LAUREL HOUSE SURGERY
PRACTICE NEWSLETTER
A number of changes are happening or have happened over the last few years.
DOCTORS:
Dr David Cutting is retiring at the beginning of April. He has very much enjoyed his thirty-five years in General Practice and thanks his patients for sharing the journey. His patients will be looked after by a new doctor – Dr Sam. He will be taking over in April and is full-time. He trained in Birmingham and is working in a Practice in the Lichfield area. They are sorry to lose him but wish him well in his move to us.
Dr Claire Gibbs has been with us since 2011 but has been appointed as a partner in a Practice nearer to her home. She will be missed, especially by those helped by her homeopathy and acupuncture skills. Good luck Claire from all of us.
Sadly Dr Thorneycroft and Dr Zachau are no longer with the Practice due to prolonged ill health. They are taking a career break at present.
As you already know, since 2010 Dr Surinder Sareen has taken over from Dr Harrison who you will be pleased to know is enjoying her retirement.
Dr Kathryn Chapman has become a partner in the Practice now that her family have grown up. She has increased her hours.
Dr Angela Timms joined the Practice in February. She has returned to the Midlands from the South West and will be working part-time. She will be available for Dr Zachau’s patients particularly.
Dr Judith King is an experienced GP who has been doing locum work with us. She is increasing her hours to be here every day and will take care of Dr Gibbs’ patients.
Dr Rachel Glennie will be joining us in July. She presently works in Warley, Birmingham, completing her extensive GP training. She also will work part-time and we look forward to her arrival since this will complete our Doctor Team.
NURSES:
Our Practice Sisters have also been changing. Gloria Goodwin has given outstanding service to the Practice for almost forty years and will retire in April. We thank her deeply and hope she can spare us a few clinic hours in the future.
Sisters Sharon Hatfield and Becky Francis have decided on a change of career with a move into Health Visiting. They will leave at the end of March.
We shall miss them all but in their places will be Sisters Michelle, Nora and Jamie who will join with Sister Sue Marshall and Sister Rachel Young to make up the Nursing Team
MIDWIVES:
Our Midwife Team has also altered and now includes Sally Jackson.
DISTRICT NURSES:
Our District Nursing Team is still headed up by Sister Rachel Gilbert and includes Sarah Lakin, Pamela Harrison, Marion Cox and Sandra Hewitt. Daphne has moved to Cornwall and will continue to work down there.
HEALTH VISITORS:
Our Health Visitor Team now comprises, Catherine Matthews, Rupa Suchak, Yvette Andrews, Lesley Heaps (Nursery Nurse) and Charlotte Shinner (Administrator).
INNOVATIONS:
1. We have a website at ‘laurelhousesurgery.co.uk.’ Have a look.
2. A Patient Participation Group has been launched. Thank you to those who kindly filled in the recent Practice Questionnaire. You all seem to like the Practice and we shall try to improve things like the telephone access, appointment making and repeat prescribing systems.
If you are interested in being involved with the website or Patient Participation Group please contact Charis Howell or Kim Bowen in reception or David Hicken, Managing Partner.
3. Commuter friendly surgeries are available on Tuesday evenings. These are for advanced bookings (6.30pm-7.50pm) and are provided in addition to our full day surgeries.
GENERAL INFORMATION;
Our Practice aim has been to provide personal list doctoring. This has become more difficult due to Government changes. One such item is that the Government insist that when patients are registering they do so in the name of the Practice Lead who will now be Dr Killeen. Dr Cutting’s patients may therefore be re-registered and allocated under Dr Killeen’s name. Please be aware that, as time goes by, the named doctor on your medical card may not necessarily be the doctor you see.
FINALLY:
A great thanks to our superb reception, administration and secretarial staff who, under the guidance of Carole Huxley, Charis Howell and Jenny Davies, have coped with the numerous changes and given kind and loyal service to the Practice patients.