Our Staff

GP Partners

DR AMY ROWAN

MBBS (Newcastle 2009) MRes MRCGP DRCOG

I joined the Practice in 2015. I have an interest in medical education, and provide a full range of general practice services. I became a Partner at the Weardale Practice in January 2017.

DR HAZEL DENDLE

MBBS (Newcastle 1994) MRCGP DRCOG DFFP

I have been with the Practice since 2002. As well as providing all general practice services, I have a special interest in Women's health, sexual health and contraception. I'm also a GP trainer.

DR MATTHEW HACKETT

MBBS (London 1988) MRCGP DRCOG DCCH

I've been with the Practice since 1997. I offer a full range of General Practice care, Practice Lead for Diabetes and GP Cancer Lead for Co. Durham Clinical Commissioning Group.

DR TOM ROWLEY

MBChb (Glasgow) MRCGP

I joined the Practice as a Partner in 2017. I offer a full range of general practice care.

GPs

Our doctors support patients throughout their lives. They help you to manage your health, prevent illness and are trained in all aspects of general medicine. Our GPs have special interests in specific disease areas which help us to focus on the management of long term conditions.

DR ORLA WHITEHEAD

I'm a salaried GP, with interests in mental illness including dementia, paediatrics and care of the elderly. I also work at Newcastle University as an academic, where I research spiritual health.

DR AMAN CHERA

Trainee GPs

The Weardale Practice is an accredited GP training practice. This means that from time to time, in addition to our regular GPs, you may meet a junior doctor who is training to become a GP. Junior doctors are fully qualified doctors and will have already trained and worked in hospitals. You can expect them to provide the same range of full GP services.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

ANPs work alongside our doctors. ANPs have undertaken additional medical training and education to provide advanced nursing care and to prescribe medication. ANPs are training in the assessment and diagnosis of common medical conditions, can prescribed medications and issue fit notes once the patient has been assessed. ANP appointments are booked using the same method as that of our GPs.

KAREN STANWIX

Nurses

Our Practice Nurses are led by our Nurse Manager, Rachael Gibson. Practice Nurses have a wide variety of responsibilities with areas of special expertise and interest, providing chronic disease management such as diabetes and asthma, health promotion and preventions; sexual health and contraception; travel and childhood immunisations.

LYNSAY CLARKE

I joined the practice in 2020. I really enjoy my role as a Practice Nurse and am here to help.

RACHAEL E GIBSON

NURSE MANAGER: I joined the practice in 2021 and have a special interest in the treatment and management of diabetes and spent 3 years as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse before returning to the practice.

ALISON RIPPON

Trainee Nursing Associates

Nursing associates work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients.

BETH FREEMAN

PHILLIPA GRAHAM

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.

KAREN NICHOLSON

I mostly work at the Health Centre in Stanhope. As a Healthcare Assistant, I do blood tests, ECG (heart monitoring tests) and health checks for patients.

DIANA BELL

I'm mainly based in the Stanhope Health Centre, but sometimes work in Wolsingham and St John's Chapel. I look after patients who need blood tests, ECG (heart monitoring tests) and health checks.

MEGAN PICKERING

PHILIPPA SPENCE

Practice Management

KATI MAKEPEACE

STRATEGIC PRACTICE MANAGER: I focus on all aspects of managing the practice and achieving our strategic goals. I work with the all colleagues to ensure compliance and governance is adhered to. I also focus on improving the efficiency of the practice. I have a long career in administration and operational management in private health-care.

KATE STOBBS

ASSISTANT PRCTICE MANAGER: I support Kati in managing the day-to-day running of the practice

Administration/Reception Team

TRISH B

I'm part of the Administration support team.

LORRAINE B

ADMIN TEAM LEAD

LESLEY R

I'm a Receptionist in the Administration support team.

SANDRA V

I'm one of the Administration support staff.

MELANIE W

I'm part of the Practice's Administration support team.

SOPHIE W

ANNABEL G

CATHERINE N

LYNNE R

Administration Team

JULIE A

Senior Administrator & Clinical Rota Lead

ALISON NEWMAN

Clinical Coder

JESS ROWLAND

Clinical & Data Quality Administrator

Medical Secretaries

DEBBIE M

MICHELLE T

I work as a medical secretary for the practice. I manage and process the practice referrals and letters.

First Contact Physiotherapist

They can help patients with musculoskeletal issues such as back, neck and joint pain by: assessing and diagnosing issues; giving expert advice on how best to manage their conditions; referring them onto specialist services if necessary.

RYAN ADAMS

Pharmacists

Pharmacists make a difference to the lives of our patients through an expert knowledge of medicines and health.  Helping people live longer and healthier lives depends on the safe use of medicines and excellent healthcare advice. Pharmacists' unique expertise and knowledge makes them essential members of our practice healthcare team.

KATE WAISTELL

Clinical Pharmacist

I joined the Practice in April of 2019, having previously worked in community pharmacies across the North East. I studied at the University of Sunderland, and hope to specialise in psychiatric medicine or women's health. I'll be doing medication reviews and clinics with patients, as well as prescribing medicine.

SOPHIE WATKINSON

Mental Health Team

EMMA SPENCE

Health & Wellbeing Coach

ADAM BARRETT

Care Coordinator

LISA TURNBULL

Social Prescriber

Social prescribing link workers connect people with local community activities and services that can help improve their health and wellbeing.