Doctors
DR ANDREW POLKINGHORN
Male
BM MRCGP DCH DRCOG DFFP Partner and GP Trainer
DR NATASHA GARRETT
Female
BM MRCGP MRCPH DRCOG DFFP Partner
DR RATHIKA THANGAVEL
Female
MRCGP, DRCOG Partner
DR VICKY BLYTHE
Female
BSc, BMBS, MRCGP 2022, DRCOG Partner
DR SCOTT CROWTHER
Male
BSc MBChB DRCOG JCPTGP MRCGP Partner
DR EDWARD RAWSTHORNE
Male
BM BS 2009
Salaried GP
DR FERDOUS AHMED
Male
MBBS, MRCGP
Salaried GP
DR KATIE HANDASYDE DICK
Female
MB BS 2013, MRCGP 2022
Salaried GP
DR AMY BRIDGMAN
Female
MB BS 2016
Registrar
Physician Associates
CHIDO HAMADZIRIPI
Female
BSc Biomedical Sciences, MSc Physician Associate Studies Physician Associate
Nurses
Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks, injections and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes and all three are able to carry out cervical smears.
CHARLOTTE MERRIFIELD
RGN (currently on Maternity Leave)
Asthma, COPD
TERESA YUDES-MARTIN
RGN
Asthma, COPD
BECKY COLE
RGN
(Maternity Cover)
Frailty Team
PAUL FOX
HCA/Tracker/Frailty Service
Healthcare Assistants
Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), undertake ECG's and assist with minor operations. Some are also able to carry out injections such as flu, pneumonia, shingles and vitamin B12. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Practice Management
EVE HOLCOMBE
Business Manager (BSc, MSc)
The Business Manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology.
MARCIA RUSSELL
Patient Services Manager
The Patient Services Manager supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services, manages complaints and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.
GILL ASHCROFT
Operations Co-Ordinator
Reception
Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Their job is very demanding so please be patient.
Community Midwives
Patients at the surgery can have midwife care out of either Poole General Hospital or Salisbury District Hospital, and deliver at the chosen hospital. Poole Hospital Midwives work out of the Verwood Hub and you can self refer. Salisbury midwives conduct their appointments here at the surgery - if you would like to deliver at Salisbury, please pop into the surgery for a welcome pack.
Health Visitors
The Health Visitor and her team specialise in child & maternity care and are also involved in health promotion at other ages.
Community staff
Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust (DHUFT) employs Community Nurses, Health Visitors, Child and Family Counsellors who work from within Verwood Surgery.
