Riverside Surgery

Practice Profile and Training Overview

• Dr John Horner (Trainer)
• Dr Ros McAllister
• Dr Ajit Kadirgamar (Trainer)
• Dr Angela Hart
• Dr Rashmi Sawhney
• Dr Jeremy Rose
• Dr Debra Hemsley (Retainer)
• Dr John Doherty (Assistant)
• Dr Pavan Bhargava (Registrar)

GP Registrar Vacancies

• August 2005

Our practice is based in the centre of High Wycombe and we care for approximately 10,300 patients, with 12% of these from Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities and this adds a dimension to our medical practice not found in the other Chiltern Scheme practices.

As first wave fundholders we regarded fundholding as a mixed blessing but it undoubtedly facilitated some changes and enabled us to develop valuable on site services. Currently we offer a much improved physiotherapy service, an excellent counselling service and acupuncture for pain control. We are third wave PMS. We have introduced a comprehensive Nurse Practitioner Service.

The practice is fully computerised with computers in each consulting room. The practice uses Vision software and we are well on the way to achieving a "paperless" status in the not too distant future. We are connected to the Internet and Email is a well-used communication tool.

We operate an Advanced Access appointment system. The majority of our appointments are not booked in advanced and patients are therefore able to see a GP or Nurse Practitioner without delay. Forward booking of appointments is also available if required. The Out of Hours work is covered by membership of HARMONI, the local GP Co-operative.

The primary health care team is an enthusiastic and committed bunch of people who work well together. We like to think that caring is our raison d'être, and this philosophy extends to looking after each other. Regular team meetings and whole team awaydays are a regular feature of practice life and there is a small committee who arrange social events outside of surgery hours. The partners and practice manager meet weekly to discuss business issues and regularly in the early morning for strategic planning over breakfast.

The learning environment

	Dr John Horner Trainer since 1983 Interests: diabetes, rheumatology, occupational medicine, practice finance
	Dr Ajit Kadirgamar Trainer since 1999 Interests: dermatology, minor surgery, audit and practice management

We have been a training practice for many years and believe that this encourages us to keep up to date and maintain the highest standards.

Dr Horner and Dr Kadirgamar are both GP trainers although we usually have only one Registrar at a time. The practice is committed to training across all professional disciplines. On a yearly basis we take a first year clinical medical student from Oxford for a 2-week attachment, in order to give them insight into the scope of primary care. We have trained our own Nurse Practitioners and encourage and monitor their professional development. One of our Practice Nurses, Clair Desborough, is a cervical smear mentor. Tricia Ker-Davies is a Health Visitor tutor and Anne Barber is involved in District Nurse training. Dr Horner, Dr McAllister and Dr Hart are all accredited GP appraisers.

Our Training year starts on the 1^st August each year, recruitment being offered through the Regional Postgraduate Office in Oxford. We are an integral part of the Chilterns Training scheme, taking Registrars both from the 3 year scheme and for 1 year appointments.

Our Registrars have protected teaching time and also time for reflection. They also participate in the local day release course. While Dr Horner or Dr Kadirgamar is the designated trainer, the whole Primary Care Team is encouraged to feel involved in teaching offering support, tuition and feed-back. If there are particular clinical areas that need addressing with the Registrar, we encourage liaison with the relevant hospital speciality if appropriate. Out of hours experience is achieved by attendance at WYDDOC with one of the partners or trainers, and a few sessions arranged in a more traditional fashion being on call only for the practice, but with partner back-up. The flexibility offered by the out of hours arrangements does mean that there is no longer a requirement for the Registrar to live "on the patch".

Contact details

Riverside Surgery
George Street
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 2RZ
Tel: 01494 526500
Fax: 01494 450237
E-mail: Dr Ajit Kadirgamar <akadirgamar@chiltern.gptrainers.co.uk>

Please note that these e-mail addresses are not currently for patient access.