South Brent Health Centre

Doctors

Dr James Hill
James is the Senior Partner at the practice and qualified at Bristol in 1979. He then moved to Plymouth to train as a GP, spent 6 months working in a Tibetan Hospital in Northern India before joining South Brent Health Centre in 1987.
He has been involved with training GP's since 1991. James works full time but also has medical committments outside the practice.

Dr Catherine Oldershaw
Catherine qualified in 1984 from Bristol. She has worked in A&E, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology & Care of the Elderly. Cathy did her GP training in Ivybridge before becoming a principal at South Brent in 1990, working half time. She is also involved with teaching Medical Students who spend time at the practice periodically.

Dr Tony Born
Tony graduated from Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, London in 1986. He spent 9 years working in a variety of hospital based specialities, including General Medicine, Paediatrics, Anaesthetics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology plus A&E medicine. He did his GP training here in South Brent in 1995 and became a GP principal in Totnes for five and a half years before returning to South Brent.

Tony has an interest in dermatology and spent five years as a clinical assistant in the Dermatology Department at Torbay Hospital. He is happily married to Sian and they have two children, Seb and Hannah.

Dr Sarah Galloway
Sarah qualified in medicine in 1992 and did her GP training in Devon. She has worked in A&E, ENT, General Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynaecology as well as running a hospital in the Himalayas.

Sarah works four sessions per week at the practice, and although consulting in all conditions, she has a particular interest in Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. She is involved with the teaching of Medical Students at the Practice and also teaches at the Peninsula Medical School.

Dr Sarah Regan (f)
Dr Sarah Regan is one of our GP Registrars here at the practice for one year

Dr Georgia Belam (f)
Dr Georgia Belam is one of our GP Registrars who is at the practice for one year

Nurses

Practice Nurses
The Practice Nursing team based at the Health Centre are Joy Taylor, Carol Carlson & Laura Newbery. They are available for immunisation and travel vaccinations, dressings, removal of stitches, blood pressure checks, minor injuries, smoking and health advice, diabetic and asthma clinics and weight monitoring. Joy is also able to issue emergency contraception. When booking your appointment you may be asked the nature of your appointment so the correct length of time can be allocated.

Healthcare Assistants

Health Care Assistants

Lorraine, Health Care Assistant at the practice and holds clinics three times per week. She is a qualified phlebotomist who undertakes routine blood tests as well as monitoring blood pressure. She is also able to undertake audiograms. Lorraine undertakes a regular weight management programme and this takes place during her normal Health Care Assistant clinics. Patients can be seen on a regular basis for weight monitoring and dietary advice.

Hannah is also a Health Care Assistant and holds clinics twice a week. She undertakes routine blood tests and is also a qualified Smoking Cessation Advisor.

Practice Management

Practice Manager
Jenny Alexander is responsible for all financial matters in the practice, which incudes practice budgets, payrolls etc. She is also involved with decision making with the Doctors on all matters that concern the running of the Health Centre. Any complaints/suggestions should be addressed to Jenny, who will bring them to the attention of the Doctors if she is not able to resolve them herself.

Office Manager
Anna Keene deputises for Jenny in her absence and is also responsible for the smooth running of the main reception. She is also responsible for staff training, and the ongoing development of IT at the practice.

Secretary
Lorraine's main role involves typing of all referral letters/reports to Hospitals, Social Services etc. She also chases up late appointments, queries etc. on secondary care procedures.

IT Data Administrator
Dawn is responsible for the updating of computer held medical records and also runs the numerous reports needed for audit purposes along with Anna. She also oversees any day to day problems that may occur with the computer system.

Admin assistant
Frances' role as admin assistant covers the daily scanning of patient correspondence. She also oversees the flow of patient notes when patients register or move away.

Receptionists
Sandra, Gill, Sheila and Caroline are the faces you will see on a daily basis at the reception desk. As well as the obvious tasks, they also undertake various background administration tasks that are not usually seen by patients.

Health Visitors

Health Visitor
Mrs Janet Carter is available to give health advice to all age groups – please feel free to phone. To request a visit or for telephone advice please ring, if possible between 8.30 – 9.30am Monday – Friday. Messages may be left any time.

Child Health Clinic: Wednedays 2–4pm (no appointment needed). Child Health Development Checks, hearing tests & vision tests are by appointment.

Attached Staff

Community Nurses
Community Matron Julie Hookins is based at this Health centre, and supported by Mandy Lamble & Holly Eggleton. The Community Nursing Service operates seven days a week and messages may be left at reception during their opening hours. Urgent messages will be responded to the same day. Patients already on the nursing caseload are able to contact the Community Nurses direct by mobile phone if necessary.

Midwife
The Community Midwife is currently Viv Downer who covers our Health Centre and holds ante-natal clinics on a Wednesday morning. Messages can be left at reception.

Physiotherapist
Sue Wheeler & Natalie Summers are the Physiotherapists who cover two days a week at the Health Centre. If you feel you would benefit from physiotherapy please either complete a self referral form available from reception or make an appointment to discuss this with one of the doctors.

Counsellor
Liz Helm is a qualified Counsellor who visits the surgery fortnightly. If you are anxious or have a problem and feel you would benefit from talking to a counsellor please make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor who would refer you to Liz if appropriate.

Podiatrist

An NHS Podiatrist visits the health centre every Wednesday & an NHS Podiatry Assistant visits fortnightly on a Monday. In order to see the Podiatrist, you must be referred by either your GP or another Health Professional. Please note that appointments for both these services are not made from the health centre and patients can experience long waiting times for non urgent referrals.

Please refer to the section on this website titled "Useful Services" to find out more about Chiropody services locally.

Noticeboard

Further Information

Patient Participation Group

Survey Report