Callington Health Centre

MA MBChir MRCGP FP Cert. 
Qualified Cambridge 1981

Mike's usual working days are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

BSc (Hons) MBBS MRC GP

Iain grew up in Cornwall and has been a GP since 2007.  After qualifying in London in 1993, he initially worked in East Lancashire before moving back to Cornwall in 2002. He currently works two days a week for Tamar Valley Health and two days a week as Chair for the Clinical Commissioning Group. Iain is married with 3 children, lives high up on Bodmin Moor and his family are short break foster carers. He is personally involved with a small national charity working in Tanzania (The Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala) supporting schools and health centres.

Iain's usual working days are Wednesday and Friday.

BM MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH DPD

Jennifer qualified in Southampton in 1996 and joined Tamar Valley Health in 2002. In addition to her role as a GP within the Practice, Jennifer also works as a GP appraiser and as an external GP on the Primary Care Sub-Committee for the NEW Devon CCG.  Within the Practice she is closely involved with chronic disease management and the GP Quality and Outcomes Framework. She has undertaken extra study into skin disease and contraception to further enhance her role.

Jennifer's usual working days are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH 

Alison qualified in 1990 from University College London and as a GP in 1994.  She first joined Tamar Valley Health in 1994 and became a partner in 2003.  She is responsible for Children and Adult Safeguarding, Palliative Care, Immunisations, Contraceptive Care including the provision of intrauterine devices and implants and sexual health.  She also manages Tic Tac, the teenage information and advice service held daily at Callington Community College.  In addition, she is the practice representative at the East Cornwall Locality Meeting for the Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group.  Married with two grown up children, Alison enjoys walking her chocolate Labrador, cycling and a bit of jogging.

Alison's usual working days are Tuesday and Friday.

BSc (Hons) PhD MB.ChB (Hons) MRCGP DFSRH MSc

David qualified in Manchester in 1994. He went on to complete a Ph.D in Biochemistry and a M.B Ch.B (Hons) and Masters in Evidence Based Health Care.  He joined Tamar Valley Health in 2013.  He is particularly interested in Research in Medicine and chronic disease management. David enjoys living in the West Country.

David's usual working days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

MBChB MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH 

Jo qualified in Edinburgh in 1994. She moved to Cornwall in 2014 to be near family. Jo is interested in all aspects of General Practice and also specialises in Diving and Hyperbaric medicine. Jo enjoys spending time with her family and all that Cornwall has to offer.

Jo's usual working days are Monday and Tuesday.

MBChB DA DRCOG DGM MRCGP 

Loman qualified in 1979 from Bristol.  He then spent two years working as a hospital doctor in New Zealand.  He was a full time partner at Launceston until 2008 and then worked as a Locum before joining Tamar Valley Health as an Associate GP.  Loman enjoys general practice and family medicine and also covers 'Out of Hours' in Devon and Cornwall.  He enjoys travel and working as an expedition doctor.

Loman's usual working days are Monday and Wednesday.

BSc MB ChB MRCP DRCOG MRCGP 

Helen qualified as a doctor from Bristol University in 1997. She spent time working in Australia before returning to work at Derriford for two years doing a medical rotation.  She trained as a GP in Winchester and qualified as a GP in 2004.  Helen joined Tamar Valley Health as an Associate GP in September 2014.  She has particular interests in both chronic medical conditions and elderly care medicine.

Helen's usual working days are Monday all day, Tuesday morning and Thursday morning.

Gunnislake Health Centre

MBChB MRCGP DRACOG DA FPCert. 

Nick qualified in Bristol in 1983 and has been a GP at Tamar Valley Health for 25 years!  Married with 2 children, Nick has an interest in Young People's health and has had involvement at our school drop-in information service for the last 20 years.  He is also  interested in musculo-skeletal medicine (having previously undertaken acupuncture training but not currently having sufficient time to practice), clinical governance and co-ordinating Practice significant events and audit.  Nick is also the practice prescribing lead and enjoys working closely with our Pharmacists and others to provide cost-effective treatment. Nick enjoys being part of a busy team and the generality and continuity of family based medicine. 

Nick's usual working days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning and Thursday.

MBChB BSc DRCOG DFSRH 

Suzanne qualified from St Andrews in 1992 and then went on to undertake clinical training at Manchester and qualified MBChB in 1995.  During her last year at St Andrews she joined the Royal Navy, and on qualification as a doctor in 1995 went on to serve full time on 5 ships and several shore bases around the UK until November 2008.  She then went on to be a GP Locum for 5 years before joining Tamar Valley Health in 2013.  Although a true generalist GP, Suzanne's area of interest is palliative care.  In her spare time she enjoys sailing, yacht racing, walking, photography, cooking and cake decorating and sugar craft.

Suzanne's usual working days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

MBChB MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH

Emma graduated from Leicester University in 2002 and qualified as a GP in 2006.  She moved to the South West in 2011 and joined Tamar Valley Health in 2012 as an Associate GP.  Emma has a particular interest in medical education and also works for Plymouth University helping in the training of medical students.  Outside of work Emma enjoys spending time with her young family and being involved in her local church.

Emma's usual working days are Tuesday and Friday.

MBChB, DFFP, DRCOG, MRGCP

Sarah's working day is Wednesday each week.

Nurse Practitioners are highly trained nurses who are qualified to prescribe drugs and treatments. They are able to carry out many of the duties of a junior doctor.

Nursing Team Leader 

The Practice Nursing Team is led by Mrs Nicola Alder.

Practice Nurses are qualified and registered nurses. You can see them for:

• Chronic disease management (asthma, COPD (emphysema), diabetes)
• Contraception 
• Dressings 
• Ear syringing 
• Immunisations 
• Injections 
• Minor injuries 
• Removal of stitches 
• Smears 
• Travel advice and vaccinations
• Verrucas, Athletes Foot, Nappy Rash, Threadworms, Head lice
• Family Planning Advice

The Practice Nurse Team is supported by Assistant Practitioners and Healthcare Assistants.

Healthcare Assistants are trained to deal with:

• Blood pressure checks and 24-hour blood-pressure monitors
• Blood tests
• Stitch and clip removal
• Some dressings (please check with receptionist)
• ECGs 
• New patient examinations 
• Swabs (wounds, eyes, throats) 
• Urine tests
• Flu and pneumonia injections
• Healthy Living Advice (stop smoking etc.)

Assistant Practitioners are able to carry out all of the above and in addition:

• Spirometry
• NHS health checks
• B12 injections
• Ear syringe
• Diabetic foot checks 

Phlebotomists are medical professionals who draw blood from patients for various lab tests and procedures.

The management team 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 team supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.

Business Manager 

(3 days per week) 

Finance Manager

(4 days per week)

Patient Services Manager

Data Team Leader 

June is assisted by a team of Summarisers and Data Administrators.

IT Administrator

Our IT team are constantly working in the background, keeping Practice media up to date and ensuring any technical issues are resolved in a timely manner and with minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the Health Centres.

Reception Team Leader

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.

Our Medical Secretarial Team are always very busy behind the scenes, ensuring the smooth running of the practice. 

DON'T FORGET OUR PHARMACISTS!  They play an increasingly important role in in looking after your health. Ajay Patel and Mark Stone conduct many of the annual medication roles and can be consulted at any time on issues relating to prescriptions, side effects and interactions, drug changes, over the counter medicines advice and even minor injuries and ailments. Minor ailments that they can treat include:

• Urinary tract infections
• Conjunctivitis
• Impetigo
• Some skin complaints (e.g.rashes, eczema, nappy rash)
• Sore throats
• Sinus problems
• Morning after pill

Besides being Practice Pharmacist, Ajay is also the Responsible Pharmacist at Gunnislake Pharmacy. His role there is to check prescriptions, give face to face advice regarding over the counter medication and also treat some minor injuries and ailments. Within his role as Practice Pharmacist, Ajay deals with medication reviews, changes and queries. This can happen in person or by telephone.

Mark is the Practice Pharmacist Partner. He studied Pharmacy in Birmingham and has worked within the Practice for over five years. He conducts clinics as an independent prescriber for patients with all long term conditions and polypharmacy. Mark believes that bringing together pharmacists as part of the practice team enhances the service offering of the practice, supports positive patient outcomes and helps free up doctor's time.

General Practice Paramedics

As from 3rd July, the practice will be employing two paramedics. Initially they will spend time with the GPs and other clinicians during clinic time, as well as our admin and dispensary staff, so as to gain a good insight into the various aspects of General Practice.  Patients will be asked by the GP or clinician whether they are happy for one of the paramedics to be present during their consultation.

When their induction period is complete, their services will be extremely helpful and beneficial to both our patients and the practice.

Community nurses can help people who look after those who are chronically sick, disabled, frail or terminally ill. We ask all patients who are carers to tell the practice about their situation, as practical assistance may be available. 

Our health visitor, who has an office at the Callington Community Clinic, is a registered nurse with midwifery and health visiting qualifications and who has had special training in infant and child health care development.

A Well Baby Clinic is held each Monday between 13:00 and 15:00 (no appointment necessary), where you can have your baby weighed and ask the health visitor for advice on subjects such as weaning, teething and development. The health visitor also offers a Stop Smoking service and a weight management clinic; details available from the health centres or by phoning 01579 389608.

The Macmillan Nurses have special training and experience in caring for those with cancer and terminal illness, and in counselling their families.

Community Mental Health Team 

The community mental health team members are available to advise on coping with depression, stress, phobias and family problems. They can also teach relaxation techniques. Patients are referred to these services by the GPs and nurse practitioners.

Dispensary Team Leader