Avon Valley Practice - The doctors, nurses and other staff at our practice

Upavon Surgery
Tel: 01980 630221

Durrington Surgery
Tel: 01980 652378

New SMS Messaging Service

Avon Valley practice now offers an SMS messaging service. To sign up please fill in a consent form next time you are in the surgery. This will allow you to receive appointment reminders and actions required following recent test results. You can also fill in this form online

Durrington Surgery Closure

Due to refurbishment, Durrington Surgery will be closed from Thursday 23rd February at 1pm and will re-open at 2pm on Monday 27th February. You will not be able to collect your medication or prescription from Durrington Surgery during this time. Instead, please go to Upavon Surgery. If you need to contact the Practice, please continue to telephone 01980 652378. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Upavon Surgery will be open as normal.

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

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

Lansley 'has PM's full support'

Andrew Lansley has David Cameron's "full support", despite a Downing Street source reportedly saying the health secretary "should be taken out and shot".

Hundreds seek NHS implant advice

Almost 1,000 private patients with PIP breast implants have contacted the NHS, according to MPs.

Spoon-fed babies 'end up fatter'

Babies weaned on pureed food tend to end up fatter than infants whose first tastes are finger food, researchers believe.

Court hears social care challenge

The ability of English councils to consider their finances when assessing people for social care is being challenged at the Supreme Court.

GMC guidance on assisted suicide

The General Medical Council launches guidelines on assisted suicide to help it decide if doctors should face a disciplinary panel on the issue.

Death leads to ambulance demand

Relatives of a woman who blame her death on a 41-minute wait for a paramedic, hand over a petition urging a dedicated ambulance service for their town.

NHS translation bill 'tops £23m'

The NHS in England spends £59,000 a day on translating documents and providing interpreters, according to a health think tank.

Campaign to cut smoking in cars

A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when carrying children - and which could pave the way for a ban - is launched by the Welsh government.

'Birth defect risk' for diabetics

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.

'A little too much drink' warning

Drinking "just a little more than they should" puts people at risk of serious illness including heart disease, stroke and cancer, the government is warning.

Health Protection Agency

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.

Current alert level: Level 3 - Cold Weather Action in one or more regions of England

There is a 100% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 10.00 on Friday and 10.00 on Tuesday in parts of England.

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.

New Guidelines to Control Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infections in UK Hospitals Launched

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with the group A streptococcal (GAS) Working Group* has today launched new guidelines for the investigation, control and prevention of GAS infection in acute healthcare settings, including maternity units, in the UK.

Whooping cough cases increase

Cases of whooping cough (pertussis) reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales have more than doubled from 421 cases in 2010 to 1040 in 2011. Increases in levels of whooping cough are seen every three to four years and figures in 2011 are in line with cases reported in the last peak year of 2008.

Doctors

Nursing Staff

Practice Team

Healthcare Team

Doctors

Dr Peter Jenkins (m)
MB BS MRCGP Qualified from St Mary's Hospital London in 1974 and has been with the Practice for over 30 years.

Dr Fiona Ross Russell (f)
MB BS DCH DRCOG MRCGP

Dr Ian Green (m)
BM

Dr Laura Webb (f)
Laura is a Foundation Doctor who will be with us for 4 months. This is part of a two year programme which means she is referred to as an FY2. A Foundation Doctor (FY1 or FY2) is a grade of medical practitioner undertaking the Foundation Programme, a two year, general postgraduate medical training programme which forms the bridge between medical school and specialist/ general practice training. Being a Foundation Doctor is compulsory for all newly qualified medical pratitioners. Foundation Doctors have the opportunity to gain experience in a series of posts in a variety of specialities and healthcare settings. FY2s may do further posts in medicine or surgery, or other specialist areas, such as general practice, paediatrics, or cardiology etc. FY2 doctors therefore rotate attachments every 4 months. We will have another FY2 doctor joining us in April 2012.

Nurses

There is a nurse available every day to help you with any problems not requiring a doctor. Our nursing team consists of:-

· Sister Sandra Coslett

· Sister Susie Orr

· Sister Caroline Smith

· Hilary Brown (Health Care Assistant)

· Louise Mundy (Health Care Assistant)

They can help you with: -

Child immunisations
Cervical Smear
Removal of Sutures
Dressings
Dietary advice
Family Planning
Ear Syringing
Counselling
Travel advice and injections
Helping to quit smoking
Coronary Heart Disease
Diabetes
Asthma
Taking blood
COPD

Practice Management

Mrs Anna Morton

Has the overall responsibility for the running of the Practice and would be pleased to hear your views and suggestions regarding the services we offer. You can write to her at the practice or email her on avonvalley.practice@nhs.net

Administration

Susannah, Sandy, Gail and Jade-Louise are our administrators. Between them, they undertake a variety of essential administrative duties including appointment maintenance, stock control and processing referrals, correspondence and requests for medical reports.

Nicky is responsible for computer and data management; she maintains the computer system and ensures the quality of information.

Reception

Kor, Sam, Lesley, Deborah, Helen, Fran, Alison and Ruth are here to help you. They answer the telephones; make appointments, deal with enquiries, dispense medication and undertake various administration tasks. They work to guidelines which have been agreed upon by the doctors and are not in a position to offer medical advice.

Nina oversees the smooth running of reception and the dispensary, ensuring the Practice achieves its promise to patients to provide medication within 2 working days.

Ruth also delivers repeat medication twice a week to patients. If you are interested in receiving medication direct to your door, please ask at reception.

Community Midwives

Midwives (direct telephone number: 01722 425185)

The midwives hold weekly antenatal clinics to guide you through your pregnancy, prepare you for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby.

Community Nurses

District Nurses (direct telephone number: 01980 625340)

Patients who are confined to their homes and who require nursing assistance may arrange with the doctor for a district nurse to call. Following a hospital admission the nurse will normally call on patients who are newly discharged and who still require nursing treatment at home.

Health Visitors

Health Visitors (direct telephone number: 01980 633175)

A health visitor gives expert advice on health, particularly for expectant mothers, children, older people and people with disabilities. They run child health clinics by appointment and also have a drop-in session for new mothers and babies. Together with the doctor they run the child health surveillance programme.

Further Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services