing, hearing tests, ECGs, lung function tests, diabetic, weight control and asthma clinics. They give advice on a wide range of health-related issues, including heart disease prevention, travel advice, family planning and smoking.

RECEPTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

The reception and administrative team are here to help you. They are responsible for the smooth running of our organisation and ensuring that all patients have equitable access to our resources. In order to assist you quickly and appropriately they may have to ask for more details about your condition. They are bound by the same rules of patient confidentiality as the doctors and nurses. Please let them know if you change your name, address, telephone number etc so that our records for you and other family members are up to date.

ATTACHED STAFF

Community Nurses (Employed by Bournemouth & Poole PCT)

Our team of community nurses provide nursing care in the home and advice for housebound patients recently discharged from hospital. As well as general nursing procedures they can advise on matters such as diet, continence care, wound and ulcer management, constipation etc. They liaise with social services for provision of home care and give assistance with applications for allowances and disability benefits. Messages can be left at the surgery on telephone number 765574.

Advisory clinics in the surgery for patients and carers are held by appointment only.

If you need to speak to a community nurse OUT OF HOURS please telephone 07788 925830 between 6.30pm and 7.00am weekdays and all weekend and 0845 600 1013 between 7.00am and 8.00am. Please do not leave urgent messages on the practice answerphone during these times.

Health Visitor (Employed by NHS Bournemouth & Poole)

The health visiting team is led by Kathryn Vermeulen RGN. They specialise in health education and assessment, focusing on mums-to-be, children up to school age, the elderly and the bereaved. Direct line telephone number 540782. An answerphone is attached to receive messages out of hours.

The health visiting team is based in the Healthcare Suite on the ground floor entrance to the right side of the building.

Nursery Nurse (Employed by NHS Bournemouth & Poole )

A nursery nurse to help with the care of babies and young children is also available.

Community Midwives (Employed by Poole Hospital)

Our community midwives advise and monitor our antenatal patients at home and in the surgery and provide care in the early days after delivery.

Counsellor

The counsellor provides a skilled confidential counselling service either here at the surgery or through the Gateway Team. Appointments may be made by referral from your doctor.

Training

This practice is committed to the training of doctors and is fortunate to be approved as a training practice for GP Registrars and medical students from Southampton University and Kings College London. From time to time a student may sit in on your consultation. You will always be forewarned of this and may decline the presence of the student if you prefer.

GP Registrars are fully qualified doctors, often with a wealth of hospital experience, who spend time with us to familiarise themselves with general practice procedures.