Trainer: Dr Phil Whitaker, philip.whitaker@gp-L81132.nhs.uk

Website: www.westfieldsurgery.co.uk

THE PRACTICE

We are a small, friendly practice situated in comfortable, purpose-built premises in the Westfield area of Radstock. Our philosophy is to provide a high standard of traditional family medicine for our patients, and to enjoy ourselves while doing so. Our list grows each year, and currently stands at just over 4,000 patients, with a bias towards the younger end of the population spectrum (so there is plenty of paediatric experience).

THE TRAINING

Our registrars have use of their own room throughout their attachment. The weekly timetable incorporates protected tutorial time, a joint surgery with the trainer, and time is also set aside for informal training during and after surgeries. There is dedicated non-contact time for project/audit work. The whole team is enthusiastic about, and involved in education, so our registrars experience a range of clinical styles. As well as mentoring in the medical, psychological and social dimensions of primary care, we ensure our registrars develop a good understanding of the business aspects of general practice during their time with us.

THE TEAM

Relationships within our small team are excellent. The doctors have a weekly coffee-time 'journal club' where we share interesting research snippets and discuss challenging cases. The whole clinical team - including practice nurses, health visitor and district nurse - meets every 6 - 8 weeks.

There are three partners:
Dr Guy Worsdall - Guy is a tutor to Bristol University medical students. He has an interest in minor surgery and, in addition to his NHS work, offers a private aesthetic medicine service. Guy is chairman of the local out-of-hours service, BEMS, and is a trustee of the local GP education and research trust, BGPERT. He also sits on the board of Assura Minerva, a partnership between local GPs and the Assura Medical group that seeks to offer novel community-based care pathways.
Dr Phil Whitaker - Phil is the practice trainer. He has interests in psychological medicine and in musculo-skeletal medicine. In addition to his NHS work, he practises as a medicolegal expert. Phil is an Education Coordinator for BGPERT. He undertakes regular out-of-hours sessions with BEMS, ensuring our registrars' have ample opportunity to complete their out-of-hours training under the supervision of their own trainer. Phil is also a published novelist and journalist.
Dr Sally Emsley - Sally has an interest in women's health and in family planning. As well as her clinical duties, Sally is the practice lead for clinical governance and for medicines management. She works closely with our attached pharmacist to ensure high standards of cost-effective prescribing.

The partners work alongside Dr Fiona Atherton, who is on the GP retainer scheme. The wider team comprises our excellent practice nurses, health care assistant, physiotherapist, and counsellor. We have good relationships with our district nursing and health visiting colleagues. The practice is ably supported by a friendly and knowledgable administrative team.