Doctors
Our Doctors (GPs) treat all common medical conditions. On a daily basis, they may perform clinical examinations of patients to assess, diagnose and monitor a patient’s condition, carry out tests within the surgery such as urine sample testing to assist with diagnosis, interpret findings from investigations such as blood tests to help reach a diagnosis and use basic life support skills and emergency procedures such as defibrillation where necessary.
DR STEPHEN KIRK
MB ChB (Birmingham 1989) DRCOG MRCGP
GP Partner
DR PETER WHITNEY
MB BS (Newcastle 1998) DRCOG DFFP MRCGP
GP Partner
DR ANDREW PORTER
MB BS (Newcastle 1996) DRCOG MRCGP
GP Partner
DR SIMON MCCANN
MB ChB (Manchester 1995) DRCOG MRCGP
GP Partner
DR KIRSTY JONES
MB ChB (Birmingham 1999) DRCOG DFFP MRCGP
GP Partner
DR NUMAN YUSUF
MBChB (Leeds 2010) MRCGP
Salaried GP
DR ADRIAN JEFFERIES
MBBS Aberdeen 1999 MRCGP
Salaried GP
DR CHRISTOPHER DAVIES
MBBS Newcastle 2016 MRCGP
Salaried GP
DR ANNA KIRKWOOD
MB ChB 2018 University of Sheffield
Salaried GP
Nurse Practitioner
Our nurse practitioner has undertaken specialist training so that she is able to issue prescriptions and deal with a wider range of problems, including the vast majority of conditions that arise on an urgent basis.
KATY COUPLAND
Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Phlebotomists
Our phlebotomists take blood samples from patients, which are examined in a laboratory and the results can be used to quickly diagnose diseases and conditions.
CAITLIN HIGH
Phlebotomist & GP Assistant
Nurses
Our nurses are involved in most aspects of patient care including: Obtaining blood samples, electrocardiograms (ECGs), minor and complex wound management including leg ulcers, travel health advice and vaccinations, child immunisations and advice, family planning & women’s health including cervical smears, men’s health screening, sexual health services, smoking cessation, screening and helping patients to manage long term conditions General practice nurses may also have direct supervision of healthcare assistants at the practice.
KAREN DENT
Treatment Room Nurse RGN
Healthcare Assistants
Our Healthcare Assistants duties mainly include: Sterilising equipment, doing health checks, restocking consulting rooms, processing lab samples, taking blood samples and conducting health promotion or health education work.
CAROL WATSON
Healthcare Assistant
CINDY WYLIE
Healthcare Assistant/Phlebotomist
Practice Management
Our Practice Management Team is vital to the successful running of The Whickham Practice. The duties within our team include business planning, handling financial systems for the practice, including payroll, selecting, training and supervising non-clinical staff, developing and supervising appointment systems that work well for patients and clinicians, ensuring accurate records are kept, and liaising with local health organisations such as clinical commissioning groups, developing strategies for the practice on issues such as computer systems and security, expanding or changing services, and long-term services.
CATHERINE ARMITAGE
Female
Practice Manager
The practice manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology. The practice manager works with the wider management team to support clinical and non-clinical staff with delivering patient services and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.
DEBRA CHARLTON
Female
Assistant Practice Manager
The assistant practice manager supports the practice manager with the day-to-day management of the practice.
ALISON SAMPLE
Female
Systems Manager
The Systems Manager is responsible for the promotion, monitoring and documentation of performance and quality standards within the practice, ensuring that the Practice continues to deliver high quality care for all patients.
MAXINE HETHERINGTON
Prescription Manager
SUE GREENWELL
Nurse Manager, RGN Bsc
ALYSON VEITCH
Reception Supervisor
SARAH CLARK
Reception Supervisor
GRACE BOUSFIELD
Reception Supervisor
Secretaries
The secretaries support the doctors by dealing with correspondence, typing referrals/reports and answering enquiries from patients and outside agencies.
Prescription Department
The prescription department prepares prescriptions for the doctors to sign, which then get sent to the chemist.
Clinical Support Administration