Christmas 2010
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| FESTIVE HOLIDAYS | |
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| Monday 27th December 2010 | Closed |
| Tuesday 28th December 2010 | Closed |
| Monday 3rd January 2011 | Closed |
| Tuesday 4th January 2011 | Closed |
The last 18 months have brought enormous upheaval and change to the practice, with the successive retirements of Drs Rodgers, Berrey, and Nicol in 2009/10. In addition Dr Parker moved to the MDDUS in Glasgow to pursue a career specialising in medico-legal medicine. It has naturally been hard for both the practice and our patients to lose 4 longstanding highly respected GP’s with all their experience and wisdom. However, we are delighted with the positive presence, energy, and commitment of our new GP’s; our new team is close-knit, full of fun, and functioning extremely well. Here are some examples of what the new team has been up to:
Dr Joanna Richards recently secured a 2 week sabbatical placement at St Columba’s Hospice, funded by MacMillan Cancer Support – to further her knowledge of palliative care and extend links with the hospice team. In addition, Dr Richards has introduced a weekly multidisciplinary meeting with our District Nurse and Health Visiting colleagues, where we jointly discuss cases and current problems.
Dr Susan Martin set up a new family planning service in the practice offering insertion of long-acting contraceptive devices for women (coils and implants).
Drs Martin and Lamb have introduced the Edinburgh University 2nd year medical student course in clinical skills at our practice – this culminates in an exam hosted at the practice, an event that went extremely well. Our thanks to all our patients who very kindly volunteered to participate.
Thank you to all our admin and nursing staff who have made such fantastic efforts to get to work during the recent bad weather, coming from far and wide locations such as Musselburgh, Fairmilehead and Loanhead! Many staff (including doctors) have simply had to walk/hike to work. Special mention goes to our receptionist Christine who walked in from Barnton on one of the worst days to do her afternoon shift! The practice has by and large continued to offer full service as normal, although at times house calls have been difficult – most have been done on foot during this time. (Look out for Dr McLaren on his skis).
Dr Lin Watson joined our practice as a GP Retainer in April 2010. A GP Retainer is a doctor who requires flexible working for a set period of up to 5 years, usually because of looking after young children. Dr Watson trained in Paediatrics before moving into General Practice, and is a very valued member of our team. She currently works on Tuesdays and Fridays all day. Here are a few words of introduction:
“I am delighted to have started in the practice in April and am enjoying getting to know the friendly and helpful staff and patients. I studied medicine in Edinburgh despite having grown up in Glasgow and have really fallen for the city. After university I worked in Glasgow and then in London. I completed a training rotation in paediatrics and completed the Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health before starting my GP training. I came back to Edinburgh to complete my GP training. My special interests are children’s health, contraception and dermatology. In my spare time I enjoy pilates, travelling and cinema. I also have a young son who keeps me busy.”
After 29 years as a full-time GP at the Green Practice, Dr McLaren will retire on the 1st April 2011. We hope he will enjoy the freedom to go sailing or bag piping or cross-country skiing at will, free from the demands of general practice! Needless to say he will be hugely missed. More information will follow in the New Year – we are currently advertising for his replacement and will announce this in due course.
Congratulations to our Practice Nurse Alison Connolly, who gave birth to her second son Lewis Connolly on the 20 Oct 2010. Mum and baby are doing well.
Congratulations also to our Health Care Assistant Linda McMillan who has become a grandmother for the second time – a granddaughter this time!
Warm Congratulations to Dr Jenny Lamb who married Robin McLeish on the 28 Aug 2010 at St Philips Church, Joppa. The couple took a well deserved 3 week honeymoon in Kenya – returning with some incredible wildlife photos.
Well done to Dr Suzi MacKenzie who successfully completed her final year of GP Training at the practice in August 2010. Suzi will be seen again at the practice on occasion for locum work – however she has just spent several months as an Expedition/Mountain doctor in Nepal! She has regaled us with her tales via email, including providing the local dental extraction service...not something we trained her for at Stockbridge! Our current GP trainee is Dr Georgie Rowan who is in the first of 3 years of GP training (following 2 initial years of hospital placements). Dr Rowan has proved a very valuable and competent member of the team – she rotates to a further hospital post in Feb, and will return to us for her final year Aug 2012.
In January 2010 Dr Parker returned to the practice for one of our Practice Learning Time afternoons. He was accompanied by a colleague from the MDDUS, Alan Frame, and they gave us an extremely informative education session on medico-legal problems including confidentiality issues, child protection matters, dealing with police/legal professionals. The GP’s provided a home made lunch and in return received donations towards Help for Heroes – £160
Dr Reid organised the 3rd annual Pentlands walk with a ranger on the 30th May. This was well attended, despite heavy showers, and various kiddies and canine friends came along too!
May we take this opportunity to wish all our patients a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for 2011
