The Partners

Dr Rosemary Elder MBChB (1985) MRCGP DCH Dundee Dr Elder, the senior partner, is actively involved in teenage health (covering Queenswood School) and children's health and development. Other areas of interest include care of patients with cancer and epilepsy.
Dr Catherine Munro BM (1980) MRCGP DRCOG Southampton Dr Munro has a special interest in bereavement and care of the terminally ill. She is chairperson of the Potters Bar Bereavement Service, which she has pioneered. Dr Munro also has an interest in care of patients with mental illnesses and those suffering from depression.
Dr Alison Ritchie MBBS (1985) BSc MRCGP DRCOG London Dr Ritchie is interested in all aspects of general practice and is the doctor responsible for inpatients at Potters Bar Hospital. She works closely with the consultant at Potters Bar Hospital in the care of the elderly. Her special interests are asthma and other chest conditions.
Dr Frances Sturridge MBBS (1988) MRCOG DFFP London Dr Sturridge joined the practice following a career change from obstetrics and gynaecology. She maintains a special interest in reproductive health, particularly management of the menopause, family planning, antenatal care, acupuncture and contraception. Dr Sturridge has responsibility in the practice for patients suffering from cardiac disease.
Dr Alistair Vincent MBBS (1986) MRCGP London Dr Vincent joined the practice in October 2003, having previously been a partner at a surgery in Borehamwood. Dr Vinent runs the diabetic clinic at Highview and has an interest in joint injections.

Additional GP

Dr Katie Parkinson (1994) MBBS MRCPCH MFAEM London
Dr Parkinson joined the practice in April 2008 after a career in hospital emergency medicine.

The General Practitioner Training Scheme

This is a scheme for qualified doctors whose experience thus far has been mainly in hospitals. As a training practice we have a doctor working with us for a year to gain experience of general practice. Videotaping some consultations is of great benefit to the doctor concerned. The receptionist will inform you if videotaping is occurring and you will be asked for your consent. We are very grateful to you for your co-operation in this valuable work. Medical students may also visit the surgery from time to time and be present in consultations if the patient agrees.

Locum Doctors

From time to time, when doctors are away, we employ a locum to ensure that enough doctors are available. We try to use the same locums who know us and possibly know some of you too.

The Primary Health Care Team

Nurse Practitioner Johanna Clark RGN BSc Hons, SEN DN The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for assessing and treating all minor ailments and chronic disease management. She works closely with the GPs in assessing and triaging patients' needs and will see patients for on-going treatment of long term conditions. Most patients requesting emergency appointments will be dealt with by the Nurse Practitioner.
Practice Nurses Gulistan Mehmet RGN, Chantelle Hempsall RGN and Nicola Dennis RGN are the practice nurses. They are employed by the practice and provide many services including immunisations for children and foreign travel, specialised clinics, cervical smears, blood pressure assessments, alcohol and smoking advice, dietary and weight advice, contraception and general nursing care. They have attained qualifications in the following areas of medicine: family planning, asthma and diabetes. They have attended many health promotion courses. Other specialist clinics are held at the surgery and full details are listed elsewhere in this website.

Practice Manager

The practice manager, Andy Cole is responsible for the organisation and general administration of the practice. If you have any questions regarding the non-medical aspects of your treatment, please contact reception, and they will be pleased to assist you.

The Reception Team

Our receptionists are available to assist GPs, nurses and patients. They arrange appointments, check in patients on their arrival and take requests for repeat prescriptions. They file the many communications received from outside sources and some are involved in entering patients’ data on the computer system.

We also have a back office team who can be contacted between 8.30am and 5.00pm on 01707 871982. The member of staff covering the back office will deal with queries from patients, take requests for home visits and can pass messages from patients to the doctors. She will also be available to give out test results between 2.00 and 4.00pm every day, (2.30-4.00pm on Wednesdays).

Inevitably, it is sometimes necessary to make personal enquiries so please do not be offended by this.

Their job can be very demanding - please help them to help you!

Community District Nurses

These nurses are based at Potters Bar Hospital and provide nursing care for the housebound. They can be contacted through the practice reception. Community nurses and health visitors are employed by West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust.

Health Visitors

The health visiting team is based at Potters Bar Hospital and aims to provide advice and a sympathetic, professional support service to those people with young families. They are able to offer guidance in all aspects of child development including feeding, coping with crying babies, postnatal depression and health education advice. A health visitor attends the surgery one morning a week to carry out post natal checks and new baby checks.

Childhood immunisation clinics are currently held on a Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon at Highview Medical Centre and we encourage all children to have all immunisations as recommended by the Health Authority. Appointments for childhood immunisations can be made through reception and are bookable in advance.

Health visitors can be contacted via Potters Bar Hospital on 01707 653286.

Midwives

There is a weekly antenatal clinic at Highview Medical Centre on Thursday afternoons. After an initial consultation with the GP all expectant mothers are invited to see the midwife at the surgery on a regular basis.

Antenatal care at Highview is shared between the GP and the midwife team.

Postnatal care and six-week baby checks are provided by the GP and health visitor by pre-bookable appointment.