Tel. 01206 250691 Fax 01206 252496
Partners:
Salaried GPs –
Dr Jane Slawson
The Hollies Surgery is a rural, dispensing, training practice with approximately 8,550 patients. We are located in the middle of the largest village green in
Great Bentley is about 10-15 minutes from Colchester,
We moved into our current premises in 1990, having converted a large Rectory in the middle of the village green. The building was purchased on the “cost rent” scheme and has been enlarged and altered at various times since then. We now have 9 consulting rooms and 2 treatment rooms. We manage to accommodate weekly Midwife-led Antenatal clinics as well as various other specialist clinics such as Smoking Cessation, Podiatry and Echocardiography, all of which offer excellent educational opportunities.
One thing that makes the practice a unique training opportunity is that in 1997 the partners purchased a wine bar nearby and converted it into a pharmacy. We were then able to employ a pharmacist and move our dispensary to the pharmacy. With the expert assistance of the pharmacist, Dr Nick Cavenagh, our pharmacy lead, has developed the practice’s own drug formulary, which can be accessed directly from all practitioners’ PCs. The pharmacist is actively involved in introducing services required under the new pharmacy contract which means that our patients get the added benefits of Repeat Dispensing, Medication Usage Reviews etc, as well as having expert pharmaceutical advice readily available.
Relocating the dispensary meant there was enough space to allow us to accommodate a registrar in his own room which was the final impetus we needed to apply for training status. We were approved as a training practice, with Dr Mathew Hunt as trainer, in 1997 and have had registrars in post almost continuously since 1998.
Having close links with the pharmacy has proved to be a very educational and worthwhile exercise, with the pharmacist able to offer help and advice with various prescribing matters. In addition to the dispensary and a good quality chemist’s shop, the pharmacy building also houses the District Nurses and Health Visitor, with an extra room available on a sessional basis to other health professionals such as Osteopaths, Podiatrists, Opticians etc. There is also a large flat that is rented out (but with prior planning might be used to accommodate a registrar.)
The introduction of QOF and Enhanced Service Commissioning spurred us on to provide many new and improved services at the surgery. We have scored very highly on QOF points so far, but pride ourselves on providing comprehensive holistic care for all our patients because that is our vocation rather than on collecting QOF points for the sake of it.
The surgery has its full share of complementary staff including a practice manager – Hugh Cronin – and experienced, well trained practice nurses, led by our Nurse Practitioner, Jan Williamson. We operate the Advanced Access appointments system each day during the week, guaranteeing patients appointments within 48 hours. Out of hours commitment at the surgery is generally very light as a comprehensive on-call service is provided from the Primecare base at nearby
We are fully computerised using the EMIS system which was installed in 1992. Since 1995 we have been “paperless” with all consultations, letters, results, appointments etc being on computer which facilitates audit, comprehensive disease registers and robust patient recall systems.
Our practice works closely together with a good atmosphere between the partners and all other staff. The partners, salaried GPs, registrar, practice manager and nurses meet each day before surgery for coffee and to discuss the issues of the day. We also have more formal monthly practice meetings and once a month have a morning set aside for education and audit for doctors, nurses and any other relevant staff.
Teaching is an ongoing, continuous process but one morning each week is set aside for dedicated teaching purposes. Teaching format covers the usual range of tutorials, video analysis, random and problem case analysis, journal reviews etc. All partners and staff enjoy having a registrar around and everyone is happy to be involved in teaching and training. We are all very excited at the prospect of expanding our training function, particularly to undergraduates in whose development registrars could play a full and satisfying part.
Back row: Hugh Cronin (Practice Manager), Dr Nicholas Cavenagh, Dr Nicholas Steiner, Dr Mathew Hunt
Front Row: Dr Freda Bhatti, Dr Debra Letton