Ash Vale Health Centre is fortunate to have the services of a wide range of other healthcare specialists. The services provided are explained below.

Practice Manager 

Mrs Pam Dickens supervises the smooth running of the non-medical side of the practice. She is most happy to discuss constructive suggestions and deal with any Health Centre issues on which you may be unhappy. All members of the Health Centre team believe that good communication is good general practice.

Mrs Val Marshall is a registered nurse who has undergone an additional 3-year training programme to gain the degree-level qualification of Nurse Practitioner. She can offer direct access to give assessment of problems and health needs, using skills not usually exercised by nurses. These include physical examinations and planning and implementing a programme of care.

The Health Centre has four practice nurses and a phlebotomist (a person trained to take blood) based in the treatment room. They run many of the Health Centre specialised clinics and can be consulted by appointment to treat certain conditions, including;

They also syringe ears to remove excess wax, but you should use a wax softener (available from any pharmacy) for 3 days prior to treatment.

We are fortunate to have a team of district nurses based at the Health Centre with whom the doctors can discuss treatment in the community. The district nurses take referrals from the doctors, local hospitals and social services. As well as routine district nursing duties, the district nurses are very involved in helping carers in the community and attending those in need of terminal care. Patients can contact the district nurses via the Health Centre switchboard.

Mrs June Dyne offers the services of the midwifery team from Frimley Park Hospital,  Mrs Amelia Grundy  provides midwifery services for the Royal Surrey County Hospital.  

They provide an antenatal service from pre-conception until 10 days after the baby is born. They will help you through the first stages of your pregnancy, giving understanding and experience at a time when you will appreciate it the most. You should make a booking Appointment as soon as you know that you are pregnant by telephoning 01252 317551.

Surrey Hampshire Borders Trust provides mental Health Services at the Health Centre. Our contacts are Mrs Karen Duckenfield and Miss Debbie Dew for adult patients and Mrs Sandra Fleming for elderley patients. They are all Community Psychiatric Nurses. They take referrals from the doctors, health visitors, local hospitals and social services as well as the continuing care of clients already under the care of our local Consultant Psychiatrist Dr J Perera.

The Health Centre has 2 health visitors whose main responsibilities are the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the early detection of ill health. They provide continuing care for mothers, babies and children under 5 years of age as well as giving advice and support on all aspects of child development, nutrition and family life.

They can also provide advice to all other members of the family, including the elderly and the handicapped. Access to your health visitor is available directly by phoning 01252 317551, or through your doctor.

The health visitors run ‘Drop-in’ child health clinics at the following times;

Please note that because of severe staff shortages, Wednesdays are no longer covered by the team.

Mrs Avril Wand, our counsellor, provides a very valuable service to Health Centre patients. Patients with suitable problems can be referred by the doctors. 

Andrea Edelaneau is our psychologist. She takes referrals from the doctors that may be helped by cognitive behavioural therapy. A good example of such conditions are anxiety states and certain event-phobias.

The General Practice Registrar is a fully qualified doctor who has already spent at least 3 years in hospital practice before training in General Practice. Before becoming a full-time General Practitioner (principal), the General Practice Registrar has to spend at least one year working in a training practice. On occasions it may be necessary to record consultations on video tape. This will only be done with your consent. (The examination of patients is never recorded.)