Wrafton House Surgery

THE PRACTICE TEAM

The General Practitioners

Our team of professionals aim to provide a friendly, expert comprehensive service. We employ the following staff:

Practice Manager - Sylvia Lane BA (Hons) MIHM

She is overall manager and has responsibility for coordinating the work of the other staff. She will try to sort out any problems that you may encounter when using our facilities.

Practice Secretaries - Kirsty Ansell and Kate Barrett

They deal with the enormous amount of paperwork that passes through the practice each day. They are available by telephone Monday to Friday between 12 noon and 12.30pm to discuss any urgent problems regarding hospital appointments etc.

Computer Manager - Brenda Bence

She looks after the day-to-day running of our computer system and manages the work done by the computer operators.

Practice Nursing Team

Our practice nurses work mainly in the surgery providing services including health checks, practical procedures (eg cervical smears, immunisations, ear syringing etc), family planning advice and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They also provide ongoing care for patients with chronic health problems (asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease etc). Appointments with the practice nurses can be booked through reception.

Health Care Assistants

Practice nurses work mainly in the surgery providing services including practical procedures (eg cervical smears, immunisations, ear syringing etc), family planning advice and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They also provide ongoing care for patients with chronic health problems (asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease etc).

Health care assistants work in the surgery providing services including health checks, stop smoking, blood pressure checks, spirometry, ECGs, dressings etc and help with managing chronic health problems.

Appointments with the health care assistants can be booked through reception.

Receptionists/Clerical Staff and Computer Operators

They ensure the smooth running of the practice and are there to help you. Anything you tell them will be treated in confidence. They arrange appointments, check in patients on their arrival, take requests for home visits and repeat prescriptions. They are also available to pass messages from patients to the doctors and to help patients wherever possible. They file the many individual communications received from outside sources, plus all are involved in entering patients' medical data on the computer system. Inevitably, it is sometimes necessary to make personal enquiries - please do not be offended by this. Their job can be very demanding; please help them to help you by showing patience, courtesy and cooperation.

ATTACHED STAFF

The following are employed by the East and North Herts Primary Care Trust and are attached to the practice to work as part of the team to provide your health care:

District Nursing Team

The district nurses provide nursing care in the patient's home for patients who are housebound. They give a wide range of advice to the housebound including incontinence advice. They can be contacted by leaving a message at Wrafton House or through your doctor.

Health Visting Team

Health visitors are qualified nurses with extra training in childcare and development. The health visiting team are available to support and advise families with babies and young children. Visit the well-baby clinics or contact by phone on 01707 258743 or 275897 (answerphone).

Community Matron

A community matron can provide support, nursing care and co-ordinate ways of meeting health and social needs for our patients who have a serious long-term health condition or a complex range of conditions.

Community Midwives

The community midwives help provide your antenatal and postnatal care both at home and in the antenatal clinics.

Phlebotomists

The phlebotomists from the pathology laboratory at the QEII Hospital take blood from patients for investigations.

Counselling Service

Counsellors from the Primary Care Trust counselling service work in our practice.

Palliative Care Nurse Specialist

Ann Blackman, a palliative care nurse specialist, provides support and advice to cancer patients and their families.

Medical Education

We are a training practice, which means that we will have doctors embarking upon a career in general practice working here, under close supervision, for either four months or a year. They are fully qualified doctors with experience in a variety of hospital specialities. They join our practice to gain experience in family medicine. At times during training, video equipment will be used to record the consultation for the purposes of training the doctor. You will be asked prior to the consultation if you are comfortable with this and your wishes will always be respected. This material is always treated confidentially and deleted after use.
The practice is also involved in teaching medical students. We very much hope you will not mind their input; they are enthusiastic and bring fresh ideas. They will respect your privacy and your wishes if you do not want them to sit in during your consultation.