Latest News

Welcome Dr Coleman · 2 September, 09:29 AM

We would like to welcome Dr John Coleman who joined the practice on the 1st September. Dr Coleman was previously working in the Wigan area so is familiar with all the local services, and he also has a special interest in minor surgey, a service the practice has provided for many years and one Dr Coleman will continue.

We are confident Dr Coleman will be popular with our patients and hope you will extend your usual warm welcome!

Dr Duper is leaving us · 3 August, 04:51 PM

I know many patients will be sad to know that Bal Duper is leaving the practice to take up a senior management post in another PCT (Primary Care Trust). He has always wanted to take on this kind of role and although he would love to stay at Brookmill, he was made an offer "he could not refuse"! He enjoys working with patients however, so he is looking to return to being a GP in a few years time. Needless to say we will all miss him but wish him the very best in his new job which I am sure will be both interesting and challenging.

There have been so many changes in the last couple of years at Brookmill that I am sure some patients must wonder what is happening; certainly my head is spinning at times! I joined the practice in 1994 and there were no changes in the partners until 2006 when Mark Cottrill retired. In the last 18 months there have been several changes with John Pickin retiring, Rachel Hilton moving to another job where she could spend even more time focussing on Dermatology and now Bal Duper is taking on a new role. In spite of all this change I am very confident for the future; we have extended the building and will play a greater role in developing the skills of qualified doctors. We have Dr Sanjay who has a special interest in Diabetes and has just been approved as an educational supervisor for foundation year doctors, and Dr Katie Clifford who has been trained to fit coils and also has an interest in Diabetes, is in the final stages of approval as a trainer. Dr Warner who has been a partner for several years has been appointed a trainer for doctors who are in their final stages of training as GPs, and is also trained to fit the contraceptive implant.

We feel our new nursing team led by Sister Tracy Smith are working well and provide an excellent service. Our Practice Manager Sahra Kay has helped us cope with many of the changes that have occurred recently and continues to stimulate and support progress in the practice, whilst Julie Matthews our Office Manager leads our wonderful team of receptionists, secretaries and administrative staff. We face many challenges in the future, not only because of changes in personnel, but also due to changes in the provision of general practice as a whole. For me the top priority is to provide the best possible service to the people of Leigh, and I promise that we will continue to do this in the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our patients for their patience during this time of change and also a thank you to those who have made positive comments about the changes in the building; we like it too!

Gill Fellows

Training at Brookmill · 13 July, 04:20 PM

There will be more trainees at Brookmill from August onwards. All the learners are qualified doctors who have already been hospital doctors for at least one year.

The FY doctors are in their second year after qualification and will be with us for four months ; about half of these doctors will go on to be GPs in the future.

The ST2 doctors are with us part time for six months and are in their third year after qualification, these trainees are midway through their GP specialist training.

The FY doctor coming in August is Dr Emma Johnson and she will be supervised by Dr Sanjay. The ST2 doctor is Dr Imogen Prowse who will be supervised by Dr Warner.

We would like to thank you for your continued support for Brookmill as a Training Practice.

Welcome Dr Clifford · 21 June, 08:51 AM

Welcome Dr Clifford

Dr Katie Clifford is joining us in June 2010.

Her interests are diabetes, GP training & she is trained to fit coils.

She will be in one of the consulting rooms in our new extension.

BLOOD TEST RESULTS · 9 October, 04:35 PM

RESULTS OF BLOOD TESTS DONE AT BROOKMILL

When you have a blood test done at Brookmill Medical Centre, it is important that you ring the following week to ensure that the result has been received and to find out if any action is required. If the result is abnormal, one or more actions may be recommended, for example:

-a prescription

-a doctor or nurse appointment

-a repeat test

-other tests or a referral

The doctors do try and contact patients regarding any abnormal results, but often find that the telephone number we have on the records is out of date. So, please,

-RING THE PRACTICE ON 681880 ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING A BLOOD TEST TO HEAR THE RESULT

-ALWAYS LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR HOME OR MOBILE PHONE NUMBER

Seasonal Flu Campaign · 24 September, 07:50 AM

Appointments are available for seasonal flu vaccinations from late September onwards every year. If you are over 65 or fall into one of the at risk categories listed below, please contact the surgery to make an appointment to receive your flu vaccination.

If you fall into one of the categories below you are considered at risk:

Over 65

Asthmatic (on regular inhaled steroids)

Diabetic

Heart disease

Chronic liver disease

Multiple sclerosis and related conditions

Hereditary and degenerative disease of the central nervous system

Main carer for the elderly or disabled

Opening Hours · 1 June, 02:40 PM

As from the 1st June the surgery opening hours will change as listed below:

Monday 8.30am - 6.00pm

Tuesday 8.30am - 8.00pm

Wednesday 8.30am - 6.00pm

Thursday 7.00am - 6.00pm

Friday 8.30am - 6.00pm

Results of tests done at hospital · 26 September, 04:50 PM

Most people are not aware that the results of tests ordered by hospital consultants do not come back to their GP. This sometimes results in appointments being made at the surgery, and the patient unfortunately having a wasted trip as they have come for results the GP does not have access to. If you are having tests which have been requested by a hospital doctor or consultant, you will need to consult them for the results. They may arrange to write to you with the results, or discuss them at a follow up appointment, if in doubt contact the hospital department in question and ask for their help.

Further changes to phlebotomy (blood tests) · 29 May, 05:27 PM

We have introduced an appointment system for blood tests. This is to ensure patients know what time they will be seen and so we know exactly how many patients to expect.

We continue to provide this service at the surgery when most other GPs have ceased to do so: we wish to give our patients the best and most convenient service possible.

You can make an appointment for a blood test at reception.

Please remember that alternative clinics are run by the Primary Care Trust at various locations, which include Bridgewater Medical Centre, College Street Health Centre and Leigh Walk-In-Centre. Leigh Walk-In-Centre also does an early morning service. So if availability at the surgery does not suit you, you can attend an alternative phlebotomy clinic. To make an appointment or get further information on these alternative clinics please phone 773151.

DNA (did not attend) Policy · 2 April, 08:48 AM

In a typical week, thirty or more appointments are wasted due to non-attendance. The Practice therefore feels it is necessary to introduce a policy for dealing with patients who repeatedly do not attend (DNA), or fail to cancel, an appointment they cannot (or do not wish to) keep. Failure to attend or cancel the appointment results in reduced availability for other patients, and wasted clinical time. Patients who 'DNA' appointments more than once within a twelve month period will be sent a warning letter, and if they then continue to 'DNA' they risk being removed from the Practice list. It is unfortunate that we have felt it necessary to put such a policy in place, but we have to consider the availability of appointments for the majority of our patients who attend, or at least cancel in advance, their appointment if they are unable to attend. The full policy is on display in various locations throughout the surgery should you wish to read it in full.