The Doctors
Dr Joanna Hesse MBBCh MRCGP DRCOG DCH(SA) DFFP
Qualified in Johannesburg in 1999. She has lived on the IOW with her husband and family since 2002. She speaks conversational Polish and has a special interest in women's and child health.
Dr Spencer Fox MBBS BSc (Hons) MRCGP (2006)
Qualified at St George's in London in 1998. He joined the practice in June 2011. He is married with three children. He has a special interest in medical education.
Dr Kate Cambridge MBBS MRCGP DRCOG
Qualified at University of East Anglia in 2008. She joined the practice in 2017. She is married with one child. She has a special interest in mental health.
The partners practise together as a non-limited partnership.
The Staff
Practice Manager - Jon Matthews
Jon's job is to promote an efficient and smooth-running practice. So if you have any problems or suggestions to do with the practice, he will be pleased to discuss them with you.
Receptionists
We ask that every patient shows respect and understanding when speaking to our receptionists. They work very hard to assist you and have a difficult job to do.
Please remember that if you are asked some apparently irritating questions, it is because we need to ascertain the urgency of some requests. If you are kept waiting, it is because the doctor sometimes needs to spend longer with a patient than has been allowed. We will, however, endeavour to keep you informed if the doctor has been delayed for any reason.
Salaried GPs
Dr Caroline MB Fawcett MBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFFP DCHDP
Qualified at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1998. She has 20 years experience as a GP and joined the practice in September 2021. She lives with her partner and three children. She has a special interest in women’s health and mental health.
Dr Al Gove, MBBS, MRCP(1988) MRCGP (1988) DRCoG
Qualified in London in 1981, joined the practice in 2002 Special interest in Holistic medicine.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners
Lorraine Rideout and Jayne Fairbrother work as Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP). An Advanced nurse practitioner has undertaken additional education and training in order to provide advanced nursing care and to prescribe.
The Advanced Nurse Practitioners can provide treatment and advice for many problems for which you have seen a doctor for in the past. The main areas of expertise are in the management of common illnesses in both adults and children.
Practice Nurses
The practice nurses are available by appointment for a variety of clinics inclusing childhood immunisations, dressings, removal of stitches, travel, immunisations, advice etc. Each nurse has a special interest within the practice ie Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease and family planning. We also have three healthcare assistants who assist the nurses.
Nurses or doctors are happy to speak to patients on the telephone. They may not be available at the time of your call but the receptionist will take a number and the call will be returned at the earliest opportunity.
Chaperone Policy
If an intimate examination is necessary during a consultation, you may wish to have a chaperone present. Please ask a doctor or nurse.
Practice Pharmacists
Dr Rachel Howard MRPharmS IP PhD
Rachel has been a pharmacist for more than 20 years. She specialises in seeing patients on multiple medicines, helping them to manage their medicines and reduce the number of medicines they take.
Rachel is an independent prescriber, meaning she can alter medications for conditions already diagnosed by a doctor and start new prescriptions. She runs medication review clinics on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (by appointment).
Heather Ebdon MPharm
Heather has been a pharmacist for ten years, working initially in Secondary Care before moving to Primary Care in 2020. Heather's role is to help support with the management of day-to-day medication queries, manage medication shortages, review patients in Care Homes on multiple medications regimes or those with complex medication regimes.
Paramedic
Alistair Drover BSc
Alistair has worked as a Paramedic for more than 20 years, initally working on ambulances and rapid response cars and later providing support for the GP Out of Hours Service. In 2020 Alistair moved to Primary Care, joining the Esplanade Surgery. A qualified prescriber, Alistair's main role is to undertake visits to patients in their own homes or in Care Homes.
Midwife
She looks after mothers during their pregnancy and may refer to the hospital consultant if necessary. For 10 days following delivery, she cares for mother and baby. She can be contacted via the Maternity Unit on 534392.
Health Visitors
They look after the welfare of mothers, babies and children under five years, promoting a safe and healthy family lifestyle. They also provide support for the elderly and patients with emotional and social problems. They are available for telephone advice every weekday between 9.00am to 10.00am on Ryde 613846 and hold a clinic for all mothers on Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 4.30pm and Thursdays from 9.30am to 12.30pm. The health visitor will advise mothers of the venue as this is subject to change.
Community Nurses
There is a community nursing team attached to the surgery. Their primary role is to provide continuation of care in the community at the request of the hospital or the practice doctors. They also look after our housebound patients. They can be contacted on 611246 / 611534 between 9.00am and 5.00pm on weekdays.
District Nurses
There is a district nursing team attached to the surgery. Their primary role is to provide continuation of care in the community at the request of the hospital or the practice doctors and also for our housebound patients. They can be contacted on 01983 552553 between 9.00am and 5.00pm on weekdays.
Training of Young Doctors And Medical Students
It is the policy of the partners to assist with training of aspirants in the medical profession and on occasions your doctor may have a student with them when you attend for a consultation. You will be informed beforehand, but if you prefer to be seen alone please let the receptionist know at the time.
Patients' Rights And Responsibilities
We believe that all our patients have a right to be treated politely, without discrimination and in confidence. In return we expect patients to treat our staff courteously. Verbal abuse will not be tolerated. The police will be called to assist in the event of displays of violent behaviour, the patient will be removed from the practice list, and the Primary Care Trust notified.