Our Staff

Doctors

DR SARAH GALLOWAY

Dr Sarah Galloway qualified in medicine in 1992 and did her GP training in Devon. She has worked in A&E, ENT, General Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics & Gynaecology as well as running a hospital in the Himalayas. Dr Galloway works part time at the practice and although consulting in all conditions, she has a particular interest in Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. She is involved with the teaching of Medical Students at the Practice and also teaches at the Peninsula Medical School and is involved in the training of GP's.

DR WILLIAM KUMAR

Dr Will Kumar trained in London and moved to Devon to work in Plymouth in 2004. Before joining General Practice, he worked in a variety of different specialties including Emergency Medicine. Dr Kumar joined South Brent as a partner in 2013. He is involved in training GP registrars, he represents the views of the Health Centre and Patients in our Primary Care Network (PCN) meetings and he provides supervision for some of the PCN team. He has a particular interest in Men’s Health and Minor Surgery including joint injections. Outside of work he enjoys making the most of all the great opportunities living in Devon provides and sharing them with his young family.

DR GRACE THOMPSON

Dr Grace Thompson qualified in 2009 and worked as a GP in Bristol for a number of years. She moved to Devon to become a GP partner at the practice in 2022.

DR SOFKA MORRIS

Dr Sofka Morris qualified in Cardiff in 2007, and has worked in paediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics & gynaecology. Dr Hill was her GP trainer when she worked here as a registrar in 2011. She was delighted to re-join the surgery in 2019 as a GP and has since committed to the GP partnership. Dr Morris is involved with the medical student training and is interested in all areas of general practice. Her usual working days are Mondays and Fridays, with the occasional locum day. Dr Morris lives in Cornwall, enjoying the thrills and spills of family life and the beautiful outdoors

DR SARAH BRAY

Dr Sarah Bray qualified in 2007 in Southampton. She undertook training in Wales before moving back to Plymouth to do GP training from 2009 to 2012, including 6 months at South Brent Health Centre under Dr Hill. She fell in love with the area and was delighted when the opportunity came up to return to the practice in 2020. Dr Bray works Tuesdays and Thursdays, and is interested in Women's Health and Learning Disabilities. Outside of work, she loves to run and be in the great outdoors - "that's the inner Cornish farmer's daughter in me"

DR EMMA HOWEY

Dr Emma Howey qualified in 2015 in Birmingham, and worked in Manchester and Australia before moving home to South Devon to do her GP training in Plymouth, where she did part of her training in South Brent. After a brief period of working in Cornwall, she was very happy to return to South Brent! Dr Howey works Wednesdays and Fridays. Outside of work she loves to be outside, near the beach, and enjoys surfing and tennis in her free time.

Practice Nurses

TRACY HANNAFORD

Tracy is our Lead Practice Nurse based at the Health Centre . She is available for COPD monitoring, Spirometry, Diabetic reviews, Contraceptive injections, Cervical Smears, Immunisation and travel vaccinations, dressings, removal of stitches, blood pressure checks, health advice & asthma clinics. She is also a Nurse prescriber.

RACHEL WHITFORD

Rachel is a practice nurse, who previously worked in a hospital setting in Intensive Care. She is available for wound dressings, removal of stitches, cervical smears, Learning Disability checks, and immunisations.

TRACY GOURD

Tracy joined us in 2022, after living in New Zealand for 15 years. She previously worked in practices in the Plymouth and Ivybridge area. She is currently undergoing some training updates to allow her to carry out full nursing duties, but she is already available for chronic disease monitoring (including COPD, asthma and diabetes) and some HCA duties.

Healthcare Assistants

SONIA BRANLEY

Sonia is a qualified phlebotomist who undertakes routine blood and INR tests as well as monitoring blood pressure. She is also able to undertake diabetic foot checks. Sonia also offers smoking cessation support.

KAREN CARTER

Karen is a qualified phlebotomist who undertakes routine blood and INR tests as well as monitoring blood pressure. She is also able to undertake diabetic foot checks.

Medical Students

Medical students and Nursing students attend the practice from time to time. We hope that you will co-operate with us and help the students to learn about general practice. However, you will be informed of their presence in advance, and if you do not want them to be present at a consultation, your wishes will be respected. This will not affect your treatment in any way.

Management

SOPHIE ANDREWS

Practice Manager

Sophie has overall responsibility for the Practice, providing management to guide and develop the team and ensure the sustainability of South Brent Health Centre. She is also responsible for the day to day finances of the Practice. Sophie liaises with the Clinical Commissioning Group, voluntary agencies, other practices and Hospitals to ensure the Practice meets the care requirements of its patients.

DAWN WARNES-HUNT

Deputy Practice Manager

Dawn deputises for Sophie in her absence. She is charge of IT at the practice and oversees the training of new admin staff.

Reception/Admin staff

CLAIRE BITNER

Senior Receptionist

Claire is responsible for overseeing the admin team, and ensuring that reception runs smoothly

CAROLINE MORCOMBE

Receptionist

Caroline is part of the main reception and patient advisor team.

FRANCES JONES

Receptionist

Frances is part of the main reception and patient advisor team.

TESSA JONES

Receptionist

Tessa is part of the main reception and patient advisor team.

SU FOX

Receptionist

Su is part of the main reception and patient advisor team.

SUZANNE BROOKS

Receptionist

Suzi is part of the main reception and patient advisor team.

TRACEY MURTON

Practice Administrator

Tracey is a practice administrator who also works as a receptionist when required.

HOLLY MORCOMBE

Practice Administrator

Holly is a practice administrator who also works as a receptionist when required.

LORRAINE JOINT

Medical Secretary

Lorraine's main role involves typing the referral letters to secondary care. She is also involved in other administrative tasks including helping on the reception desk when required.

Paramedics

Tom and Danny make up our Paramedic team who assist the doctors with urgent cases. They have both worked in the ambulance service for many years and their training and experience makes them especially suited to urgent care. This means they can complement the doctors by dealing with certain on-the-day urgent cases, assessing patients at home and in the surgery to identify if there are any urgent needs such as admission to hospital, investigations or treatment. They are always supervised by a duty doctor, who is on hand if they are needed, and work closely with them on a regular basis. In addition to the training they have, they are also undergoing additional training including a master’s degree in Advanced Clinical Practice at Exeter University, which means they will slowly develop over the next two years and become more independent with increased capabilities.

Community Midwives

The Community Midwife currently covers our Health Centre and holds ante-natal clinics weekly on Mondays.

Community Nurses

Jenna Eyles and Sarah Roberts are the Community Sisters for the South Brent and Ivybridge locality. They are supported by Community Nurse Kelly Wade and Trainee Nursing Associate Charlotte Parrish. The Community Nursing Service operates seven days a week and messages may be left at reception or by selecting the message option on the main Health Centre telephone number during opening hours. Urgent messages will be responded to the same day. Patients already on the nursing caseload are able to contact the Community Nurses direct by mobile phone if necessary.

Community Pharmacists

Our community pharmacists work remotely as part of our Primary Care Network. Telephone consultations are available with them to discuss urgent and routine medication queries. If necessary, they can then refer you to an appropriate service.

Counsellor

If you are anxious or have a problem and feel you would benefit from talking to a counsellor please make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor who would refer you to the service if appropriate.

Physiotherapists

Natalie and Kate, our physiotherapists, cover two days a week at the Health Centre. If you feel you would benefit from physiotherapy please either complete a self referral form available from reception or make an appointment to discuss this with one of the doctors.

Social Prescriber

Jenny our Social Prescriber works as part of our Primary Care Network. She visits the surgery every Tuesday. Do you have a problem that you feel could be helped by talking to her? If so, please make an appointment to discuss this with your doctor who would refer you to her if appropriate.