Medical Chambers: Newsletter March 2024

Spring is springing and the clocks change on the 31st March, so we have lighter nights to look forward to.

Bookings are holding up but are limited with many practices taking advantage of the funding available for other staff such as paramedics etc. This is a national issue and is being taken up by a variety of groups including the BMA.

Andy at the beginning of January stepped back from Chambers clinically but himself, Julie, Hester, and Zoe remain as clinical directors liaising with NB Medical who now oversee the marketing and excellent administration support for Chambers (Carole and Sarah) Carolyn and I plan to continue to support members going forward with the monthly chambers meeting, 1:1 support and signposting and What’s App communication.

We thank you for all your skills and communication and we want to use the rest of this newsletter to outline the communication pathways going forward. Administration

Administration

If you are not a member of the What’s App group, please reach out and we will welcome you. We have two groups split East and West across the patch. These are active groups and offer instant clinical support as well as updates and chat. Members can choose either or both group membership and Carolyn and Kirsty cross cover both groups.

Out of office hours: ImpaxHub has an emergency contact function (this sends an out of hours email to admin@medical-chambers.com).

During office hours 8am-5pm Mon to Fri: Telephone - 01904 297 995 and via a new works MESSAGING ONLY service on What’s App number- 07842 114473.

Meet your Clinical Leads

My name is Kirsty and I am the Clinical Lead for West Yorkshire members.

I am available on my e-mail: Kirsty@medical-chambers.com and mobile/ What’s App: 07889 647417.

I work a salaried GP at Collingham Church View Surgery Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and a GP Trainer) as well as working for GPM+ as a coach/mentor and as an NHS GP Appraiser.

My previous roles have included Senior Clinical Lecturer at The Academic Unit of Primary Care, University of Leeds and Deputy Director of Postgarduate General Practice and Yorkshire and Humber Health Education England.

I am a single mother of two teenagers and a rescue dog from Greece (Olive) and two rescue cats.

My name is Carolyn Forrest, and I am the Clinical Lead for York and Harrogate area Chambers. 

I am available on my e-mail: Carolyn@medical-chambers.com and mobile/What’s App: 07971 882308.

I have been a member of The Medical Chambers since I completed my GP training in 2015. I initially started as Full time but joined a Partnership in York in 2016 and since then have locumed 1-2 sessions a week. I enjoy the variety and freedom that being a Chambers locum gives me alongside my Partnership. 

Outside work, I have a Teen and a Tween and can often be spotted on the touchline as a volunteer First Aider for my son's Rugby Team. I am a regular runner (neither far nor fast) and love a good book. 

Working as a Clinical Lead feels like a great way to give back after the support that Chambers has given me. It's lovely to meet Locums coming through my Practice and when I am at locum sessions elsewhere. I hope that we offer a safe and supportive environment, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Please do contact me with suggestions for clinical meetings!!

Meet your admin team

My name is Sarah Marquis-Linley. I'm the Recruitment and Experience Manager for Chambers now. I'm also the other part of the team (with Carole) that keeps you all organised. My job is to get to know you and your preferences, and I love nothing more than going above and beyond for our members and practices. I joined The Medical Chambers in 2020 and my background was in Learning and Development for a leading insurance company, and I’ve spent many years developing my fantastic customer service skills so I’m able to put you at the heart of everything we do. On a personal note, I live with my partner Niki, 10-year-old daughter Lola and a 6-month-old working cocker spaniel called Stevie (named after Stevie Nicks). I'm a keen runner and Instagram user, but It's all trail running/family/hiking/spaniel related content!

My name is Carole Noble I am the Bookings and Finance Manager for Chambers. I'm the go-to for all invoicing and pension-related queries. I've been the stalwart of the organisation in all its various guises, since 2011. Before The Medical Chambers, I worked as an accountant and in accounts departments for a few different companies. I worked for a short time in both Australia and New Zealand before settling down to have my children. My most recent exciting moment was when I was awarded my 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo!

Upcoming meetings & Social gatherings

These occur monthly at 7pm on the last Thursday of each month and are bookable by Eventbrite. We have a lot of experience in our members and welcome events from them as well as our alumni members.

Au Revoir, Goodbye and Thank you

We remain closed to new members and have lost a few of our cherished members for a variety of good reasons since Jan 2024.

Ally Fields: Leeds – Retiring

Angela Anderson: York – Retiring

Vanessa Martin: York – Leaving for maternity leave

Useful Updates

We will continue to circulate slides and relevant links following chambers monthly meetings.

The following are regular update general newsletters you can subscribe to:

https://www.westyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/

https://www.leedslmc.org/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/