West Road Medical Centre - The doctors, nurses and other staff at our practice

West Road Medical Centre
170 West Road
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9QB
Tel: 0191 2822890

Health Charities

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Time link to sudden cardiac death

How the time of day can increase the risk of dying from an irregular heartbeat has been identified by researchers.

NHS 'will be Cameron's poll tax'

Labour leader Ed Miliband tells David Cameron he risks making NHS reform "his poll tax" - in noisy Commons clashes over the health bill.

Male extinction theory challenged

A new study comparing chromosomes in humans and rhesus monkeys suggests genetic decay of the male sex chromosome has all but ended.

Heart symptoms 'differ in women'

Fewer women than men suffering from a heart attack appear to experience chest pain symptoms, according to a study in the US.

Nurses 'should sign Dignity Code'

Nurses and care workers should sign a Dignity Code guaranteeing that elderly patients are treated with respect, say a group of politicians and charities.

Baby P duo made 'serious errors'

Two of Baby Peter's social workers committed a "serious error of judgement" during an incident which saw him "disappear" for 12 days, a tribunal hears.

US record kidney donor chain ends

The world's largest chain of organ transplants ends in the US after 30 patients received kidneys from living donors.

Diabetes patients miss key tests

More than 1.3 million diabetes patients could be missing out on vital and potentially life-saving health checks, the BBC learns.

Fatal fungal probe awarded £5.1m

Aberdeen researchers are awarded £5.1m to lead an investigation into fungal infections which cause death.

Government 'not trusted on NHS'

Over two-thirds of people do not trust the government's handling of the NHS, a poll commissioned for BBC Radio 5 live suggests.

Health Protection Agency

Update on measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

A measles outbreak has been declared on Merseyside. There are 13 confirmed and 16 suspected cases ranging in age from nine months to adults aged in their 20s. Six people, four children and two adults, required treatment in hospital. This compares to just one confirmed case on Merseyside in the first six weeks of 2011 and one in the corresponding period of 2010.

Measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

10 February 2012, 1400hrs. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has this week been alerted by the Spanish public health authorities about a further case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a UK resident who stayed at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, as well as two French cases. This brings the total number of UK residents associated with this cluster to 12, with three deaths.

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

Doctors

Nursing Staff

Practice Team

Healthcare Team

Doctors

Dr Barbara Palmer (f)
BA MBBS (Newcastle 1983) DRCOG FP Cert DFFP, Dip Ther
Barbara has been with the practice since 1988. She offers a full range of general practice care to her patients, she has specialist interests in substance misuse, child health & maternity services.

Dr Martin Heardman (m)
MB ChB (Glasgow 1987) MRCGP FP Cert Martin has been a partner with the practice since 1993. He offers general practice care and has an interest in joint injections and mens health.

Dr Vivien Ferrier (f)
MBBS (London 1976) MRCGP DRCOG FP Cert
Viv has been with the practice since 2000. She offers a full range of general practice care to her patients and has a special interest in child health and maternity services.

Dr Karen Bisset (f)
MBBS (Newcastle 1995) MRCGP RCGP Part 2 Certificate in the Management of Drug Misuse
Karen joined the practice in November 2010 having worked as a GP since 2000. She offers a full range of general practice care and has an interest in substance misuse and education.

Dr Louise Duncan (f)
MBBS (Newcastle 1991) DCH Cert DFFP MRCGP
Louise has been working as a GP since 1998. She provides general care and has a particular interest in children’s, teenager’s and woman’s health. She fits contraceptive implants and intra-uterine devices (coils), as does Dr Palmer.

Dr Lorna Longworth (f)
MBChB MRCP nMRCGP
Lorna has recently joined the practice in August 2011. She provides general practice care with a particular interest in contraception and children's health as well as substance misuse.

Nurses

Sylvia Dryden (f)
Practice Nurse Manager
MSc BSc, PCG Advanced Practice, Nurse Prescriber (NP), Dip Reflexology, ENB998, ENB148, RGN, Registered in 1984.
Sylvia is a senior registered nurse who joined the practice in 2006. Sylvia is the lead for the nursing team and sees patients who require routine follow up for long term conditions and provides general nursing care. She has undertaken advanced training to be able to assess diagnose and treat patients in a similar way to a Doctor, this includes patients with acute symptoms. If she is unable to help a patient she will refer the patient onto the GP or other services if required.

Nurses have a key role to play in the continuing development of the services offered by the practice and in a wider context within the NHS. Our own team of nurses are invaluable and have a wide range of roles and skills. We have three highly qualified registered nurses at the practice and the support of district nurses and healthcare assistants for patients who are housebound.

The practice nurses hold clinics each weekday mornings and afternoons. Clinics are by appointment, but the nurses are willing to see any appropriate emergencies or give advice over the phone.

Healthcare Assistants

Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), blood pressure measurement and new patient checks. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.

Practice Management

Charlotte Marshall

Charlotte, Acting practice manager for West Road Medical Centre has worked at this practice since 2004. Her main function is to co-ordinate and manage the business on behalf of the seven Partners. With overall responsibility for ensuring the West Road Medical Centre continues to offer high levels of care. Charlotte is committed to high customer care and quality.

Reception

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.

Pharmacists

A Pharmacist is available to help with issues such as medication reviews and the organisation of medi-boxes for patients requiring weekly prescriptions.

Community Midwives

Our highly skilled Midwives provide care and support during pregnancy and for 28 days after the birth. To contact a Midwife telephone 0191 2723825 Monday - Friday: 8.30 - 9.00am and 1.00 - 1.30pm. Our midwives can be contacted during antenatal clinics at the surgery on Tuesdays 9.00am - 4.00pm.

Community Nurses

We also have a team of District Nurses attached to the practice comprising of one Sister, two Staff Nurses and two Auxiliaries. They are based at Arthur’s Hill clinic but have daily contact with the surgery. They work in partnership with the practice team to provide skilled nursing care, advice and support to patients, their families, carers and access to other health care services for patients who are housebound.

To contact a District Nurse: Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 5.00pm telephone 0191 2141154 After 5pm, weekends and Bank Holidays telephone 0191 2563033

Health Visitors

Health Visitors are registered nurses who usually have at least 2 years experience in nursing before undergoing their health visitor training. Our Health Visitor team work with all age groups, and take a special interest in the health and development of children.

Health Visitors are able to give you information on services available within the community, e.g. hospitals, playgroups, nurseries, voluntary services etc. They attend baby clinics, immunisation clinics and antenatal clinics. Our Health Visitors run Baby Clinics to give advice on feeding problems and general health matters, and to check weight and height from birth to 4 years.

One of our doctors is also available during Baby Clinics. Baby Clinics run on Wednesdays 1.00 - 3.00pm. To contact a Health Visitor telephone 0191 2880081

Counsellors

A fully trained team of Counsellors, Mental Health Worker and Community Psychiatric Nurse are available to discuss mental health issues and personal problems. Your GP will refer you to them if they deem it necessary.

Further Information

Join our Patient Group

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