A Short History and Profile of the Partnership now practicing as
Drs. Brown, Nyholm, Thebridge, Rashiq, Sabir, Rashid,
Raghunathan, Trent and Ahmed
September 2013
History of the Practice
Origins......
The Practice has been in existence for over a hundred years and has seen not only
changes in the Partnership but also changes in the premises occupied by the
doctors. The Practice was originally established in a large semi-detached house
(Norfolk House) at No.15 Blake Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham. Records show that
the building was constructed in 1872 and the first listed resident was a Mrs. Parsons
who occupied the house from 1898 to 1901.
Medical practice began with the arrival of Dr. William George Thomas MRCS LRCP
who worked and lived in the Blake Lane property from 1902 - 1909. The Practice
was taken over by Dr. Harold Ernest Heapy MD MRCS who provided a medical
service to local residents from 1910 until the beginning of the Second World War in
1939. Dr. Heapy was joined in partnership from 1931 - 1937 by Dr. Reginald
Abrahams MB ChB.
Dr. Ernest George Gregory took over the practice in 1939 and maintained the list
during the very difficult war years in this part of industrial Birmingham. In 1948 he
was joined by Dr. Eric George Williamson who had returned from Army service in
India. The Practice grew in size and strength such that a third doctor was needed;
Dr. Donald Henry Ellis MB ChB, a Birmingham graduate who had been brought up
locally, was appointed in 1951.
The expansion of the Practice required larger premises and the Partnership
incorporated the adjoining house at 17 Blake Lane. It also set up a branch surgery
around the corner at 63 Finnemore Road, the house where Dr. Williamson lived. In
1972 it was decided that purpose built accommodation at 73-77 Yardley Green
Road would provide a better environment for the growth of the practice and the
doctors moved into new local authority owned premises attached to the old
school clinic. This Health Centre was shared with Dr. E. I. James, Dr. J. A. Benbow,
Dr. G. Jones and Dr. A. Martin, other long established local doctors. 1972 also
marked the arrival of the first female partner to join the Practice - Dr. Margaret
Austin.
Both practices working from Yardley Green Health Centre continued to grow and
provide an expanding range of services over the next two decades. Somewhat
inevitably, it became clear that larger and more modern accommodation was
required. In the mid 1990’s, the two practices worked closely together to purchase
the land and build a new medical facility on the old health centre site. A year was
spent in temporary accommodation adjacent to the construction site and the
new Yardley Green Medical Centre was completed in November 1995. We were
delighted to receive a formal opening from HRH The Duchess of Gloucester on
March 14th 1996.
Yardley Green Medical Centre
The building houses two general medical practices – Dr Brown and Partners to the
right, (looking at the building from the car park) and Dr Storer and Partners to the
left. Although independent organisations, the practices work closely together in
areas of mutual interest such as running the building. The central first floor
accommodation is leased to attached staff who are employed by Birmingham
Cross City CCG. Both the District Nursing and Health Visiting Teams are of a high
caliber. They are attached nominally to each practice, although work together
from the same base.
Building Expansion and Evolution into the ‘Omnia Practice’
Such is the nature of the individuals within the Partnership that from the moment
we moved into the new premises, we were aware that expansion would be
needed. We feel that the future demands of the NHS present challenges and
opportunities that are firmly in the interests of our patients but require a larger
practice list size to support the required practice infrastructure. As the changes in
General Practice contractual arrangements have emerged the Practice became
more convinced expansion was necessary in order to continue to be at the
innovative edge of family medicine. With an expanding population as younger
families moved in the opportunity was there.
From 2003 the practice has seen steady growth in size, increasing from 7,200 to
currently over 11,600 patients in 2008 and we have now reached a figure of 15,500
in September 2013. Services and staff have increased to meet that need. For the
first time, we are the largest practice in the locality. We believe that this growth is
related to the wide range of services that are available to our patients, offering
the choices in health care to meet their needs and a culture of embracing
change.
More women partners have been recruited together with specialist practice nurses
to support the developing clinic structures. The extra demand on space due to the
expansion in clinical activity had left the existing building that seemed so spacious
in 1996, too small for our current and future needs.
We were able to purchase land to the side of the medical centre and the newly
expanded building became operational in 2008.
The Partnership owns the current building and it is supported by loans from GPFC
under the cost and notional rent scheme. The new building gives us much
extended clinical and non clinical areas with an education facility upstairs for the
training of doctors, nurses and other related health care groups.
CCG staff occupies parts of the first floor accommodation and they will have
some access to clinical space on the ground floor.
The scheme also gave us an opportunity to invite a pharmacy into the building.
Lloyds took up the challenge of providing a 100 hour service and is open until
11pm 7 days a week with direct access to the pharmacy from within the building.
We felt it was important to create an identity that was not solely linked to the
building and that could live on through future partnership changes. The result of a
period of reflection within the whole team was the name ‘Omnia’. Meaning
‘everything/everyone’ in Latin and ‘wish’ in Arabic; we believe that the name
meets our aspirations and philosophy.
Current Demography
The practice provides general medical and other services for approximately 15,500
patients in a relatively deprived, culturally and ethnically diverse area of East
Birmingham. The practice area stretches from Small Heath and Bordesley Green
into areas of greater prosperity in Yardley and Sheldon and out to the city
boundary. The current defined practice area encompasses the Birmingham
Electoral Wards of B9, B10 and B25 but given the movements of patients through
the area, we are usually flexible about the issue of changing doctors where
patients remain within a reasonably close distance of the practice.
The Partnership
The Partnership operates a structure whereby nominated Partners take
responsibility for different areas of running of practice activity and nGMS. The
individuals work within agreed Partnership boundaries and report back at regular
Partners meetings, and where relevant, to the whole Team. Protected time is
allowed within the working week for them to carry out activities. The practice has
always endeavored to operate a democratic structure such that individuals can
gain experience of running the business and learn to use and develop relevant
skills and aptitudes. Three Executive Partners undertake the day to day running of
Partnership and practice business. Responsibility for such roles is re-visited on an
annual basis.
Practice Staff
The Practice staff work closely with the doctors to provide an efficient medical
service and a high level of customer care. Our Practice Business Manager, Mr
Stephen O’Halloran was appointed in December 2012 and as well as heading up
the finance team he is also responsible for the smooth running of the practice
overall.
He works closely with our Assistant Manager, Ann Ross who has
responsibility for buildings management and IT and line manages Reception. IT
support services are currently provided by the CCG. We have a most committed
and able team who participate in practice activities such as health promotion,
patient participation and carers’ groups. We operate a strict line management
approach to the organisation of the practice and Partners have individual roles in
relation to the different activities and aspects of running the business.
Organisational Development
Our Business Manager, Stephen O’Halloran has overall responsibility for the
development of the practice and his experience outside the NHS running a firm
and also his background in banking should give us the additional expertise in
looking to meet the challenges that the NHS clearly intends should come the way
of general practice in the years ahead. The Executive partners work closely with
the Business / Practice Manager to support the role.
Staff Training and Development
The practice has taken a proactive role in this most important area. Every member
of staff has regular and effective support to develop their individual skills, address
needs and look to future goals. The Staff are encouraged to attend appropriate
external educational activities for both their own needs and to meet the growing
demands of life at the practice.
We hold a clinical education meeting on Thursday lunchtimes, which include
specialist speakers, SEA reviews, topical training, and presentations on new
services. We encourage all clinical staff to put forward topics /items for the
meetings rota (see ‘Education’ below).
The surgery closes on a Friday at lunchtime for an hour to facilitate meeting and
training time for the reception and administration team.
‘Practice Away Days’ are held at least annually to encourage team development
and work on specific goals or projects to help our strategic planning and also
ensue that we have an enjoyable afternoon!
We believe we have in place a highly motivated team who are encouraged to
fulfill their individual potential.
Nursing Services
We currently employ five practice nurses and four health care assistants. Our
practice nurses have a variety of specialist interests and qualifications, including
asthma, diabetes, sexual health, coronary heart disease and epilepsy
management. Our three highly experienced nurse practitioners see patients with
the duty doctor and others providing support in delivering urgent care.
The nursing team plays a significant role in delivery of the new contract – both for
QOF and enhanced services. The nursing team role has changed considerably
over the past few years and new developments continue apace. We are keen to
embrace new concepts and ideas and fulfill the potential of our practice nurses
and HCAs.
The Nurses have a Nurse Team Leader, Sue Daly. There is dedicated time for the
nurses to meet and exchange ideas and plan activities. They all have personal
development plans and receive support in working to meet both the team and
personal educational needs. Mentoring with a Partner as needed aims to support
the extended role of the nurses in our employ. They also work closely with our
District Nursing team to provide a coordinated service for our patients.
Clinical Spines
As a result of the expanding size of the practice, we have now established a
clinical spine structure in the practice to undertake more in depth work related to
various clinical areas. Clinical and non-clinical staff are involved in these spines
which endeavor to ensure that the patient pathway in various areas is smooth and
reflects changing clinical practice. This multidisciplinary approach has led to the
setting up of clinical spines in diabetes, sexual health and respiratory medicine. In
addition we look at heart disease, rheumatology monitoring and set up irregular
spines to deal with such issues as the annual flu vaccination programme. This
development has been shown to be a most effective way of working and provides
a robust structure for the clinical team to respond to new and on-going
challenges.
Education
Thursday Lunchtime Education Meetings The clinicians in the practice meet for an
hour each Thursday in term time to participate in a programme of planned
education. Doctors and nursing staffs are asked to actively participate by taking
responsibility for the meetings. Each member of the team is encouraged to look at
their own needs assessment – we endeavour to meet as many of these needs as
possible within the framework of the programme. There is a mixture of outside
speakers, internal presentations, regular SEA discussion, palliative care reviews and
clinical topic presentations. These meetings are vital for the educational health of
the practice and the high attendance levels by not only practice clinicians but
also CCG staff demonstrate how much the opportunity for such meetings is
valued.
GP Training We became a training practice in August 2000 shortly after Dr Nyholm
and Dr Martin were appointed as trainers. Dr Rashiq is now an established GP
trainer and we believe that the practice is in a position to provide a robust and
exciting programme of teaching and experience for young doctors who wish to
gain MRCGP. The whole primary health care team is committed to GP training and
the registrars become closely integrated with the practice team during their stay
with us. We are approved for Registrar posts together with F2 teaching, FCS and
Retainer Scheme posts. The practice can provide a breadth of patient experience
and clinical expertise to give the GP Registrar a stretching educational experience
that should give them a firm foundation for a future career in primary care. We aim
to show them how clinicians with complementary skills and experience can work
constructively and happily together in the interests of patient care and yet reflect
the changes and modernisation under which we must all work. Omnia has been
an ‘advanced training practice’ for 2 years and hope that we can offer the range
of experience and deliver the support needed by some of our trainees.
Undergraduate Teaching We are also able to offer one month attachments to
students from University College London Medical School who are approaching the
end of their training.
Contraception and Sexual Health Teaching.DFSRH The practice has a depth of
experience in sexual health and contraception provided by the female doctors in
particular and ably supported by Helen Taylor, our sexual health nurses who had a
previous life as a health adviser but also fits coils and contraceptive implants at the
practice. Apart from the clinical service we teaching in this area is a weekly
activity – we run 3-4 DFSRH Course of 5 programmes annually in support of those
wishing to gain the Diploma of the FSRH. Such trainees are then able to come
back to the practice for practical training – this is all advertised on the practice
website.
Out of Hours
Under the new GP Contract, all the Partners chose to retain their responsibility for
Out of Hours. This reflects the strength of our local GP Co-operative (BADGER –
Birmingham and District General Emergency Room Ltd) whose membership
enables doctors to contribute sessions if they wish but does not oblige them to do
so. Badger operates from premises at Glover Street close by in Bordesley Green
where the phone base is sited and there are currently five treatment centres
where patients may attend when the surgery is closed – at Birmingham Heartlands,
Good Hope Hospital, Selly Oak Hospital and Solihull Hospital.
Some of the doctors elect to work within BADGER by personal arrangement and
the organisation provides ample opportunity for GP Registrar training to meet the
requirements of MRCGP.
Computerisation
The Practice has been fully computerised (Vision) for many years and we are now
paper- light. All our pathology results are directly linked into the system, all incoming post is work flowed through the network and any forms or correspondence
that have not been integrated into the system are scanned onto the patients
records.
Patient self check in integrates with the Vision system and the two terminals
facilitate the more efficient flow of patients as they come into reception.
We established a direct connection to the Heart of England Intranet in 2004, which
the clinical team use regularly to check progress on results and referrals for our
patients.
The Vision system is now integrated with ‘Choose and Book’ and Electronic
Prescribing. Although working in a paper-light environment is now second nature
to us, the development in the computerisation of the Practice has been quite
dramatic from a situation 8 years ago when we were not even connected to the
Internet!
GP computer systems always present challenges and we plan to migrate to a
cloud based service in the near future.
Diagnostic Services
These are currently provided by George Elliott NHS Trust, Nuneaton who send a
phlebotomist to take blood at the practice and visit patients at home when
necessary. X-rays are undertaken by Heartlands Hospital who provide open access
for a range of procedures.
nGMS
The whole practice team embraced the challenges of the New GP Contract and
has worked energetically toward our goal of achieving maximum QOF points. We
have sustained a record of high achievement in this respect, gaining close to
maximum achievable points each year.
We also provide enhanced services in the following areas:
• Specialised Sexual Health
• Women’s Health – IUD, Endometrial Biopsy, Implants and Contraception only
Patients
• Nursing Homes –we look after Kingfisher Nursing Home and Herondale (an EMI
home)
• Minor surgery
• Wound care
• Child Immunisations
• Insulin initiation
• Drug Misuse
• Disease modifying drugs
• Zoladex
• Anticoagulation monitoring
• Flu and
Pneumococcal immunisation
Current Activities As well as the enhanced services, the practice provides specialist
clinics in the following areas:
• Diabetes
• Leg Ulcer
• Epilepsy
• Mental Health
• Coronary Heart Disease • Continence• Travel Vaccinations
• COPD
Physiotherapy and chiropody are provided within the practice - both offer an
excellent service for our patients with very short waiting times.
The community midwives (from Heartlands Hospital) attend the joint ante-natal
clinics twice weekly.
Practice based support from a Community Psychiatric Team is provided by two
mental health workers employed by our Mental Health Trust. They are able to see
our patients for counselling and provide a link with the Mental Health Team.A
representative from the Citizens Advice Bureau offers a weekly surgery for advice.
Our Vision
The Practice is proud of its achievements to date, but also aware of what more we
can do. Primary Care at its best can achieve significant benefits for the patients it
serves and we as a team have and will continue to respond to that challenge.
Our aim is to be a dynamic and evolving organisation that is flexible and able to
respond to and influence the changes in primary health care provision that will
inevitably continue for the foreseeable future. We are in a strong position to
respond to the challenges of the changing NHS in the interest of enhanced
patient and population health.
Activities of the Current Partners
• Dr Neil Brown o Diabetes Lead
• Dr Elizabeth Nyholm (Executive Partner) o GP trainer o Accredited Family
Planning Instructing Doctor o Hon Keele Clinical Teacher
• Dr Peter Thebridge (Executive Partner) o Clinical Vice-Chair of Birmingham
CrossCity CCG and former Chair of the Professional Executive Committee,
Birmingham East and North PCT o Local medical examiner for the DVLA o
Responsible for Herondale Nursing Home
• Dr Hunaid (H) Rashiq (Executive Partner) o GP Trainero Clinical Assistant at
Birmingham Chest Clinic (1 session weekly) o Lead GP for Respiratory Medicine in
the Practice
• Dr Asad Sabir o Joined the practice in Aug 2006
o IT Lead or practice and
special interest in diabetes o Member of Birmingham LMC
• Dr Haroon Rashid o Rejoined the practice in Aug 2007 having previously been
our GP Registrar o Mental Health Lead
• Dr Sunita Raghunathan o rejoined the practice in 2010 having also been a GP
Registrar with Omnia. She has special interests in diabetes and sexual health
• Dr Madeleine Trent o Joined the Partnership in 2010 and Leads on Coronary
Heart Disease with interests also in sexual health and child health.

Dr Ahsan Ahmed – special interest in diabetes
Other Doctors currently working at the Practice
Salaried Doctors: Dr Marie Iszatt - Lead for Drug Misuse
Dr Helen Walt – retired from the Partnership 2010. Child Health and Dermatology
GP Registrars:
September 2013 – Dr Mohammed Faraaz, Dr Imran Yakub, Dr Sanoj Francis