Practice Information

General Practice Partners

We are a group of six full time GPs who work in partnership.

Dr Anthony PEARSON M.B. B.Chir	(1980 UK)
Dr Sonny T T AUNG LM.S.S.SA	(1988 UK)
Dr Richard J WEST M.B. Ch.B	(1993 UK)
Dr William P RIDSDILL SMITH M.B. B.Chir	(1994 UK)
Dr Alastair McCOLL M.B. B.S.	(1984 UK)
Dr Clare DAVIES B.M.	(1987 UK)

General Practice Assistants

Dr Mamtha B KUMAR MB. B.S.	(1991 India)
Dr Alison Shepard MB BS	(1977 UK )
Dr Giles Stevens MB ChB	(2001 UK )

Registration

To register with the Practice you must live within the practice boundary. The following villages are in our practice boundary: Felsham, Gedding, Rattlesden, Beyton, Hesset, Drinkstone, Woolpit, Shelland, Harleston, Thurston, Tostock, Norton, Elmswell, Wetherden, Haughley, Stowlangtoft, Langham, Hunston, Great Ashfield and Badwell Ash. Please complete registration forms available from reception. You will be registered with a Partner at the Practice but you may see the Doctor of your choice, if on occasions this is not possible we will explain why.

Appointments

All consultations are by appointment. When possible please make your appointment in advance. It is your responsibility to inform the Health Centre if you cannot make your appointment. Genuine medical emergencies will always be fitted in with a Doctor, not necessarily your own.

Home Visits

Except in an emergency, if you require a Doctor to call please telephone the surgery before 10.30am. The
Receptionist may ask for details of your illness to help the Doctor plan his rounds. Before 8am and after 6.30pm and at weekends your telephone calls will be answered by SUFDOC, our out of hours service or you can phone them direct 01473 299622. If you are short of change in an emergency you may reverse the charges.

Pharmacy

Our pharmacy is open from 8.30 to 18.30 weekdays and 8.30 to 11.00 on Saturdays. Our Pharmacists are able to advise you on minor illnesses and your medications. We can dispense NHS and private prescriptions issued by other Doctors elsewhere. We sell a wide range of pharmaceutical products as well as travel packs, reading glasses and hosiery! We can order most things if we do not have them in stock. We can dispense Oxygen and surgical appliances. We prefer to have 24 hours notice for repeat prescriptions and it would be helpful to have longer notice before Public Holidays.

Training General Practitioners

This practice assists in the training of General Practitioners. These Doctors have already undertaken many years of hospital work and are now learning the special skills needed for General Practice.

Medical Students

This practice trains medical students on the Cambridge graduate course in Medicine. On the rare occasion that the students will be sitting in with one of our GPs you will be asked for permission for them to stay in the consultation room during your appointment.

District Nurses

Five District Nurses are employed by the Local Health Partnership, but work from the Health Centre. Messages can be left for them on 01359 244454.

Blackbourn Midwifery Group Practice

The Blackbourn midwives undertake regular surgeries at Woolpit Health Centre and can be contacted on 01359-253494

Receptionists

Eight receptionists are employed to help you. Anything which you may need to tell them is treated in strict
confidence. They will do their best to make arrangements to suit you, but please remember that demands can be heavy at times and the receptionist is trying to make sensible arrangements for everyone’s needs. If the Doctor is running late or has been called out, it is not her fault. She will be trying to get you seen as soon as possible.

Practice Nurses

We employ five trained Nursing Sisters who are available during surgery hours for injections, dressings,
vaccinations, treatment of minor injuries and other nursing procedures. They will be pleased to help on minor health problems. Our nurses can also see you for a general health check and advice on stopping smoking, weight control and other preventative health topics.

Health Visitors

Our Health Visitors have their own office in the Health Centre and they are particularly concerned with the health of your child. They can be contacted on 01359 242050. Urgent messages can be left with the Receptionist.

Medical Examinations

Should you require a medical examination for sports, driving or insurance please tell the Receptionist who will book an appointment for you of adequate length. This service is not part of the NHS and you will be charged according to a standard scale of fees.

Transport

A minibus runs to the Health Centre on Tuesday mornings from Felsham, Gedding and Rattlesden and on Wednesdays from Norton and every weekday morning from Elmswell. Please ask at Reception for details. Hospital cars are now restricted and can only be booked for the very elderly and disabled. Your Doctor has to give permission before a car can be booked.

Disabled Facilities

There is a disabled persons lavatory at the Health Centre and there are spaces to park close to the front door.

Cervical Smears

We recommend that all women aged 25-64 have regular smears every 3 years. Please make an appointment with one of the Practice Nurses. The female Doctors have requested that ALL routine cervical smears be done by our Practice Nurses. It is helpful if you tell the Receptionist what your visit is for so that sufficient time is allowed for your test.

Overseas Travel

If you plan to travel abroad contact the Practice Nurse in plenty of time. Please fill out a form, obtained from the front desk, with your travel details. Book an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss with you what vaccinations are required.

Friends of the Woolpit Health Centre

The Friends were set up in 1985 and all donations received from patients and the local community are spent on medical equipment and services for the benefit of patients.

Suggestions/Complaints

The Practice Manager will be pleased to speak to you about any suggestions you have to improve our service to you. If you have a complaint please ask to talk the the Practice Manager (Mrs S A Crouch) who will explain the complaint procedure.

Other Services

All the Doctors are available for complete and confidential family planning advice and maternity medical services during normal surgery hours. Minor surgery can be carried out at pre-arranged times. Minor injuries can be dealt with at our Health Centre. Health Promotion Clinics and clinics for monitoring and control of blood pressure and diabetes are held daily throughout normal surgery hours. Child Health Surveillance is done by both the Doctor and the Health Visitors. Please ask your Doctor for further details. A Physiotherapist (tel:01359 244456), a Chiropodist (tel:01359 244455) and a Dietitian all run regular clinics at the Health Centre. Ask your Doctor for further details.