COLNE MEDICAL CENTRE

Dr Graham D Parker
Dr Philip H J Letton
Dr Andrew A Justice
Dr Michael F Hare
Dr Daniel J Bateman
Dr Zagros Rashid

40 Station Road
Brightlingsea
Colchester
Essex CO7 0DT
Courier no: 70
Telephone: (01206) 302522
Fax: (01206) 305131

Description of Colne Medical Centre

BACKGROUND  

Colne Medical Centre is a six doctor PMS training practice with over 9800 patients serving the semi-rural communities of

Brightlingsea and surrounding villages. The main surgery is situated in the centre of Brightlingsea having been relocated to purpose built premises ten years ago. There is also a satellite surgery in the nearby village of Alresford which has a dispensary.

The population is made up of mixed social class including locals, commuters to London and students and staff from Essex University.

The practice is fully computerised using the EMIS system and there are VDUs in each consulting room which are connected to the internet. The computer is used for all repeat prescribing, recording major illnesses and auditing. The cervical cytology and immunisation targets are met at over 90% and all information regarding this is entered on the computer.

In April 2002 the practice changed to PMS status. The practice has been a member of the MRC general practice research framework since 1982, was involved in the elderly hypertension trial and gastroenterology survey and has completed an over 75 assessment study.

THE TEAM

The team consists of a practice manager, an administrator, 1 secretary, 3 part time practice nurses, 13 receptionists, 2 dispensers and a clerical assistant. The practice works closely with all the other primary care team members including health visitors, district nurses and the community midwife. We are part of the nursing team project, and the district nurses and health visitor are based in the building. Regular primary healthcare team meetings are held on the premises.

CLINICS

Dietetic and echocardiography clinics are run from the surgery. Hypertension, asthma, contraception, well woman, cervical cytology, childhood health surveillance, diabetic, ante-natal, phlebotomy, minor surgery, smoking cessation and wart clinics are also run from the surgery. The midwife holds a weekly antenatal clinic and the health visitor has regular clinics at the surgery. Dr Hare runs an ENT clinic from the surgery for patients referred by their GPs in the Tendring and Colchester area and also provides a practice based sigmoidoscopy service.

A system of both open surgeries (mornings) and appointment surgeries (evenings) are operated by the doctors to allow maximum access for our patients. The appointment system is fully computerised. Out of hours work is covered by Primecare.

COMMUNICATION

Weekly partners’ meetings with the practice manager are held to discuss clinical matters - a practice nurse or community nurse attends if they have particular items to discuss. Organisational matters are also discussed at these meetings. Bi-monthly staff meetings are held with the staff and the practice manager and nurses with the doctors. Practice nurses have monthly meetings which the practice manager attends if appropriate. Feedback from these meetings are passed on by the practice manager to the partners. Team building events are organised throughout the year, such as a bowling evening, barbecue, and, of course Christmas dinner, and all members of the team are encouraged to attend.

THE PARTNERS

Dr Graham Parker MB BS MRCGP is a GP registrar trainer.

Dr Philip Letton BM MRCGP is a GP appraiser and an LMC member.

Dr Andrew Justice MB BS DRCOG RCGP is our computer expert and our PBC lead.

Dr Michael Hare MB BS DLO has a hospital outpatient ENT session every week and runs an in-house ENT clinic as well as a sigmoidoscopy clinic .

Dr Daniel Bateman MB BS has an interest in chest complaints and COPD.

Dr Zagros Rashid MB ChB MRCP (UK) and has an interest in diabetes.

Caroline Bowden is the practice manager who can be contacted via e mail: caroline.bowden@gp-f81116.nhs.uk.