With just over 10,000 patients, the current four medical partners (two full time and two part time) have previously used a personal list system designed to provide maximum continuity of care. However, moving with the times and acknowledging skill mix and patient choice, the practice has in recent years encouraged patients to see the doctor of their choice or to see the clinician with appropriate skills for their problem. Surgeries are by appointment and telephone consultations are an established part the way the practice works. The practice provides patient care to residents of St Ives and a number of surrounding villages with the village population representing approximately one third of the total patient complement.

The practice is accommodated in its own purpose built premises, which over the years have been extended and adapted to suit the changing needs of the practice patients and the extensive range of services offered.

The practice team, headed by the Managing Partner Debra Wheatley, consists of a full range of reception and administrative staff and a full complement of nursing and clinical staff.

The practice is committed to regular meetings, which it believes provides the necessary foundation for effective planning, teamwork and ongoing practice development.

History
The practice was originally founded by John Oubridge in 1969 during boom development of St Ives. This grew so rapidly that John took on several partners over the years such as Michael Hart, George Smerdon, Rosemary Lane, Dennis Cox and Debra Wheatley. 2008 saw George retire and Dennis move on to a managerial role at Cambridgeshire PCT. Sean Culloty joined the partnership in 1998, Mark Sanderson in 1999 and Clare Henderson in 2000.

The Spinney has been a teaching practice since 1978, and became a Fundholding Practice in 1993. The practice has grown over the last 35 years and is now the largest surgery in the town of St Ives and one of the largest in the Huntingdon area.

From April 1st 1999, the practice became part of the Huntingdonshire Primary Care Group (PCG). This has now become a Trust and covers the 25 practices of old Huntingdonshire with a population of 145,000. George Smerdon and Debra Wheatley were on the steering group for the PCG until the formal elections when George became a board member. He was Clinical Governance Lead and also responsible for negotiating secondary care prescribing issues with the Trust.

Janie Anderson was appointed as a associate doctor in 2003.

2008 was an eventful year for associate doctor recruitment to the team with , Drs. Deborah Gilbert and Dr. Amit Sethi joining Dr. Andrew Borman the practice.

In 2010 Dr Mark Sanderson was appointed as Associate Medical Director for NHS Cambridgeshire for two days per week

Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire
St Ives is a delightful place in which to live and work. It is a typical small market town but is remarkable for a number of features: its quaint riverside setting with ancient bridge and chapel, its most attractive traditional market square with 'local man' Oliver Cromwell’s statue taking pride of place and its proximity to the University City of Cambridge. Rail links from Huntingdon will get you almost anywhere. London in an hour, Edinburgh in four and so close to motorways that Birmingham is under two hours away.

St Ives has an excellent range of local facilities including shops, both outdoor and indoor sports complexes catering for most sports, churches and schools - particularly infant and junior. St Ives also has an excellent Community Comprehensive school - St Ivo. There are others in Huntingdon (Hinchingbrooke and St Peter's) and Ramsey (Ramsey Abbey). There are also a number of independent schools nearby in Cambridge, Kimbolton, Ely, Peterborough and Bedford.

Local Trusts
The area is well provided for in terms of hospitals. Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust is about 7 miles away and provides a full range of services including community services. 85% of referrals go to this hospital. Referrals are also made to Addenbrookes, Peterborough and Bedford Hospitals with tertiary referrals being made to Addenbrookes and Papworth. The practice is now within the area of Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust.

I.T. & Systems
The Practice is extensively computerised with the In Practice system (Vision) for all clinical requirements and of course the usual plethora of other software and hardware now deemed necessary to efficiently run a complex medical practice.
The Surgery is an “early adopter” of the latest “Choose and Book” initiative which will enable hospital appointments to be made on line or by telephone directly with the Hospital for certain specialities.

Clinically we use the computer for:

• All prescribing and repeat prescribing of medication.

• Dispensing of medication.

• Pathology results.

• Summaries.

• Smear and immunisation data.

• Health promotion data.

• Registration, items of service and links.

• Generating reports essential for audit of all types.

• Appointments system.

• Referral letters and communications with other organisations.

• Choose and Book.

• Docman - document management system.

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