Mrs Lesley Avery
Treatment Room Nurse
Lesley works 3 days a week in the treatment room treating patients with a range of conditions and is skilled in undertaking blood pressure readings, phlebotomy, dressings, adult immunisations, smear tests and ECGs.
Ms Charlie Rooney
Treatment Room Nurse
Charlie joined us in 2024 and works on Thursdays and Fridays. She has worked in general practice since 2019 and will be undertakes the full range of treatment room nursing procedures.
Mrs Neethu Thomas
Treatment Room Nurse
Neethu joined the nursing team at the Surgery in 2026, and works Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays as part of the Treatment Room team. As part of her nursing role she carries out a wide range of procedures within the Treatment Room.
Mrs Helen Spence
Practice Nurse specialising in Diabetes
We are delighted to confirm that, since joining us last year, Helen has successfully undertaken the practice nurse diploma. She is now able to undertake the full range of treatment room procedures and is extending her working days to Monday to Friday.
Mrs Mariam Allen
Practice Matron
Mariam works four days a week as our Practice Matron and Advanced Clinical Practitioner. She completed her MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice in 2025 and is an independent prescriber. Mariam sees patients from 6 months of age upwards, assessing, diagnosing and managing a wide range of acute and long-term health problems. She also forms part of the daily duty team and works closely with the GPs, nurses and community colleagues.
She has particular interests in respiratory medicine and women’s health, including vaginal prolapse management.
Mrs Sarah Blanchard
Practice matron and treatment room lead nurse
Sarah joined us in 2021 and has since undertaken the minor illness diploma and independent prescriber qualifications. She is an integral part of our practice matron and complex matron team and works on Wednesday and Friday. She consults and treats patients with a range of conditions, working closely with the GPs, other nurses and matrons in the practice, as well as our community colleagues. More recently, Sarah has been appointed as lead nurse for the treatment room.
Mrs Sarah Cross
Practice matron
Sarah joined us late last year and works closely with the GPs and other nurses and Matrons in the practice, as well as liaising with our community and social care colleagues making good use of skills from her former employment with the Community Nursing Team. She plans some further study in the next few months on the treatment of Minor Illness; meantime she concentrates on visiting those too unwell to get to the surgery.
Mrs Allie Jackson
Practice and complex care matron
Allie works 4 days a week, alongside the duty doctors. She is able to consult and prescribe as necessary to all age groups from babies to our older patients. She works closely with the GPs and other nurses and matrons in the practice, as well as liaising with our community and social care colleagues. She has a special interest in respiratory conditions and runs some dedicated clinics for this on Tuesdays.
Ms Penny Kestel
Practice and complex care matron
Penny is an experienced primary care nurse with over 20 years’ experience, including her time as Practice Matron at Bassett Road since 2022. She holds an Honours Degree in Respiratory Long-Term Conditions, an Asthma and COPD Diploma, and a Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice. She is also the practice Infection Control Lead and works across acute clinics and complex home visits. Penny is passionate about compassionate, patient-centred care and making a positive difference to her patients.
Mrs Debbie McMillan
Practice matron
Debbie joined the surgery in 2024 as a Practice Matron, a key clinical role she shares with our team of matrons to provide advanced, comprehensive care to our patient community. Working four days a week, Debbie has completed advanced training in minor illnesses and holds an independent prescribing qualification, allowing her to assess, diagnose, and prescribe treatment for acute health conditions directly at the practice. In addition to clinic-based care, she specialises in delivering proactive support outside the surgery. Providing routine and same day home visits for housebound individuals, patients with complex, long-term conditions and frailty to ensure our most vulnerable patients receive high-quality care at home.
Healthcare assistants
Mrs Karen Puddifoot
Healthcare assistant
Karen joined our team in the summer of 2015 having previously worked with the community nursing team. She undertakes phlebotomy, blood pressures and annual BP reviews, ECGs, vitamin B12 injections, NHS health checks and flu immunisation. She also acts as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Mrs Sam Greany
Healthcare assistant
Sam joined our team in 2019 having also previously worked with the community nurses. She undertakes phlebotomy, blood pressure and annual BP reviews, ECGS, dressings, diabetic foot checks and ear syringing. She also acts as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Mrs Mandy Gurney
Healthcare assistant
Mandy joined our team in 2023 and undertakes phlebotomy, blood pressure and annual BP reviews, some adult immunisations, ECGS, dressings, diabetic foot checks and ear syringing. She also acts as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Phlebotomy
Mrs Nicky Coombes
Phlebotomist
Nicky has been a part of our reception team for some time but has undertaken additional training and now also supports our clinical team. Nicky will offer blood test appointments 2 mornings a week.
Clinical Pharmacists
Ms Clara Alonso Malpartida
Clinical Pharmacist
Clara has been working at Bassett Road Surgery since 2016. She is a clinical pharmacist and independent prescriber. She also works part time as an Education Supervisor at Manchester University, CPPE ( Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education), helping other pharmacists who are training to work in primary care.
Mrs Bina Varsani
Clinical pharmacist
Bina joined us in September 2024 having previously worked in Community Pharmacy. Working Wednesday to Friday, she liaises closely with Clara, our GPs, and other prescribing health care professionals. She also works with the pharmacists employed by the other 2 surgeries in our Primary Care Network, as well as those who work for the Network itself. She will shortly be supporting Bina as she undertakes her Independent Prescriber qualification.
Mr Dylan Patel
Clinical Pharmacist for Patient Safety
Dylan joined us in early 2026 and normally works 5 days a week. He has prior experience in community pharmacy and an additional 4 years in primary care. During his time in primary care, he gained his independent prescribing qualification and supported in various local and national quality improvement opportunities (e.g. polypharmacy, reducing over-reliance of SABA and implementation of MART and identification and management of chronic kidney disease). Within his role at the surgery, Dylan works closely with colleagues (both clinical and non-clinical) to enhance and build on patient safety processes and develop new processes going forward to enable continuous improvement in this area.