For a modestly sized practice, we have a relatively large number of doctors and nurses. This enables us to offer choice, as well as a wide range of skills. We also offer long (when compared to some other surgeries) appointments.
We all participate in regular appraisal and proactively seek to improve our skills.
Our Doctors
Dr Alan Maguire – MBBS (Newcastle 1990) MRCGP
Dr Lynn Corbett – MBBS (Newcastle 1988) DRCOG MRCGP DFFP
Dr Pat Feeney – MBBS, (Newcastle 1971) MA D.Obst. RCOG MRCGP
Dr Lorien Dornan – MBBS, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP
Dr Sajni Gupta – MA Hons (Cambridge 1998) MB BChir (Cambridge) RCOG, DTM&H, JCPTGP, MRCGP
You may consult any of the above doctors. However, we strongly recommend that you try, as far as possible, to see the same doctor for the duration of any particular illness.
Our Registrars
We will welcome a new GP registrar in February 2012. More details will follow!
GP Returner – Dr Sharon Smart begins a placement with us on 8th August 2011 until early 2012. Dr Smart has a wealth of clinical expertise and knowledge to bring to our team and will work part-time during her placement.
Our Nurses
Linda Kennedy
Jennie Hill
Michelle Milburn
Phlebotomist – Paula Hambleton
Appointments can be made to see a practice nurse about any health matter you wish to discuss, including advice or treatment of minor ailments which you feel do not require a consultation with one of the doctors. Our practice nurses offer a wide range of expertise in nursing and management of chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes.
Where your medical condition is well controlled, the doctor may ask you to see the practice nurse for further follow up. They will refer you back to the doctor when necessary.
Our practice nurses are available to see patients five days a week (except Thursday afternoon) for routine surgery appointments. In addition they offer emergency first aid access.
Trainee Psychotherapist – From April 2011 Ashlynne Cordes will join our team working on a 1 year placement.
Our Management
Sue Shone Cert.Ed, DMD (PHC), M.I.H.M
Linda Ratcliffe
Chris Mettham
Our Reception & Admin
We want your experience with us to always be a good one, which is why our receptionists are recruited and trained to always provide you with a first class service. You will find our reception team always willing to help you.
Our secretaries make sure that all goes well should you need to be referred to anyone outside of the practice.
Our reception team will usually be your first and most frequent point of contact with the practice. They make appointments and take requests for home visits and repeat prescriptions.
In order to ensure that urgent requests for advice are dealt with appropriately, our receptionists need to ask for specific information relating to your problem.
There are times when reception will be extremely busy and you may have to wait to be dealt with. Our receptionists will help you as quickly and as courteously as they can. Please help them to help you by being patient and by giving them sufficient information to prioritise urgent appointments.
Dispensing
Lynne Vinton is our lead Dispenser and she is supported by other members of the reception and admin team. Lynne is up to date with all Dispensary training and will help you with an dispensing queries you might have.
Our Attached Staff
Our Midwife
Our community midwife is involved in the care of expectant mothers, new-born babies and their mothers. She holds clinics in the surgery and also visits mothers in their own homes for at least the first ten days after they have had their baby.
Our Health Visitors
Mrs Jill Lee RGN, RM, H.V. BSc. (Hons)
Mrs Kim Knapton BA, RGN, H.V.
Mrs Gill Darling, Nursery Nurse
The health visitors’ primary tasks are to promote health and prevent illness in our community. This involves working with the under fives, expectant mothers, the elderly and disabled.
Call our Health Visitors Direct on 01661 843080
Community Nurses
District Nurses
Sister Denise Thompson SRN, SCM, DN, BSc. (Hons)
The community or district nurses generally care for those who are unable to attend the surgery for nursing treatment. The nursing care given by the community nurses allows people to stay in their own homes who might otherwise need to go into hospital. They also provide care in the surgery.
If you want to speak to the district nurses, they can be contacted via the surgery receptionist. If available, the District Nurse will speak to you directly; otherwise the receptionist will take a message and the District Nurse will contact you as soon as possible.
Community Psychiatric Nurse
Community Psychiatric Nurses, based at the Fairnington Centre at Hexham General Hospital, offer counselling and support for people with mental health problems. They have close links with Clinical Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Occupational Therapists. Referrals are normally made by Doctors or Nurses.
