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After more than 20 years and 4 years as Senior Partner, Dr Alex Armstrong has decided to retire on 30th June 2012. He will be sorely missed but the Practice has started the process of appointing a new partner.
As many of you already know, due to NHS and PCT budget cuts, we had to say goodbye to Dr Heather Willson as one of our salaried doctors. We wish her well for the future.
On a happier note, we are very pleased that Dr Louise Wallington has a had a baby boy and both mother and son are doing fine! She is due back from maternity leave at the end of March but has decided to change to her married name of O'Leary, so will now be Dr Louise O'Leary.
There have been many changes in our nursing staff as well. We said goodbye to our two longest serving nurses in the summer. We will miss them very much but wish them both the best for the future. Anne Dowsett retired and has been placed by Lindsay Perrin as Nurse Practitioner and lead nurse. Torill Averill has decided to relocate to the Marlborough Practice which is closer to her home. She has been replaced by Tessa Regan as Triage and Practice Nurse.
Although she has been working as a locum nurse at the Practice, Katie Rossiter joined as a permanent member last year as Practice Nurse and also as part of the diabetes team.
Audrey Bannerman has been part of the reception team for some years. Prior to moving to the UK she worked as a nurse in South Africa and we are pleased that she has decided to take up the post as our Health Care Assistant and phlebotomist.
As part of our attempt to reduce the number of missed appointments, we now have available an SMS texting service that automatically confirms and then reminds you of your upcoming appointment. This is free of charge to you. If you haven't already given the Practice your mobile number then please let the reception staff know. Likewise, if you have changed your mobile number (or land line) then please let us know.
You may be aware that many things are changing rapidly within the NHS and we expect this change to continue. One of the major changes is for more responsibility to be given to doctors whose aim is to put your needs first and to keep healthcare local.
The Castle Practice, together with other local Practices, have set up a patient representative group called 'Plain Talking'. The members of this group will help us to better understand the needs, opinions and priorities of patients living in the local area and to influence the shape local healthcare in the future.
If you are interested in being involved and/or happy for us to contact you periodically by e-mail, please complete the contact form and return to Reception for the attention of Chrissie Williams, Practice Manager.
Winter 2011 - Previous newsletters
index | surgery times | appointments | out of hours | prescriptions | services | non-NHS charges | helping us | patient participation | doctors | nurses | attached staff | admin | minor illnesses | travel | pregnancy | newsletter | training | map | links
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