Local news
Lambton Road Medical Practice - September 2014
Steven Hunt – new PM
Not prime minister, practice manager! The Lambton Road Medical Practice was without one for quite some time until Steven joined us in May. He has had management roles in practices inLambeth & Southwark, one of which was awarded the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Quality Practice award – twice.
Steven has worked in NHS Primary Care since 2001 and has been involved in the setting up of a brand new GP-led health centre. He left a large practice in Kennington, where he was PM, to join LRMP. Married with one daughter, he lives in SE London. Having worked closely with several PPGs, he says: ‘I believe they are vital in the improvement and development of services for our patients, particularly during a time of significant reorganisation for the NHS.’
Dr Kathryn Goldsmith
The Practice now has two Dr Goldsmiths since the second doctor - at least her first name is different! - joined us in June. She is originally from Manchester and now lives in Merton Park with her husband and two small children. Dr Goldsmith studied medicine at Sheffield University and qualified in 2002. She worked in that city for the next three years before moving down to London to complete her training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. She has since been working as a GP in an Inner City practice in Southwark. Her particular interests are: children’s health, women’s health and palliative care. ‘I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to work more locally with the team at Lambton Road and to be serving my local community,’ she tells the Newsletter.
Sue Johnson – new Health Care Assistant
Sue is the latest recruit to join LRMP. Sue has worked in various care settings, from hospitals – both private and NHS – to care homes and in the community. She left a Worcester Park surgery after 10 years as Health Care Assistant, to join us. A mother of two grown up children, Sue’s interests include travel, theatre, walking and socialising. Patients attending the Practice will be grateful for Sue’s attention as her role here involves doing wound care, blood pressure, some vaccinations, new patient checks, NHS checks and various other clinical duties. She tells the PPG: ‘I’m looking forward to finding my feet here and becoming a team member they have made me very welcome. I look forward to meeting some of the patients.’ We extend a warm welcome to all three and every success in their new careers at LRMP.
Patients will be pleased to learn of these appointments which should go a long way towards improving the Practice’s services as a whole. NEWSFLASH: Yet another new doctor will be joining LRMP in September.
Electronic prescription service
If you don’t want to collect a repeat prescription yourself at your surgery, your GP can now send it electronically to a place you choose. You don’t need a computer. Just contact your local pharmacy or a dispensing appliance contractor. You may change or cancel this arrangement at any time. For more information ask your pharmacist or GP.
If so, you should by now have received a letter from the Practice notifying you of your named GP and of the dedicated phone line. This special number is manned by dedicated members of the team and you may use it for routine matters during the hours and days specified in the letter. This national programme is designed to help patients aged over 75 with continuity of their care. However, it does not prevent you or restrict you from seeing any other GP or nurse. You may also request a different named GP to the one suggested if, for example, you feel another doctor knows you better.
You should also have been sent the booklet Local Services for older People. This was produced by the PPG in conjunction with LRMP and contains information about a wide variety of groups/services in the SW19/SW20 area. Copies are also available at Reception.
Dr Howard Freeman, MBE
We would like to congratulate Dr Freeman, who was honoured in the Queen’s Birthday List. The former senior partner of Durham Road surgery was instrumental in the merging of his surgery with that of Pepys Road to form the LRMP. Dr Freeman is now the chairman of the Merton Clinical Commissioning Group and the London Clinical
