MB ChB DRCOG MRCGP DFSRH (Qualified Edinburgh 1984)

Dr Brooks is approved to carry out OGUK Medicals. Contact reception initially to arrange an appointment.

MBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFSRH (Qualified London 1994)

BSc MBChB (Qualified Manchester 1985)

Senior Nurse Practitioner

MSc Advanced Nursing Practice, RCN Approved Nurse Practitioner, Independent & Supplementary Prescriber, BA Community Care (Hons), Specialist Practitioner Home Nursing, RGN

Clare O’Sullivan, our Senior Practitioner, is a registered nurse who is clinically trained to assess, diagnose and treat patients to Advanced Nurse Practitioner level.  She is highly skilled and has expertise in caring for patients with minor illnesses and conditions.  She can prescribe and refer.  She works closely with the Doctors in the Practice.

Click here for more information about what the Senior Practitioner can treat

We have highly trained Practice nurses working in both surgeries. All are trained to RGN (Registered General Nurse) standard. In addition to the traditional nursing tasks such as immunisations, wound dressing, stitch removal, ear syringing etc. They offer specialist advice/screening in a number of areas (see below). They have obtained diabetic and asthma diplomas through university accredited training. They have also achieved the Cervical & Breast Screening Certificate through the Marie Curie training programme. They attend regular short courses as part of their professional development plans.

• Family Planning 
• Well Woman (including cervical smears) 
• Asthma 
• Diabetes 
• Hypertension (Blood Pressure) 
• Prevention of Heart Disease and Strokes 
• Travel Advice 

The Management Partner has the difficult task of keeping the Practice running smoothly. She is responsible for the day to day management of the Practice and is bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors and nurses.

Our administration team and receptionists are fully trained and have a difficult job to do. They are the first point of contact for most patients. They help each patient make the best use of the practice resources, answering the telephones, making appointments, updating the computer and taking requests for repeat prescriptions, consultations, visits, etc. As part of their Personal Development Plans, they have successfully completed accredited training through the Practice Receptionist Programme. They are also bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors and nurses.

The Midwives deal with pregnant women before birth in antenatal clinics and relaxation classes, during delivery of the baby and care for mother and baby on their return home from hospital. They run antenatal clinics and work in collaboration with the GPs and hospital specialists. They can be contacted on Thurso 896990.

The District Nursing staff do some of their own work in the surgery but most of their duties are carried out in the patient’s home, offering general nursing care, changing dressings, removing sutures, ear syringing, taking blood and doing other procedures for patients who cannot get to the surgery.

Our attached Health Visitors have an office in the Thurso Community Health Centre and can be contacted there by telephone (Thurso 893442). Health Visitors can give advice on health care particularly for expectant mothers, young children the elderly and the chronic sick. If you have a problem with your health they can often put you in touch with sources of help.

Our health care team also includes a Community Psychiatric Nurse and Community Occupational Therapists. The social work department will be able to help you with problems relating to housing and finance as well as caring for the young, elderly or those with special needs or learning difficulties. They are now responsible for the placement of the elderly in residential and nursing homes. Because of the Care in the Community provisions everybody has a right to direct access to the social services through their local Duty Care Manager.