Meet the Team - Forge Close Surgery (2024)

Doctors

Nursing Team

Pharmacy Team

Practice Team

Practice Management

Administration Team

Social Prescriber

One’s health is affected by more than just physical harm to the body. Factors such as stress,unemployment, debt, loneliness, lack of education and support in early childhood, insecure housing and discrimination can affect 30-55% of our health outcomes. This is why the concept of ‘social prescribing’ has been introduced by the NHS to provide an integrated and holistic approach to healthcare.

In the UK, one in five GP appointments is related to wider social needs rather than medical issues. Social prescribers (also calledsocial prescribing link workers) work together with GP practices to ensure that the wider needs of patients are addressed. They connect patients to groups, activities and services in their communities to meet their social, emotional and practical needs that affect their health and wellbeing. They are the bridge between yourGP and all the non-healthcare services available in your community.

Any member of your GP practice team may suggest a referral to a social prescriber. A social prescriber will then have an appointment with you to discuss your situation, assess your needs and advise you of support available in your community. You can talk to your social prescriber about any non-medical issue including debt, loneliness, education, discrimination etc. and they will be able to link you to the right services to support you.

Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

Additional Staff

Phlebotomy is the process of taking blood from a patient to be sent to the hospital for analysis.

Blood tests are used to help obtain a diagnosis for illness – or rule them out, monitor treatment, and help patients, alongside their GPs, to manage long term health conditions.

The majority of blood tests only take a few minutes and are carried out by a phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples from patients)

Mental health reviews and support are offered by the Mental Health Practitioner (MHP). The MHP conducts in person or telephone consultations.

Physiotherapy appointments for patients aged 16 and over can be booked directly through Reception. The Physiotherapist can deal with:

All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries.

Arthritis – any joint

Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bones (eg, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndromes, ankle sprains)

Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid back pain and neck pain.

Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms(eg, pins and needles or numbness)

Post orthopaedic surgery.

Our Team has Grown

Your GP practice is open and here for you and your family.

In order to provide the right care at the right time, all GP practices are changing how they work.

In a GP practice you will now find a wider team of specialists and professionals working together to help and care for you.

The larger practice team is designed to best manage the very busy workload and the range of health needs that people have.

You may get referred to the most appropriate member of the team to provide the support you need.