A TEESDALE medical practice has announced a series of projects aimed at getting doctors and health professionals more involved in the community.
The Old Forge Surgery, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, will hold an open evening on June 13 to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. It’s a chance for people to find out more about the surgery and its new vision.
Managing partner at the surgery Stephanie Connolly said: “We want to show we are more than a GP practice, more than somewhere to go when you are ill. We want to be part of the local community. The open event will allow residents from up and down the dale a chance to see the workings of the practice first hand. It is a great opportunity for anyone who is even slightly interested to come along and see what goes on behind the scenes.”
Doors are open from 5.30pm to 7pm and refreshments will be available.
The Old Forge Surgery has been involved in giving career advice at The Hub, in Barnard Castle, to people thinking of taking up medicine as a profession.
Ms Connolly said: “There are many career opportunities within the NHS and we want to offer young hopefuls advice on how to prepare themselves when applying to medical schools.”
She added: “We are pleased that we can offer the right candidates work experience in the surgery which would include making observations throughout the practice.”
As part of the surgery’s effors to take the practice outside the walls of the surgery, senior partners Dr Heather MacConachie and Dr Christopher Markwick have been visiting the auction mart to provide free health checks
Ms Connolly said: “Rural life can be very hectic and people just don’t make time to visit the doctors – health problems can go undetected for years. It’s not unusual to come across someone who hasn’t seen a doctor for at least 40 years.”
Staff have also been out and about visiting primary schools and giving advice to children. Pupils from Cotherstone, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Forest of Teesdale schools have all benefitted from hand hygiene sessions by nurse practitioner, Sally Baker.
Pupils at Brough were visited by Dr Markwick who talked to them about stethoscopes and joints. Other projects in the pipeline include a carers coffee and cake hour where carers can pop in and chat to experts who will be on hand to give help and advice and ensure people have access to the support services they need. There are also plans for a cancer support group.
Ms Connelly said. “We also intend to take weight management to the next level. We are hoping to get a local chef to demonstrate and prepare healthy family meals from ingredients that are available from local shops, including the Co-op.”
Anyone interested in any of these projects can contact the surgery on 01833 640217.
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
