Ashington House Surgery - Staff details

Ashington House Surgery
Ashington Way
Westlea
Swindon, SN5 7XY
Tel: 01793 614840

Getting Through on the Phone : We know that this can be difficult first thing in the morning so if you want to book a routine pre-bookable appointment, get a test result or ask a question, please try phoning after 10.30am. You will find it much easier to get through.

Pre-Bookable Appointments :
We offer appointments that you can book upto 4 weeks in advance. Many of these are during our normal opening hours but some are early Wednesday and Friday morning or after working hours Tuesday evenings. So if you do not need to be seen urgently why not book in advance?

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Time link to sudden cardiac death

How the time of day can increase the risk of dying from an irregular heartbeat has been identified by researchers.

NHS 'will be Cameron's poll tax'

Labour leader Ed Miliband tells David Cameron he risks making NHS reform "his poll tax" - in noisy Commons clashes over the health bill.

Male extinction theory challenged

A new study comparing chromosomes in humans and rhesus monkeys suggests genetic decay of the male sex chromosome has all but ended.

Heart symptoms 'differ in women'

Fewer women than men suffering from a heart attack appear to experience chest pain symptoms, according to a study in the US.

Nurses 'should sign Dignity Code'

Nurses and care workers should sign a Dignity Code guaranteeing that elderly patients are treated with respect, say a group of politicians and charities.

Baby P duo made 'serious errors'

Two of Baby Peter's social workers committed a "serious error of judgement" during an incident which saw him "disappear" for 12 days, a tribunal hears.

US record kidney donor chain ends

The world's largest chain of organ transplants ends in the US after 30 patients received kidneys from living donors.

Diabetes patients miss key tests

More than 1.3 million diabetes patients could be missing out on vital and potentially life-saving health checks, the BBC learns.

Fatal fungal probe awarded £5.1m

Aberdeen researchers are awarded £5.1m to lead an investigation into fungal infections which cause death.

Government 'not trusted on NHS'

Over two-thirds of people do not trust the government's handling of the NHS, a poll commissioned for BBC Radio 5 live suggests.

Health Protection Agency

Update on measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

A measles outbreak has been declared on Merseyside. There are 13 confirmed and 16 suspected cases ranging in age from nine months to adults aged in their 20s. Six people, four children and two adults, required treatment in hospital. This compares to just one confirmed case on Merseyside in the first six weeks of 2011 and one in the corresponding period of 2010.

Measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

10 February 2012, 1400hrs. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has this week been alerted by the Spanish public health authorities about a further case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a UK resident who stayed at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, as well as two French cases. This brings the total number of UK residents associated with this cluster to 12, with three deaths.

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

Doctors

Nursing Staff

Practice Team

Healthcare Team

Doctors

Dr Robert Nixon (m)
Joined the Practice in 1982, is full time and is the Senior Partner and takes a lead role in diabetes.

Dr Neil Farnham (m)
Joined the Practice in 1991 and is full time and takes a lead role in elderly care.

Dr David Tomboline (m)
Joined the Practice in 1997, is full time and takes a lead role in asthma and COPD.

Dr Peter Stephenson (m)
Joined the Practice in 1998, works part time on a Monday, Thursday and Friday and he takes a lead role in hypertension and mental health.

Dr Michelle Martin (f)
Joined the Practice in 1998, works part time on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and takes a lead role in epilespy, weight management and contraception.

Dr Adele Steptoe (f)
Joined the Practice in 1999, works part time on a Monday to Thursday and takes a lead role in heart disease.

Nurses

The Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants work together to meet the nursing needs of patients. This includes giving injections, taking blood, new patient medicals, smears, dressings, specialist clinics, minor operations, ear syringing, ECGs...and so much more.

Margaret Randall (f)

Sarah Quirke (f)

Healthcare Assistants

Shirley Oakes (f)

Carol Blackford (f)

Phlebotomists

Alison Kembrey

Caroline Auditt

Practice Management

Thelma Speed
Practice Manager
Joined the Practice in 2009 and is the business and operational manager, there to make sure that the doctors and staff do what they need to provide a quality and effective general medical service to patients.

Loretta Smithson
Patient Services Manager
Joined the Practice in 1989 and is the day to day manager who ensures that there are sufficient reception staff, that the clinics are available for booking and that staff are trained to know how best to respond to patient enquiries. She is the first port of call in resolving any concerns that patients or staff may have.

Administration

The Data Team: Made up of Claire and Matt, these are the people whose sole aim is to ensure your records are accurate and up to date, that if you need to be invited to the practice you are and that your personal information is kept securely and confidentially. The Secretarial Team: Made up of Helen,Stella and Caroline, and are responsible for making sure your referral is sent to the hospital as quickly as possible and that any work dictated by the doctors and delegated by the Practice Manager is done quickly and professionally.

Reception

The Reception Team: Made up of Denise, Paula, Stella, Dianne, Gilda, Sue and Alison, all of whom make your appointments, answer your queries, get your prescriptions signed and greet you when you visit the Practice. If there is a problem they will be the first port of call but can not always fix things for you immediately.

Community Midwives

Will lead on antenatal care throughout pregnancy and a referral will be made to them by the doctor once you have confirmed that you are pregnant. They hold weekly clinics at the surgery and appointments can be made to see them at reception.

Wendy Foreman (f)

Health Visitors

Beckie (f)
Health Visitor Beckie is new to the practice. She leads on child health surveillance until your child starts school.

Counsellors

Dr Rebecca Antwhistle is new the the counselling team at the practice. Appointments are available each week at the surgery should, on discussion with your doctor, you feel support with anxiety, depression, stress or relationship difficulties may be helpful. They are also able to recommend support groups and training courses.

Rebecca Antwhistle (f)

Tia (f)

Attached Staff

Robert Townsend (m)

Further Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services