The Chineham Medical Practice

GP Trainer: Dr Catherine de Mars
Practice Manager: Mrs Jan Lewis

The Practice

The practice is situated in Chineham, on the north eastern side of Basingstoke, and has approximately 9000 patients, mainly living in Chineham, Popley, and local villages. The population is relatively young (less than 5% over 75) and this trend looks likely to continue, as there are many new houses being built locally.

We have a purpose built surgery built in 1990 and recently extended for a second time, creating an additional treatment room and consulting room. The practice has all the usual facilities, staff and extended primary health care team.

We are fully computerised (EMIS).

The practice became PMS in April 2002, which has enabled us to extend our appointment length, and we plan to enhance the nurses' roles, particularly in Chronic Disease Management.

We are part of Hantsdoc for out of hours cover.

The doctors

There are 9 doctors working at Chineham at present - the partners Philip Hiorns, Keith Ollerhead, Catherine de Mars, and Shehla Jamil, a list-holding salaried GP Samantha Wild, Janet Allen who is on the Flexible Career Scheme, and Helen Bruce on the retained doctor scheme. We have 2 locums who work regularly in the practice and a registrar (Debbie Abbott) in post. We are fortunate to have a full complement of experienced doctors!

Our nurse practitioners and health care assistant provide a comprehensive service including clinics in asthma and diabetes, travel immunisations, and all the usual treatment room provision.

The doctors' interests are varied - 3 of the doctors work regularly at St Michael's hospice, covering weekend and evenings plus daytime cover when the medical director is on leave. One partner is on the board of the PCT and another does a session a week in A&E. Within the practice doctors' special interests include family planning, minor surgery, and training. We have recently started having 3^rd year medical students on short placements. We all enjoy general practice and the variety and challenges it brings, and hope that registrars in the practice experience some of that enthusiasm.

Training

Catherine de Mars is the trainer and while she has prime responsibility for registrar training all the doctors and administrative staff are involved and are committed to ensuring that the registrar has an enjoyable year and learns as much as possible about general practice.

As well as the usual weekly tutorial the registrar should expect staff to be available to answer queries at any time. There is a designated registrar consulting room. There is a small library and access to NHSnet from each PC.

Tutorials occur each Thursday. The programme of tutorials is determined by registrar and trainer together. Time is spent each week on any queries arising from consultations, we also discuss clinical topics, spend time looking at video consultations, and ensure that the summative assessment process is completed smoothly.

The registrar gains valuable out of hours experience by accompanying doctors in the practice at Hantsdoc. During the last 6 months of the year most registrars will do Hantsdoc shifts "solo" with cover from a practice doctor who will be available at home to be called in if necessary.

The registrar is expected to work 9 sessions a week with the 10^th being a half day for personal study. In the term time the 9 sessions comprise 7 sessions in the practice and 2 at day release, while in the holidays all 9 sessions will be in the practice. As well as the day release course (which includes 2 residential courses) registrars have additional study leave which they may use to attend hospital clinics or other courses eg minor surgery, family planning, etc. These should be discussed and approved by the trainer. Most registrars have found that attendance at hospital outpatient clinics such as ENT and dermatology is very valuable and we encourage you to arrange these once you are settled in the practice.

Registrar vacancies

From August 2004.

Contact details

Chineham Medical Practice
Reading Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 8ND
Tel: 01256 479244
E-mail: Dr Catherine de Mars <cdemars@basingstoke.gptrainers.co.uk>
(e-mail addresses are for enquiries about GPR vacancies only)