Contact Details
Mrs Lucy Hitchcock (Practice Manager)

St James's Surgery
Northampton Buildings
Bath
BA1 2SR

Tel +44 (0) 1225 425846
Fax +44 (0) 1225 428398
www.stjamessurgery.org.uk

Trainers
Dr James Playfair james.playfair@nhs.net
Dr Ian Orpen ian.orpen@nhs.net
Dr Sharon Gillings Sharongillings@nhs.net

Email: Lucy.Hitchcock@nhs.net

An Outstanding Training Opportunity
St James's Surgery is an enthusiastic and supportive training practice in a superb location. We have been involved in General Practice Training for nearly 20 years and have 3 experienced Trainers. We believe we provide a comprehensive and inclusive training in a forward looking and dynamic practice.

The surgery is based in modern purpose built premises 5 minutes from the Royal United Hospital, just a short walk from the famous Royal Crescent. We have a branch surgery on the south side of the city, which is fully integrated with the practice by a high speed computer link. We have a practice population of 10,000 patients covering the whole socio-economic spectrum.

The practice has a very strong educational ethos, with the whole practice team engaged and supportive of doctors in training, from medical students through to GP Registrar’s. We have successfully supported our registrars to high levels of achievement in their MRCGP for many years.

We are a PMS practice and are really proud to continually be a high achieving practice in all our Quality & Outcomes Framework domains. We have long been computerized and paperless (EMIS) and embrace the merits of technological developments.

Our core hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6:30pm and Saturday mornings.

The Partners

Dr James Playfair MB BS London 1977 MRCGP DRCOG
James is a long established GP trainer and has supported many successful registrars for some 17 years! James is our senior partner and lead for clinical/information governance. James is Chair of the BANES GP Forum and trustee of a local nursing home.

Dr Ian Orpen MB ChB Cape Town 1982 MRCGP DCH DGM
Ian is has been training since 1998 and is a successful and supportive trainer. Ian has particular interests in orthopaedics and practice IT systems. Ian is the Chair of the BANES GP Consortium.

Dr Sharon Gillings MB BS London 1995 BMed Sci MRCP MRCGP
Sharon has been an active GP trainer since 2009, prior to which she was extensively involved with undergraduate teaching to medical students – years 2, 3 & 4. Sharon is our diabetic and medicines management lead. Sharon is also Chief Executive of the local our of hours provider (BEMS).

Dr John Spelman MB ChB Birmingham 1981 MRCGP DRCOG
John is very involved in teaching through his long established teaching of undergraduate medical students (year 4). John is the practice QOF lead with specialist interest in Mental Health. John is also a member of the PCT Primary Care Providers Group.

Dr Boo McConnell MB ChB Liverpool 1983 MRCGP
Boo is also very involved with teaching medical students. Primarily year 2. Boo is our respiratory lead.

Our GP team also includes Dr Karin Pollock (Assistant) and Dr Kate Rees (Retainer).

Primary Care Team
The practice has a full primary care team, including practice nurses, district nurses, health visitors, midwives, physiotherapist, osteopath, Community Psychiatric Nurses, counsellors, chiropodist, clinical research nurses (MRC and other), community drugs workers, as well as reception, administrative staff and a Practice Manager.

Meetings
The registrar is invited to attend and contribute to the regular weekly practice meeting including those for Significant Events, Audit and other clinical meetings.

Educational Programme
Aim - In your year with us it is the practice intention to ensure that registrars receive a rounded education of a high standard with appropriate practical experience in a friendly and supportive environment. The registrar is seen as a key and respected member of the growing and diversifying primary care team.

Training
The programme is tailored to the individual requirements of the registrar and is planned carefully at the start of the year in consultation with the registrar. It includes 2 protected teaching sessions per week with the trainers and all members of the team, joint and video surgeries. One of the trainers or other partners is always available to discuss problem cases with the registrar.

Day Release Course
There is an excellent Day Release Course held weekly at the RUH in Bath. This is run by a team of highly enthusiastic and innovative course organisers and is very popular with Registrars.

Workload
On Call – Several of the partners participate in the well run out of hours service (BEMS). Registrars are required to complete 72 hours of supervised out of hours work.

Time Off
The registrar currently has every Thursday afternoon off in addition to attending the Day Release course. Annual and study leave is generous and in keeping with local agreements.

Contact
Please do feel free to contact us if you would like to meet us and have a look around. Please contact our Practice Manager, Lucy Hitchcock (lucy.hitchcock@nhs.net) to arrange this.