Dr Paul Davis has worked in Castle Hedingham since 1985. He qualified in 1977 from St Mary's Hospital in London and has worked in a wide variety of hospital specialties before completing GP training in Harlow.

His medical interests include minor surgery, dermatology, paediatrics and child health, diabetes, psychiatry, men's health and care of the elderly. In addition he works regularly for Suffolk Doctors on-call. He has five grown up children and six grandchildren at the last count.

Dr Elizbeth Hackett qualified from Bristol University in 1994 and worked in hospitals in Taunton and Bristol before completing her GP training in Somerset. She has worked in GP surgeries across Somerset and London and her medical interests include child health, gynaecology and care of the elderly. She is married with two young sons.

Senior Receptionist - Carolyn Sneezum

Receptionists - Beverley David, Ellie Moffat, Lynda Apps, Janet Willis

APPOINTMENTS:

Appointments can be booked by telephoning the surgery or calling in at reception. Urgent cases are given priority. Emergencies will always be seen on the same day.

Telephone consultation with the doctor can be booked in the same way. It is often possible to sort out queries by phone, and this might save you a trip.

Appointments are normally for ten minutes. If you think you will require longer please tell the receptionist when you book.

Please notify the surgery as soon as possible if you are unable to attend for an appointment as we can see someone else in your absence.

The doctors visit patients who are housebound by illness or infirmity. However please consider booking a taxi to the surgery as visiting takes the doctors away from other patients for long periods. We prefer poorly children to be brought to the surgery, where they can be examined more effectively and where we have equipment to treat emergencies. If you do feel you need a visit please try to phone the surgery before 11.00 am. The doctor may ring you first to discuss your problem.

Emergencies which need medical attention the same day would include chest pain, breathlessness, sick babies, children with rashes that worry you or that don't blanch on pressing and of course any unusual or severe pain. If in doubt please ask.
If you feel your condition could be life threatening please dial 999 and ask for the ambulance service.

To ensure confidentiality test results can only be given to the patient concerned, or in the case of children their parent or guardian. Since our telephones are very busy in the early morning, we ask you to telephone for test results (such as blood, urine and X-ray) after 10.30 a.m.

Although Dr Davis works for the out of hours service, the surgery itself is no longer open out of hours. If you are not sure whether your problem can wait until the surgery reopens please use one of the out of hours numbers listed below. They will be able to advise you on whether you need to be seen: