Portland Medical Centre

THE DOCTORS

Dr Sheila V O'Hara (Female) MB ChB - Senior Partner

Dr O'Hara, is a full-time GP who qualified in Manchester in 1969. She became a GP trainer in 1981 and was for many years chairperson of the local GP trainer group. She also sits on the Croydon Local Medical Committee and is a GP appraiser for NHS Croydon. She is also active in teaching medical students from Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School. She has two grown-up children and is a grandmother.

Special interests: Developmental paediatrics, women's health and teaching.

Dr Paddy Jackson (Female) BA (Hons) MB ChB - Partner

Born and brought up in India, Dr Jackson completed her education at Durham University (Chinese Honours 1978) and Manchester University (Medicine 1988). She carried out her vocational training as a GP in Croydon in 1993 and, following a period at another Croydon surgery, became a full-time partner at Portland Medical Centre in September 1995. She currently holds a clinical assistant post in dermatology at Croydon University Hospital and is a tutor for Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Medical School.

Special interests: Diabetes, dermatology and cardiology.

Dr Almas Rehman (Female) MBBS MRCGP DCH

Dr Rehman qualified at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, London in 2002 and gained most of her clinical experience at Croydon University Hospital and other local hospitals before completing her GP training at another Croydon GP Practice. She has been a full-time member of our clinical team since early 2007 and is also a Partner. Dr Rehman is a Board Member of the Croydon GP Commissioning Group, is a GP Trainer and tutor for Guy's King's and St Thomas' Medical School.

Special interests: Child health, antenatal care and family planning.

Dr Jaimin Patel (Male) MBBS DCH DRCOG MRCGP

Dr Patel qualified at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' in 1999. After gaining clinical experience at Croydon University Hospital University Hospital, Dr Patel completed his GP training at a local practice and joined us on a full-time basis in August 2003. He is an educational supervisor for Foundation 2 Doctors from Guy’s King’s and St. Thomas’ Medical School and is also a GP Appraiser for NHS Croydon.

Special interests: Sports medicine, minor operations, antenatal care and developmental paediatrics.

Dr Yogesh Contractor (Male) MBBS MS FRCS MRCGP

After qualifying in India in 1990, Dr Contractor spent several years gaining experience in a hospital environment before joining us in August 2003. Since completing his GP training Dr Contractor has worked at a number of practices across Croydon and is now a full-time member of our clinical staff..

Special Interests: Minor surgery, joint injections and child health.

Dr Oge Ilegbune (Female) MBBS

Dr Oge (as she is known) qualified in Nigeria in 1998, and after gaining clinical experience mostly at Croydon University Hospital and East Surrey hospitals, completed her GP training at Portland Medical Centre in July 2006 and immediately took up a full-time post there.

Special interests: Child health and obstetrics.

Dr Aruni Gunaratne (Female) MBBS DCH DRCOG

Dr Gunaratne carried out her medical training at St George's Hospital Medical School 2005. She completed her vocational training at Croydon University Hospital and her GP training at Portland Medical Centre and joined us as a permanent member of our clinical team in July 2010.

Special interests: Family Planning, Paediatrics.

Dr Iris Rogers (Female) MB ChB

After quailifying in her native country of Sierra Leone, Dr Rogers carried out a number of hospital posts in the UK before choosing General Practice as her specialist area. She completed her GP training in the North of England and following a period of locum GP for a practice in the Croydon area, joined the Portland Medical Centre on a part time basis in February 2010. Dr Rogers has also completed a degree in Public Health Medicine.

Special interests: Public Health.

GP REGISTRAR

The Portland Medical Centre is an accredited GP training practice. GP registrars are qualified doctors who have completed all the necessary medical training, and wish to further their careers in general practice. They conduct their own surgeries, and may consult with the partners when necessary.

OUR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TEAM

Practice Manager Vicky Bernard

Reception Manager Julie Watts

Senior Receptionists Dee Mathews & Nicky Davies

Senior Practice Nurses Zoe Williams & Tracey Leone

Practice Nurses

Sonia Dailey-Archer & Lesley Murray

Our nurses are available by appointment for general advice and routine procedures. They offer a full health promotion service including diabetes, asthma, coronary heart disease, hypertension, well woman (including cervical smears), well man, family planning, immunisations, travel vaccinations and advice, HRT and weight counselling. We also have two health care assistants, Jane Papanastasiou and Pauline Smith, to complement the team.

Health Visitors

The community health visitors are based at Tollgate Children's Centre. They are registered nurses with additional qualifications, who specialise in the care of children under five. They are available throughout the week to give advice and support to families with babies and young children and can be contacted on 020 8655 5682 offer open clinics at a variety of locations in the area, including the Oasis Children's Centre, Woodside Health Centre and the Shirley Clinic. Leaflets detailing the days and times of clinics are available at reception.

Community Midwives

The community midwives work with the doctors to provide care and advice throughout the pregnancy and postnatal period.

Antenatal appointments are provided on various days throughout the week by our specialist GPs and on Wednesdays by the midwives. To contact the community midwives please telephone 020 8401 3000 (or a message can be left at the surgery).

District Nurses

The community district nursing team provides treatment and advice to the housebound and patients recently discharged from hospital. They also provide counselling and support to the terminally ill. They take referrals from GPs and hospitals as well as self-referrals and can be contacted on 020 8656 0213, or via the surgery.