Education & Training

This page has been written for the benefit of NHS doctors who are looking for a place to further their training in General Practice. For the non-doctors it offers an insight into how important we see education and training for our staff and other members of the medical profession. We believe this demonstrates the quality of our practice.

Lockside puts a very high emphasis on training of GP registrars and other junior doctors, and we feel we have a great set up to enable you to train in a way that suits your needs. The practice is part of the Tameside and Glossop Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) which comprises likeminded practices with very close links. Visit the Tameside & Glossop VTS website at www.gp-training.co.uk

Stalybridge affords is a good population mix from a training point of view; our catchment area takes in semi-rural areas as well as inner-city type estates.

The practice works using almost entirely 'paper-free' systems and there is a strong emphasis on audit and achievement of quality targets. The practice uses EMIS software and each Registrar will receive extensive training in 'computing for general practice'.

Services we offer:
The practice has a diverse range of services on offer. We run in-house clinics in asthma care, diabetes, COPD and prevention of heart disease for at-risk individuals. We perform minor operations, acupuncture, joint injections, and offer family planning services (including coils and implant insertion).

We also have in-house services on offer from our extended team which includes a dietitian, midwife, podiatrist, counsellor and cognitive behavioural therapist. 

Meet the Trainers

Dr Tom Jones and Dr Joanna Bircher are both GP trainers who take it in turns to be responsible for the registrar and FY2 training.

My name is Tom Jones . I qualified at Manchester in 1992 and trained on the Stockport VTS in 1996/7. After obtaining MRCGP, I travelled in New Zealand for 6 months before teaming up with Richard and Joanna Bircher, colleagues from the later stages of our medical training at Manchester. We benefited from a clear shared vision of the service we wished to establish, and together the three of us took over a practice that has now evolved into Lockside.

I combine my enthusiasm for general practice with a busy family life (having 2 small children at home has enabled me to double what I know about Paediatrics).

In terms of my own interests outside of medicine (that's the beauty of general practice...you can have some of these!) - I love running, football, and music. I'm never too far away from a guitar - we keep one on the wall of our practice library.

I completed the Trainers Course in 2002 and I have been training at Lockside from August 2004. I have built up a wide variety of resources to enable our Registrar to build his/her own curriculum for their year with us – in other words enable you to reach your  targets.

I am Joanna Bircher and I became a GP trainer in July 2006. My medical degree is from Cambridge and Manchester and I qualified in 1993. I met Tom on my first day as a house officer; he was an 'experienced' first year SHO. I have wanted to be a GP for many years and have never regretted the choice, managing to combine it with a active family life (two children and dog) and an interest in amateur dramatics. I developed a reputation for being 'good at exams' at an early age, but the winning the Fraser-Rose medal for the highest mark in the MRCGP in1998 was a highlight.

Like Tom, my interest is in helping you to achieve your own learning targets and in providing enough support so that you can comfortably develop the skills needed for an effective and enjoyable future career.

About the other GPs...
Lockside has 2 other GPs who are also keen to be involved in your training. Richard Bircher is the course organiser for Tameside VTS, and is married to Joanna. Rachel Edwards is a part time GP who also has a strong interest in training. We have close links with many other GPs in our area, including all the Tameside trainers. We meet with friends for a monthly ‘reflective learning group' which helps to keep us updated and offers mutual support.

Future Developments  

Lockside Medical Centre has a history of training students on the PBL course, and is intending to continue to support the 'Early years' in 2008/09.

Want to know more?
Feel free to email the practice, or phone (leave a message with reception - for the attention of Tom or Joanna). We will help you to make an appointment to visit to the practice where you can meet us, see our facilities and decide whether Lockside might be the right place for you to take your first steps into General Practice.
0161 303 7200 (Lockside 9am to 6pm Mon-Fri except Bank Holidays)