The purpose built Surgery was opened in 1983 and provides a broad range of facilities for the five Partners, Staff and Patients in a spacious and modern environment. The rural location permits easy access and parking.

The Practice has six thousand and two hundred patients. Whiteparish is the central focus of an area over one hundred and fifty square miles that extends out into the New Forest and is bounded by Salisbury and Romsey. The Surgery is fully computerised and has a Dispensary providing medicines for over ninety five percent of the registered patients. It has been an Approved Training Practice for General Practice for over thirty years.

The team of Attached Staff are based on Salisbury Health Care Trust and provide District Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting services. In addition Physiotherapy, Counselling and Foot Care is Practice based. There are two Practice employed Nurses who will soon be joined by a Phlebotomist.

The Nurses are responsible for most of the screening programmes and the specialist clinics as well as the management of ulcer and wound care. The clinics include Diabetes, Asthma, Hypertension, Immunisation, Cervical Cytology, Family Planning, Travel Advice, Cryotherapy and Minor Surgery.

The five Partners have varied interests and outside commitments. These include Vocational Trainer, Clinical Assistants in Chest Medicine and Accident and Emergency, School Medical Officer, Acupuncture and Manipulation. Care is provided for three Nursing Homes within the Practice area.

There is no concept of fixed lists and patients are free to choose the doctor that they wish to see. Appointments are available every day but there is a Non-appointment Open Access Surgery every morning and evening at which patients do not have a choice of doctor.

Out of hours the Practice is not involved in any co-operative cover scheme and provides the cover for all registered patients. The Health Authority has provided some extra money to allow the use of Locums for some out of hour cover.

April 2000