The Green Practice

We are a practice of seven partners, based at two health centres in Hythe and Blackfield that are approximately three miles apart. The practice has a population about 13000 and we share both buildings with our sister practice (the red practice). The colour coding of the practices arose in the days before mobile phones when each partner had a radio in their car to be contacted from a central switchboard!

The partners are:

• Francis Greaves
• Sue Rial
• Ken Davidson
• Phil Gregory
• Jeanette Farmer
• Charlie Besley
• Chris Cole

Phil, Ken and Charlie are current trainers and the practice is approved to have two registrars, one based at each end. Chris has just obtained his MRCGP (with distinction!) and intends becoming a trainer also.

The practice has been training registrars for well over 20 years and is also involved in teaching undergraduates based at Southampton throughout their clinical years. All partners and senior management together with other members of the primary health care team are involved in the process of training a GP registrar.

We have a GP hospital on site at Hythe, which provides us with the opportunity to extend the scope of our care, and we share this responsibility with a local consultant who visits weekly. A midwife-led maternity unit is also based on site; there is no GP involvement in intra-partum care as this is handled by the midwives or by referral to the local maternity unit at Princess Anne Hospital.

Registrars are generally based at one "end" of the practice but the system is flexible and often valuable experience is gained by working at both sites for some of the time. Both sites are purpose built buildings designed by ourselves and completed about 12 years ago. Registrars naturally have their own rooms and both centres are fully equipped with all the gizmos required for modern general practice. We have been computerized since 1987 and are in the process of going "paperless" at the moment. Naturally, this takes some getting used to and full training in this new way of practising is of course provided.

To help with workload we pioneered a nurse-led morning triage system, which has been a great success. We also cooperate closely with the other practices in the area in the local on-call co-op system, which registrars join after about four months into practice. As the rota is shared between 22+ doctors it is not too onerous!

Training occurs on a daily basis with case discussions and the registrar has two fixed tutorials a week, one with their trainer and one which rotates through the partners and other team members. Registrars also have a half-day off a week, plus their day-release course as well as additional study leave to attend required courses. Full details of the timetable can be sourced from Ken (Based at Hythe) or Phil or Charlie (based at Blackfield). All of our registrars have enjoyed their time with us, have made full use of the leisure opportunities afforded by our unique position between The New Forest and the coast, and many have remained in the area, obtaining local partnerships.

We are more than happy to be contacted by 'phone or email for a chat or to arrange a visit.

Contact details

The Green Practice
Waterside Health Centre
Beaulieu Road
Hythe
SO45 5WX
Tel: 023 80845955
Web: http://www.greenpractice.org.uk/
E-mail: Phil Gregory <pgregory@southampton.gptrainers.co.uk>