Taunton Road Medical Centre is approved for post-graduate training of doctors in General Practice (called Registrars). We usually have two GP Registrars attached to the Practice for periods of up to one year. They are fully qualified, experienced doctors who are well able to deal with your clinical problems with the benefit of recent hospital experience. They are with us to gain additional knowledge of family medicine before becoming GPs in their own Practices. As we are a training Practice you may be asked to allow your consultation with a doctor to be video-recorded. This is done solely for training purposes; the tapes remain confidential and will be destroyed after use. You have the right to refuse either before, during or after your consultation.

When requesting an appointment you may be asked if your problem is something the Nurse Practitioner can deal with as they will be able to diagnose and treat your condition. They can also prescribe medication. Nurse Practitioners have completed extensive specialist training in diagnosis, examination, disease management and prescribing to enable them to see and treat patients. If you require an appointment for any of the following; sore throats, ear infections, conjunctivitis, asthma, chest infection, urine infections, vaginal infections, rashes or other common ailments, you can be seen by the Nurse Practitioner. We also have specialist nurses trained in the management of asthma, chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD), diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), family planning and kidney disease.

We have a team of Practice Nurses. They carry out a wide range of services such as blood tests, dressings, blood pressure monitoring, ear syringing, ECGs, immunisations, family planning advice, cervical smears, menopause checks, coil checks, asthma checks, diabetes, heart disease, leg ulcer management and anti- coagulation monitoring. They also offer advice on a wide range of health related matters including smoking cessation, diet, alcohol intake, flu vaccinations and travel advice.

Healthcare Assistants carry out blood pressure checks, blood tests and other routine tests. They also assist the GPs.

The reception staff play a key role in ensuring you receive the best service from the Practice. They are there to help you and to arrange appointments, deal with your requests for telephone consultations or arrange a home visit. When you request an appointment or home visit the receptionists have been directed by the GPs to ask you a few questions relating to your medical condition, in order to make the most appropriate appointment, so please help them to help you by giving them some information. The receptionists are trained to act on the information you give them in a discreet and confidential manner. This is essential to help the doctors and nursing staff to deal with your request appropriately and allocate the most appropriate appointment. You will always be treated with respect and the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence, as all staff are bound by the same codes of conduct as the doctors. Occasionally things can happen to cause delays which are not the fault of the receptionist, so please bear with them. We have other administrative staff who will often be seen in the reception area but don't work in reception. They process patient referrals, maintain records, liaise with various authorities and deal will the day-today administration.