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Our Team

Community

Downend Health Group is a well-established, friendly practice that operates from two modern, purpose built surgeries, serving Downend and the surrounding area. The practice continues to grow and we warmly welcome new patients who live locally. 

Our highly trained staff are here to provide you with efficient and compassionate care when you need us. We employ over 100 staff in both clinical and non-clinical roles and work very hard to ensure that your experience with us is an excellent one. 

Senior Management

The practice is managed by two senior executives:

Christopher Brookes, Executive Business Manager, responsible for finance and human resources.

Karen Hayward, Executive Operations Manager, responsible for logistics and administrational services.

Patient Assistant (PA) Team

We have a team of twenty Patient Assistants responsible for answering your calls, welcoming you at front desk, monitoring the e-Consult function and supporting with administrative duties. They undergo training to enable them to navigate your enquiry to the correct clinician or team quickly and efficiently. 

Medical Records Team

This team is responsible for managing your health records by recording information about you and the care you receive. They set up, update and maintain your records within an electronic system. 

Medicines Management Team

Our Medicines Management Team are specialised in issuing your repeat prescription requests and dealing with any prescription enquiries. They are available to take your calls for prescription related enquiries 11.00am - 1pm Monday to Friday. 

Secretarial Team

Our Medical Secretaries are tasked with providing administrative and secretarial support. They liaise with consultants and medical staff to ensure that our patients receive the best possible healthcare and support, suitable to meet their needs. 

Urgent Care Team

The Urgent Care Team are qualified Clinicians, including Paramedics and a Nurse Prescriber who can help with urgent, on the day, minor illness symptoms. 

Clinical Pharmacists

Our team of Clinical Pharmacists offer a wide range of clinics for the treatment of long-term conditions such as Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, Heart Failure and Hypertension. Their expertise in the field of medicine and knowledge of chronic disease provides our patients with access to regular clinical reviews and opportunities to optimise treatment throughout the year. 

 

Nursing Team

The Nursing Team consists of a Nurse Manager, Practice Nurses, Health Care Assistants and Phlebotomists. All our Practice Nurses are qualified, Registered Nurses. Many have taken further studies in specialist areas, including long-term conditions such as Diabetes and Respiratory Disease.

 

Clinical Co-Ordination Team

The Clinical Co-Ordination Team are extremely knowledgeable in the community services available. They offer support to patients so they may develop their knowledge, skills and confidence to better manage their own health and wellbeing.  

First Contact Physiotherapist Practitioner Team

The First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapists (FCP's) are professionally qualified to treat patients without a referral from a GP or other healthcare professional. FCP's provide the first point of contact whereby those who visit a GP for a musculoskeletal (MSK) problem will instead have an appointment with an FCP Physiotherapist. 

GP Partners & Salaried GP's

Our GPs are highly skilled clinicians who can assist you with your health and wellbeing needs. Many specialise in certain areas of expertise including minor surgery, family planning, sexual health and gender identity. In addition to routine care, some of our doctors offer appointments for private medical examinations. Some of these services may be chargeable; please contact a member of our Patient Assistant Team who can provide you with details of charges and appointment times. 

Primary Care Network

The UK population has grown, and people are living longer. Many people are living with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease or suffer with mental health issues and may need to access their local health services more often. 

To meet these needs, GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

Downend Health Group work collaboratively in a PCN alongside The Orchard Medical Practice, Green Valleys and Three Shires. We have named our PCN 'Network 4' and between us, we serve a population of approximately 90,000 patients.

PCNs build on existing primary care services and enable greater provision of proactive, personalised,          co-ordinated and more integrated health and social care for people close to home. Clinicians describe this as a change from reactively providing appointments to proactively caring for the people and communities they serve. 

PATIENT NOTICE

Please DO NOT use the econsult function below to order repeat medication. Any repeat prescription requests should be made either through your pharmacy, using online services or by putting a note in the prescription box located in either practice reception.  

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