Practice Staff

PRACTICE MANAGER: Mrs Linda Barron, IHM

RECEPTION STAFF

Mrs Lorna Ali	Mrs Muriel McGregor	Miss Caroline Prise
Mrs Moyra Crawford	Mrs Valerie Shewan	Mrs Karen Lobban
Mrs Brenda Stephen	Ms Petula Barclay	Mrs Karen Wiseman
Mrs Lois Murray	Mrs Diane Findlay

Admin staff are here to help everyone - doctors and patients. Sometimes they may ask questions which you could consider inappropriate, but they are doing so on the instructions of the doctors, in order to help doctors and nurses to plan their work and to make sure you get the care you need and the most appropriate appointment. All information given is confidential. They have a difficult job to do - please be courteous to them at all times.

NURSING TEAM

PRACTICE NURSES

Practice Nurses hold their own clinics and can advise on a wide variety of health problems. Patients are seen by appointment or on referral from the doctor. The nurses are trained to do an extensive number of procedures, tests and clinics including: blood tests, ECGs, ear syringing, cryotherapy, cervical smears, health promotion, holiday advice and vaccinations, injections, diabetic, asthma and coronary and other chronic disease management clinics, dressings and suture removal.

NURSING ASSISTANTS

Nursing Assistants complement the trained nursing staff and undertake blood tests, new patient medicals, ECGs and weight management.

District nurses provide high quality nursing and health care in the community 8.30am – 5.00pm weekdays. They provide a wide variety of services, mainly in the home. These include:

* Nursing care for the acutely or terminally ill
* Health promotion and screening for the elderly, disabled and handicapped and their carers
* Home nursing care to aid recovery from illness
* Teaching patients, families, students and professionals
* Clinical procedures for patients who cannot attend the surgery
* Over 75s with chronic disease for check ups for cardiac problems, diabetes, asthma, hypertension and strokes

MIDWIFERY SERVICE

Telephone: 01261 819129

The midwifery service is based at the Eden Midwifery Unit, Chalmers Hospital, Banff
Antenatal care by appointment -
Other services offered:

These are qualified nurses with special training and experience in child health, health promotion and education. They offer practical support and advice in a host of diverse situations, aim to promote the health of the whole community and liaise closely with other professional and voluntary agencies within that community.

The service is available to patients 16 years of age and over who have anxiety or mild depression and their GP feels they would benefit from discussion sessions. The initial appointment is for one hour followed by up to eight sessions of half an hour duration. GPs can refer patients to the service.

Patients aged 75 and over are invited to attend an annual health check with our Elderly Care Specialist Nurse. If patients also have medical conditions such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Kidney Disease or Respiratory Disease they will have their conditions reviewed at this appointment.
TRAINING

We are a training practice which means that we support medical students and postgraduate students to fulfil their training requirements whilst progressing towards completion of their studies. You will always be advised of the fact that your appointment is with a trainee and asked if you are happy with this before the appointment is confirmed. All trainees are supervised by a principal GP. Part of the training includes video consultations and patient satisfaction questionnaires. You will be asked if you wish to participate in these and are under no obligation to do so.

COMMUNITY CARE
The social work community care team is located at Turriff Community Hospital and comprises home care supervisors, an occupational therapist and care managers. The team works closely with the community nurses to support older people and adults with chronic illness or disabilities, who need assistance in their own homes to help them maintain their independence. An initial assessment is carried out to determine the level of help that is needed.

Home carers can assist with personal care. This generally includes help with getting in and out of bed, dressing and undressing, grooming, eating and personal hygiene such as washing and bathing. Help is also available for meal preparation, shopping, medication and some household tasks. If someone requires a high level of care or has complex care needs, a care manager will be involved in assessing, planning and overseeing the care arrangements. The occupational therapist carries out home assessments to determine whether any aids are required to assist daily activities.

Personal care is provided free of charge to those over 65, but there may be a charge for other services. The aim of community care is to enable people to continue living in their own homes as long as possible, but not everyone’s needs can be met in this way. Sometimes a move to a care home has to be considered.

Care Homes
Care homes are generally owned and run by private individuals or companies. Most of them employ qualified nurses as well as carers to allow them to look after people with a wide range of health and personal care needs. The residents are also assisted to access social activities if they wish. Not all care homes employ nurses, including those run by the local authority. These homes would not be suitable for everyone, particularly if regular nursing input is needed.

Most homes provide single and some double rooms for their residents and many of them have ensuite toilet facilities. The Care Commission sets standards regarding the level of care provision and the facilities that all care homes have to meet and there are regular inspections to ensure that these standards are met and maintained. All homes have to be registered with the Care Commission.

If someone is considering a move to a care home a care manager must be contacted. They will assess the person’s specific individual needs and help them through the process of moving to their chosen home. They will also check that the person is receiving their full state benefit entitlement and help them to apply to the council for financial assistance towards their care home. The care manager will also carry out regular care reviews to ensure that the person’s needs continue to be met in the best way possible.

Care homes are generally welcoming and pleasant places and a move to a care home need not be a painful experience