Meet The Staff
Doctors
Dr. Ian M.S. Kerss MBBS (Newcastle 1971) MRCGP
He graduated at Newcastle University in 1971. He returned to Carlisle in 1975 to join the Practice as it was then at Portland Square, Carlisle. He is actively involved within the practice. He serves as Senior Police Surgeon to Cumbria Constabulary and also carries out personal injury medicals for several companies. For relaxation he enjoys skiing, shooting, fishing and golf. He also enjoys travelling.
John Bone B Sc (Hons) MB BS MRCGP PG Dip ENT
John was born in Middlesbrough in 1952. He graduated in Newcastle Upon Tyne and arrived in Carlisle as a junior hospital Dr in 1975 joining the practice in Portland Square a year later, apprenticed to the late Neil Frame.
Unwittingly he had returned to his roots! His recent researches find his family in the 1700s farming an area around Cargo and his Great-Great-Great Grandparents were tenants of KingGarth, the historic fish house on the River Eden.
In 1983 he married Jan; their son, Jonathan was born in 1987 and is now reading medicine at Glasgow University.
John has an interest in ENT medicine and as a 'GP with a special interest' he provides two such clinics a week for patients from St Pauls and elsewhere in North Cumbria. He works as a clinical assistant in ENT at the Cumberland Infirmary, maintaining his links with his colleagues in the hospital department. His interest in rheumatic disease and mental health continues. He is a director of the county's out of hour's cooperative, CueDoc and continues to work shifts for them.
He enjoys his garden, their dog, local history, the Lake District, skiing, fast cars and books.
Dr. John Anderson MD (Brussels 1978) MRCGP
After graduating from Brussels University, Belgium in 1979 he undertook
his General Practice training in the North East, based primarily in Durham.
He joined the surgery, previously at Portland Square, 1983.
Although foremost he considers himself a 'family doctor' he has special
interests in the Treatment of Drug Addiction and Mental Health Problems.
He has particular responsibilities at St. Paul's for running our regular Clinical Up-date meetings and pursuing new clinical developments. He is also the partner in the practice who has overall responsibility for staffing issues.
Outside the surgery he has developed an interest in General Practice Education and runs the East Cumbrian Vocational Training Scheme, which helps train future General Practitioners. As a result of this and other commitments I work part-time in the surgery. His main interests outside of medicine lie within sport: He plays Golf, Badminton, Croquet and goes Skiing and Windsurfing.
Dr. Richard Barnsley MBBS (Newcastle 1982) MRCGP DRCOG
Richard joined the practice in 1986. He has developed an interest in diabetes and oversees the diabetes care in the practice. He also has an interest in eye problems and runs a weekly GPSI (GP with a Special Interest) eye clinic within the surgery. Outside medicine he enjoys spending time with his family (3 children), gardening and skiing.
Dr. Rosemary Swain MBBS (London 1980) MRCGP DRCOG
Dr. Alan D. Edwards MBChB (Dundee 1985) MRCGP
Qualified in 1985 Alan's main clinical interests are in performing all the minor operations for the practice and in management of respiratory disease. Alan has led for the practice on commissioning through Fundholding, Primary Care Groups/Trusts, Practice Based Commissioning and beyond as well as being a member of the Local Medical Committee. Along with Dr Neil Margerison he will be the club Doctor for Carlisle United F.C. from the 2008/9 season (a labour of love having seen his first match at Brunton Park in the 1960's). Other clinical interests include Forensic Medicine and the use of IT to help patient care.
Married to Bev, they have 2 boys (as well as a dog, and 3 cats) and his hobbies include playing and watching football, fell walking, skiing, music and lazing around in his garden.
Dr. Neil Margerison MBChB (Leeds 1985) MRCGP DCCH
Clinical interests include bowel disease with a special interest in sigmoidoscopy and sexually transmitted diseases. Actively involved with both general practitioner training and practice nurse training, as well as clinical development of the practice.
Dr. Sally Roberts MBBS (Newcastle 1992) MRCGP DRCOG DFFP
She qualified in Newcastle in 1992 and her clinical interests include Women's Health, Family Planning and Sexual Offences Forensic Medicine. She works part time and is married with four children. In her spare time she enjoys being a school governor, singing and is an active member of a local theatre group.
Dr. Louise Dodgeon B Med Sci(Hons) BM BS (Nottingham 1993)
Louise graduated from the University of Nottingham Medical School in 1993 and came to Carlisle as a Junior Hospital Doctor in August of the same year. Although she returned to Nottingham to work for a short time, she came back to Cumbria and embarked on her GP training which she completed in 1997. She first came to the practice as a locum in 1998 and became a permanent fixture in 2001.
Her mother is originally from Carlisle, and although she didn't grow up here she has been visiting her Cumbrian relatives since she was a baby, so very much that she feels she has returned to her roots!
She is married and has three children. She works part time and her medical interests include women's health issues and family planning. Like many others within the practice she also works as a Forensic Medical Examiner. Outside of work her interests revolve around her family and include fell walking and cycling.
Dr Helen Lawrence MBChB MRCGP (Birmingham 1994)
She graduated from Birmingham University in 1994 and spent several years
in hospital medicine there, mainly in elderly care and general medicine,
before moving to Cumbria in 1999 to become a GP. After completing GP training
at the practice in 2002 she ran away to sea to work as a cruise ship doctor
for just over 3 years returning to the practice as a full time GP in 2006.
Her clinical interests are elderly medicine and acupuncture and she is
involved in teaching medical students and GP registrars. Outside work
she enjoys walking her dog in the Lake District, skiing, reading, music
and traveling (no current plans!).
Dr Kevin McStay MBBS (Newcastle 1988)
He qualified at Newcastle in 1988. He is married to Ruth with 4 wonderful
children. He has a specialist interest in Parkinson's disease; and then
in his spare time he facilitates a network of local churches and leaders.Dr.
Martin White MBChB MRCS MRCGP
Martin returned to the practice in 2007 after working at St Pauls as a
registrar in 2006. He has an interest in surgery and is now registered
as a GPwSI in surgery. St Pauls have developed an operating theatre at
Arnside House initially for Martin to run a surgical service. Much of
his time outside work is spent with his young family although when he
gets a chance he likes walking in the Lake District.
Practice Staff
Practice Nurses
Team Leader Mrs Josephine Beardon
The practice has a very experienced team of five nurses plus two healthcare assistants who are able to offer a wide range of services. As well as running specialised clinics in chronic disease management such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease they also offer routine health checks, immunisations, ear syringing and many other services.
Our two Healthcare assistants have an ongoing developing role supporting the nurses and running their own clinics, taking blood, blood pressure, some dressing changes, stitch removal etc.
Health Visitor
Due to changes by their employers they are no longer based at the practice.
They attend twice a week to run immunisation clinics by appointment only;
Monday afternoons at St Pauls and Wednesday mornings at Arnside House.
They are available at various community clinics.
District Nurses
Team Leader Mrs Veronica Higgs
We have an experienced team of seven district nurses and one healthcare assistant attached to our practice. They provide nursing support to housebound and infirm patients in the community.
They are usually in their office early mornings around 8.30-9.30 and then again in the afternoon around 2.30-3.00; they have a direct line with answer-phone Tel 01228 603479.
Pharmacist
Mrs Angela Branch is employed to work alongside the doctors and prescriptions
team advising on medication, best practice and various other issues.
Reception Staff
Reception Manager Miss Louise Latta
There are nineteen receptionists employed to ensure patients are attended to; they have a wide variety of duties including operating the busy switchboard and greeting patients at the front desk to name but two. They also support and organise all the services within the practice.
Within reception there is a dedicated team for repeat prescriptions and we also have a Medicines Manager Mrs Ruth Bentley who works alongside the doctors and the prescription team.
Another dedicated team concentrates on scanning of patient letters and ensuring a high standard of data entry is achieved.
Administrative Staff
We also have another small team of valuable staff who work ‘behind
the scenes’ providing secretarial, financial, audit and data quality
support plus many other varied tasks.
The admin and reception teams ensure that the practice runs smoothly and allows the clinicians to concentrate on seeing patients without having to spend precious time dealing with vast amounts of paperwork.
Practice Manager
Mrs Tracey Scott the practice manager looks after the day to day running
of the practice, its staff and all services as well as looking forwards
at future developments.
Counsellor
Mrs Anne Taylor has worked for the practice for many years offering support
to patients in need of counselling such as bereavement, relationship difficulties
etc.
GP Registrar
As we are a training practice there is usually at least one gp registrar
working with us. They are qualified doctors who have previously worked
in hospital and with us to gain experience as part of their training before
entering a practice of their own. They are full supported by one of the
gp trainers within the practice.
Vocational Training Doctor
There is usually a General Practice Vocational Training Doctor working
in the practice. They are qualified doctors who have previously worked
in hospital and are with us to gain experience in the community before
entering a practice of their own.
Cleaners
Four Cleaners make sure the surgery is clean and tidy.
Student Nurses or Doctors
From time to time there may be students working within the practice to
further their training and knowledge and will always be supported by an
experienced member of staff.