Our Staff

Doctors

We have male and female doctors and a range of languages are spoken within the team. If you have any particular requests please ask the receptionist when booking your appointment.

Dr Emma Saunders

MBChB, Masters of Research. University of Manchester 2011.

My specialist interests include complex care, care of the elderly, evidence based medicine, teaching training and leadership. I work within the wider health economy with voluntary sector, health and social care to promote integration. I work to empower a holistic, pragmatic and individualised approach to General Practice. I am a mentor for GP colleagues and support workforce training and development.

Dr Y Abdalla

Special Interests: Minor Surgery, Dermatology. Dr Abdalla is available Tuesday and Thursday PM at our Astley Dale branch.

Dr M Athar

MBBS MRCGP

Dr Athar completed his General Practice training from Chester UK. His interests include Medicine for the Elderly and Child Health. Moreover, Dr Athar is a trainer and clinical supervisor for FY2 doctors. He likes to read books and play Golf. Dr Athar is available: Monday, AM & PM, Tuesday AM at our Market Surgery branch, Thursday, Friday AM & PM at our Little Lever branch, Dr Athar also provides weekly Saturday Morning sessions at our Astley Dale branch.

Dr A Wright

Mb ChB DRCOG MRCGP DCH FPCert

Special interest include: Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Joint Injections and Teaching.

Dr A Baig

Dr Baig is available term time Monday, AM & PM, Tuesday AM, Wednesday, Friday AM at our Astley Dale branch.

Dr A Dysart

GP Tutor, Manchester Medical School

Special Interests: Palliative Care. Dr Dysart is available Mondays.

Dr K Simmons

MBChB 2008 University of Manchester MRCGP 2013 - in Bolton

Dr Simmons is originally from Wigan. She studied at the University of Manchester and trained as a GP in Bolton. She has experience in a variety of medical specialities, but particularly she has an interest in Women's health. She has previously worked in Bolton Hospice for 6 months which has given her an excellent background in caring for patients with palliative care needs. Outside of work, she is a busy married mother of two, and enjoys cooking and the theatre. Dr Simmons is available Wednesday AM, Thursday AM & PM, Friday AM.

Dr Lydia Arnold

MBChB University of Manchester 2011 MRCGP 2016

I went to medical school at the University of Manchester and did both my Foundation and GP training in Bolton. After working as a GP in Bolton after completing my training, I spent a few years working as a GP in Melbourne, Australia. I enjoy all aspects of being a GP - the variety of work, continuity of care and being the first point of contact for patients. In my spare time I love being outside, seeing the world. I love running, walking and listening to music. OSCE Examiner for University of Manchester Medical School.

Dr Zaheer Khonat

Dr Khonat trained at the University of Liverpool and completed his GP training in Bolton. Clinical interests include men’s health and chronic disease management. He is involved in the teaching and training of students at the Universities of Bolton, Manchester and Liverpool. He sits as a tribunal member for fitness to practice hearings at the MPTS. Outside of work he is part chef, father and an aviation enthusiast.

Dr Seb Pillon

Dr Seb Pillon is originally from Southampton, and moved to Manchester to study medicine. He completed further training as a GP in Bolton, qualifying in 2014. He currently supervises the GP training programme for Bolton, and also works in the Emergency Department. His clinical interests include diabetes, adolescent medicine and men’s health. Outside of work, Dr Pillon enjoys Parkrun, hiking and planning holidays. Dr Pillon works as a GP in the practice on Mondays and Thursdays.

Emergency Care Practitioner

Gari Jones

Vulnerable Adult Co-ordinator

Available Tuesday-Friday

Emma Glover

Nurse Practitioners

The nurse team have undertaken extensive training and are highly skilled to deliver quality health care to our practice population. We provide Minor Illness clinics, and specialist clinics for long term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, COPD and high blood pressure.

Karen Robinson

Director of Nursing

Nurses

Sharon Blay

Specialist Practice Nurse

Jennifer Yardley

Practice Nurse

Eleanor Whitfield

Practice Nurse

Healthcare Assistants

Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out tasks such as phlebotomy (drawing blood), blood pressure measurement and new patient checks. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.

Lorraine Steele

Practice Management

Natalie Preece

Director of Operations and Performance

The Director of Operations and Performance is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology. The Director of Operations & Performance supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care.

Sarah Webster

Chair of Staff Advisory Group and Operations Manager

Kieran Ward

Business Support Manager

Michelle Hudson

Practice Manager

Michelle is based at our Ladybridge branch of Bolton Community Practice. She looks after teams and manages the senior receptionists.

Dr M Talbot

Dr Talbot will continue to support the development of the Horwich Health and Wellbeing Hub until its completion.

Reception

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Our reception team aim to provide excellent customer service. The team consists of Ghazala, Karen, Marjorie, Sajjad, Nina, Sheila, Ann, Debra, Kiera, Kamran, Louise and Catherine .

Chloe Darlington-Hayes

Senior Receptionist

Chloe is based at our Little Lever Surgery

Karen Mather

Complaints Champion

Named person to contact regarding feedback, complaints, compliments.

Attached Staff

We have a range of staff that work for our practice across our Neighbourhoods. In Bolton each GP practice have been allocated into neighbourhoods. As we have multiple sites we are in 3 neighbourhoods: Ladybridge and Market Surgery are in the Horwich neighbourhood, Little Lever are in the Breightmet & Little lever neighbourhood and Astley- Dale are in the Crompton & Halliwell neighbourhood. Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group have been doing some work on new ways of working and have recruited new staff across the neighbourhoods. Across our neighbourhoods we have a neighbourhood pharmacist, these are trained staff that work very closely with our clinical team and look at our prescribing, the pharmacists will also support our GPS in issuing medications that our patients may request, they will link in and communicate with the local Community Pharmacists if problems arise with prescriptions or to help one of our patients.