Everyone else

We have a team of six Practice Nurses who are available for consultation by appointment during surgery hours.

They carry out routine health checks, cervical smears, immunisations, blood tests, ear syringing, advice on travel, minor ailments or injuries and blood pressure checks.

In addition to this our nurses are trained in dealing with chronic diseases and they run dedicated diabetes, asthma, COPD and coronary heart disease clinics.

Janet Silman

The practice has a Health Care Assistant, Jan Silman. Jan is available, by appointment, for taking blood samples, carrying out ECG's and blood pressure checks.

Jan is also one of our Smoking Cessation Advisors and is only too pleased to offer advice and support to any patient contemplating giving up smoking.

Our Practice Manager is David Pratley who has been with the surgery since 1996. He has a financial background having worked for one of the High Street Banks for some 30 years. David is responsible for the smooth running of the practice ensuring that everyone works together as a team. Through this we aim to achieve a high quality of service to all our patients.

He is available to assist with any administration or non-medical matters and is also happy to hear any suggestions or comments you may have which might help to improve our service. You can email him on david.pratley@nhs.net

Lisa Cooper

Lisa Cooper is our Office Manager and has been with the practice since 1990. During that time the practice has grown rapidly both in size and in the number of patients it serves.

Lisa is responsible for the daily administrative tasks involved with running a busy practice including organising clinics, special events, staff cover, training etc. She also works closely with the Health Visitors organising child developmental checks.

If you have any suggestions or comments regarding the day to day running of the surgery, then Lisa would be pleased to hear from you. You can e-mail her at lisa.cooper@nhs.net

The Role of the Receptionist

Receptionists have a difficult role in a general practice, but they are essential to ensure the practice runs smoothly and efficiently. They are also the first point of contact for patients with our practice and so a vital ingredient in the success of our practice. A good receptionist is a superb advert for a practice and we are lucky to have so many good ones.

They work under guidance from the doctors and implement policies laid down by the doctors. If you are frustrated with our practice, being rude to a receptionist is unlikely to help whereas talking to the doctors may bring about some improvements.

One key policy is that our reception staff are under an absolute duty of confidentiality in the same way as a doctor or nurse is. Indeed breach of this duty would lead to immediate disciplinary action against the staff member concerned.

Reception staff are trying to arrange speedy and efficient access to services for patients. As a practice we do not always have enough appointments available for a variety of reasons. We know of no practice that does. Receptionists will do their best to get you an appointment at a convenient time subject to the availability of appointments. If you have a problem which you think is urgent and there is not a suitable appointment free please give brief details of the problem (e.g. Child with fever, asthma getting worse) to the receptionist who can then liaise with the doctor and see if an urgent extra appointment is warranted - it will be the doctor who makes that decision.

The reception staff also keep the doctors organised with reminders, organising prescriptions (up to 200 per day), dealing with forms, typing letters, filing results and letters, dealing with our item of service fees, phoning patients or hospital departments and numerous other jobs. They are busy people in a frequently stressful environment.

Please remember that receptionists are ordinary humans, in a busy job, do not have medical knowledge, and may not be able to answer all your questions. What they can do well is relay your concerns to the doctors and allow the doctors to respond.

We have six Health Visitors at Barton Surgery some are full time and some are part time.

We run two drop in baby clinics weekly on Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings.

We offer home visits, routine developmentals and will be shortly starting a postnatal support group for new mums. We also liaise with other professionals, health promotions and we are involved in community projects.

Our local contact number is 01803 328834

Your Riviera Team of  Midwives at Barton Surgery are Julie Dawe, Tam Melville and Katie . They are available at the Surgery on Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning and also Friday morning.

When your pregnancy is confirmed - please ask for a midwives appointment at the surgery, to meet us and discuss your care. At this meeting we can arrange your scan and booking visit, at home, or surgery or the hospital. We will, with your GP, look after you throughout your pregnancy and at home with your baby. We are happy to undertake home births and will discuss this with you at booking.

You can contact us on 01803 654615 - if there is no one in the office an answer phone will take your message and we will return your call within 24 hours. Please do NOT ring the office if you are in labour or for other urgent calls.

The Juno Midwives take part in Parentcraft sessions and we suggest you attend Parentcraft from about 30 weeks onwards. Please see your midwife to book in or phone the office. Dates are subject to change but you will be notified if this happens.

Antenatal Clinic - Please phone your surgery to make an appointment to see your midwife for routine antenatal care.

Maternity Unit Open Evenings

WHERE?   Level 4 Maternity Unit. Meet at the antenatal clinic reception

WHEN?     Every second Monday of each month - even Bank Holiday.

TIME?       Drop in anytime between 6.00 - 6.30pm. Last tour starts at 7.30. and tours last about 30 minutes.

Bring your partner or friend for a tour of the unit. Meet the midwives, plus National Childbirth Trust, Real Nappies, Surestart and an Anaesthetist to discuss pain relief and others. All welcome at any stage of pregnancy.

Visiting Hours on Delivery Suite

Please note that you will only be able to have a maximum of two birth supporters with you on the delivery suite. No other visitors are allowed.

On transfer to John McPherson ward after the birth, normal visiting hours will apply.

For reasons of confidentiality no patient information will be given over the telephone so please inform your family and friends.