PRACTICE NURSES

Sisters Anne Mansell, Helen Webb, Mandy Hall and Charlaine Moreno-Chamorro are experienced practice nurses.  They have particular skills in health promotion, contraception, foreign travel advice, immunisations, ongoing care of asthmatics, diabetics and coronary heart disease and in caring for wounds.  They also remove stitches, take cervical smears and syringe ears etc.  They are always willing to discuss concerns that you may have about your health.

If the nurses feel that you need to see a doctor, they will refer you on.  Equally, you will often find that the doctors refer you on to the nurses.

Tracy Hayhurst and Nina Wearne our Health Care Assistants undertake phlebotomy (taking blood) and other tasks to support our doctors and nurses.

RECEPTIONISTS

Our Reception Manager is Trish Monks who is ably supported by Ronnie Sullivan , Karen Banks, Debbie Orr, Julia Barker, Debbie Delaney, Debbie Morrison & Loraine Davey. They have a vast knowledge of how the surgery functions and can usually point you in the right direction (e.g. if you are unsure whether you need to see the nurse or the doctor).

They cannot advise about medical problems, but they may ask you for brief details of your problem if you request an urgent appointment or visit.  This allows the doctor to see the most urgent patients first.  Please be assured that all practice staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors.

We pride ourselves on nearly always being able to offer a routine appointment within 2 working days – if you can be flexible about appointment times and which you doctor you see

PRACTICE MANAGER

Mike Davies is our Practice Manager.  He is responsible for the smooth running of the practice and is usually working “behind the scenes”.  He is the person to approach (by telephone or in person) if you have any suggestions or criticism about the practice.

ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

Administration Assistant is Melanie Mansell, she does much of the behind the scenes administration including the preparation of insurance reports & stock control.

PRACTICE SECRETARY

Tracey White is our Practice Secretary and she performs many valuable tasks including the typing of referral letters, reports and minutes of meetings. She manages the Choose and Book system for hospital appointments as well as providing administrative support to the doctors.

THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TEAM
[Others who may be involved in your care]

COMMUNITY MIDWIFE

Debbie Gould is our Community Midwife.  She does ante-natal checks in our surgery and parent craft classes nearby in Estover Health Centre.  She also visits expectant mothers at home and cares for those who choose to give birth at home. 

HEALTH VISITORS

Our Health Visitor is Debbie Hoskin.  Her main role is with mothers and their children under 5.  She specialises in health promotion and developmental checks.  She runs an open clinic in the Health Centre on Tuesday 11am – 1pm and Thursday 2pm – 4pm.  You can contact her on 01752 314921

DISTRICT NURSES

Louise Bartlett, Paul Home, Lorna Sutton & team provide nursing care for those of our patients who are confined to their homes. You can contact them on 01752 436711.

COUNSELLORS

Helen Kirk is our Counsellor. Our doctors will refer patients who they think will benefit from the service. We regret that we have limited provision and cannot necessarily refer all who would like councelling.

MACMILLAN NURSES

Ros Wiggins, Martin Thomas and Tracy Thomas have particular training and expertise in dealing with cancer symptoms.  We will usually ask one of them to introduce themselves to anyone in the practice who has been newly diagnosed with cancer; you may never need their expertise but you will have a familiar face should the need arise.