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Introduction

The partners aim to offer a friendly family atmosphere with high quality medical care.

Welcome

The surgeries at Wiveliscombe and Milverton are both purpose built. Wiveliscombe Surgery was completed in 1985 and moved from extremely cramped accommodation in the High Street; the luxury of extra space was much enjoyed by doctors and staff. Milverton surgery was completed in 1986 and an extension to include a treatment room, a larger waiting room and office space added in 1995. Before Dr Watson (the then senior partner) retired in the early 1980's the practice's single surgery formed part of his home.

Background to Lister House Surgery

Lister House Surgery is a 5 Partner, 6700 patient, rural dispensing practice, based in the rolling countryside below the Brendon Hills in West Somerset. The surgery has a branch site at Milverton, also dispensing, with regular surgeries and clinics running throughout the week. The Partnership is supported by a salaried GP, 3 Practice Nurses, and 2 Health Care Assistants . On the administration side, a team of 9 receptionists, three dispensers, one medical secretary, 3 IT clerks/administrators, a Staff Supervisor and a Practice Manager ensure the smooth running of the practice.

Recent Developments

There have been many changes introduced in the NHS in the previous 24 months. As part of the Primary Care organisation we have been required to maintain patient care while overseeing the introduction of some radical developments. Disruption to the working pattern has been limited and patients will now see some of the changes introduced:

• Booking of appointments on the day. Although we operate a same day system, ie you can see a GP on the same day you contact us, patients are still able to make a booking up to 2 months ahead. This has reduced the number of missed appointments significantly and has met with overall approval from patients canvassed for their views.
• Choose and Book. Referrals to hospital are now made electronically, the patient has the opportunity to choose an appointment that matches their availability and at a hospital of choice.
• IT Systems. New computers have been installed throughout the surgery, the medical system is now linked to the national spine and, in due course, a GP will have access to the patients hospital record.
• Scanning. All outside letters received are now scanned directly in to the patients electronic record. This has proved a huge success with GPs as they can now see any hospital letters almost immediately, saving considerable time looking through notes for a specific letter.

The Future

The drive within the NHS is aimed at moving services from the hospital into the community ie towards GP surgeries and community hospitals. Wellington community hospital has recently been modernised and is now able to take on much more work. Surgeries are due for upgrading and, although we have the staff to run more clinics, we need more space to do so. The surgery accommodation was recently expanded with the introduction of a porta cabin, releasing an additional treatment room for the nurses to carry out chronic disease clinics. This has improved patient care enormously but the increased space has provided temporary relief.

The next major change will be larger premises, some preparatory planning has been completed towards improved accommodation but the funding of premises remains subject to approval by the Primary Care Trust.