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Nurses working in the Practice

What the Nurses do and how they can help you Your Practice Nurses by Name             Main Index Practice Contacts and Local Information   Nurses working in the Community Health Visitors and Midwives

What the Practice Nurses do and how they can help you

Practice Nurses... working alongside the Doctors. Practice Nurses work closely alongside the doctors and are available for advice by appointment during the day. Seeing a Practice Nurse is often the best way of having your condition assessed quickly and some Practice Nurses are qualified to prescribe medicines as and when required. Practice Nurses are responsible for general nursing, immunisation, cervical smears, family planning and special clinics for the management of Asthma, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease,COPD,Hypertension, Strokes, and specialist Travel clinics. All Immunisation, testing and clinics are by appointment. More on the Clinics offered by the Practice can found at Clinics and Services More on how Practice Nurses contribute to your healthcare can be found at Contacting a Doctor - Priority Assessment and Help from a Nurse

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Your Practice Nurses by Name

Your Practice Nurses and Health Care Assistants by Name The Amherst Medical Practice presently has 6 Practice Nurses and 2 Health Care Assistant. Please click on the list and find the details you require.

Ros Collett Alison Wertheim   Alison Jenkins Jan Woolley   Rosemary Jones Tina Taylor - Health Care Assistant   Melanie Perry Lynne Valder - Health Care Assistant

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Ros Collett

Ros Collett RGN.   I studied at University of Surrey, completing a Bsc(Hons) in Nursing Studies in 1997. My first nursing post was on a surgical ward at University College Hospital London. In 1999 I moved to the A & E Deaprtment in UCH. During my time there I studied an advanced diploma in A & E nursing and completed my Paediatric training. I moved to Sevenoaks in 2005 with my husband. I currently also work part time as a Sister in Maidstone A & E.

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Alison Jenkins

Alison Jenkins RGN, Cert Counselling, Dip Travel Medicine   I trained at St Thomas Hospital London, qualifying in 1980. I then gained experience nursing in the NHS and private sector before moving to Sevenoaks in 1984. I was a school nurse for several years before becoming a Practice Nurse, 6 years ago. In addition to part-time practice nursing, I have studied Travel Medicine at UCH, London, and worked part time at Interhealth in London, a charity serving aid workers abroad. This was invaluable experience working with travellers going to high risk situations. I now run the very busy travel clinic at the Amherst and do some part time lecturing on Travel Health and Immunisation. I have also studied for my coronary heart disease diploma and also run the CHD clinic. I live in Otford with my husband, Keith and two-university age “ children”. I love     outdoor activities, music, gardening and travelling.

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Rosemary Jones

Rosemary Jones RGN/Diploma in Orthopaedics/P.N. Diploma/Triage/Minor Illness certificate.   I completed my basic nurse training in North Wales in 1976, working at the local NHS Hospital for 20 years working in Medicine for 8 years, then after completing my training in Orthopaedics/Trauma in 1985 worked in this field until moving to Kent in 1996. I worked briefly at the Minor Injuries Unit in Sevenoaks. I decided to change direction in my nursing and joined Amherst in 1997. I have since completed my Practice Nurse Diploma in1999, triage/minor illness certificate in 2001. I have now completed my study at South Bank University and am now able to prescribe. I recently moved to Pembury and have a very active son who keeps me very busy.

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Melanie Perry

Melanie Perry RGN.SCM.   I qualified as a State Registered Nurse in London in 1972. I worked firstly as a Staff Nurse on a male surgical ward at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for one year before going to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to commence midwifery training. The second part of the midwifery training was at Cuckfield Hospital in West Sussex and included home births in the community. By then I had qualified as an SCM. After one year as a staff midwife I then became midwifery sister at Cuckfield Hospital for the following 5 years. From 1978 I became midwifery sister at Guy’s Hospital, initially on the labour ward. Subsequently, I became the sister in charge at the antenatal clinic at Guy’s Hospital. During this time I contributed to the book (Breast is Best) concerned with midwifery and motherhood and I was involved in teaching parent craft. In 1983 I left the profession to start my family and then, having updated my nursing qualifications, I returned to practice Nursing at the Amherst in April 1996.

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Alison Wertheim

Alison Wertheim .   I completed my nursing training at Guys Hospital London in 1982 and after working there as a staff nurse moved to Australia for 3 years. Family life and 3 children took up all my time until 1997 when I returned to nursing and worked at the Hospice in the Weald. I now work as senior nurse at Sevenoaks School responsible for the health of 450 boarders, day pupils and staff, and part time as a practice Nurse at the Amherst Medical Practice.

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Jan Woolley

Jan Woolley RGN OND(hons) BSc(hons) Nurse Practitioner.   II completed my general training at The Royal London Hospital in 1979. Since that time I have worked at St. Thomas Hospital and Moorfield’s Eye Hospital, where I completed the Ophthalmic Nursing Diploma and Ophthalmic casualty course. I then moved to Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup after getting married, where I worked as senior staff nurse until leaving to start a family. I returned to nursing as a Sister at the Pantiles Nursing Home in Tunbridge Wells before commencing my career in Practice Nursing at Yalding Surgery. I have been at the Amherst now for nearly 7 years, having completed the Community Health Care Nursing Diploma, Family Planning training, Asthma Diploma, together with various other ENB courses including wound care. I have completed my BSc at South Bank University in Summer 2005 and am now a fully qualified Nurse Practitioner and am able to prescribe. I have a very non-medical husband and 2 teenage sons.

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Tina Taylor

Tina Taylor - Health Care Assistant   I joined the practice two years ago, having spent 5 years previously working with the School Nursing Team. General Practice was completely new to me, but I have found it very challenging and rewarding. Since joining I have developed many new skills, but in the main I specialise in Hypertension and COPD. I live in Sevenoaks with my family.

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Lynne Valder

Lynne Valder - Health Care Assistant   My nursing career has now spanned thirty-five years working continuously in the National Health Service. In July 9169 I began my employment within Sevenoaks Hospital but in the summer of 1978 my future changed direction when I joined the Community Nursing Team. At this time I was allocated patients from the Sevenoaks GP practices until 1990 when I began to work solely for the Amherst Medical Practice. During the last five years I have been involved in the weekly ulcer clinic and I undertook further training in phlebotomy. My most challenging and rewarding work is with the terminally ill. Having worked within the community it was a natural progression for me to become a part time member of the Amherst Nursing team in the afternoons whilst I still retain my morning job in the community. I live in Sevenoaks with my husband and have two daughters and four randchildren.My hobbies include ballet and classical music but I also assist with the Tunbridge Wells swimming club where I have recently completed two years as their president.

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