Meet the team

I graduated from Aston University in Birmingham and registered as a pharmacist in 1990. Since then I have worked at hospitals in Leeds, Derby and Brighton. I moved to Bath in 2006 and have been working with the NHS BaNES clinical commissioning group as a prescribing adviser supporting GPs with optimising medicines. In 2017 I qualified as an Independent Prescriber and now work for all 4 practices in the Minerva health group with a focus on complex prescribing and older people.

I graduated from the University of Bath and qualified as a pharmacist in 2015. I started my pharmacy career in Boots and became a store based pharmacist in Bristol for 3 years. In 2019, I became a care home pharmacist in North Somerset as part of the NHS pilot scheme – Medicines optimisation in care homes (MOCH) project . I have an interest in frailty/ the care of older people. I completed my independent prescribing course as part of my clinical diploma and qualified in March this year.

I have worked in community pharmacy for 12 years where I undertook vocational training to qualify as a Registered Accuracy Checking Technician. This is my first experience in a general practice role and I’m really enjoying the variety of working with the five surgeries in the Minerva group – every day brings something different and having a community pharmacy background has been very beneficial in assisting with prescribing queries.

I have worked in community pharmacy for around 12 years. It started as a part time job whilst studying at 6th form which then became the start of my career. Initially, I was a healthcare assistant progressing to a dispenser then a pharmacy technician. In recent years, I’ve spent time practicing as an accuracy checking technician in care home services. Now I’ve picked a new challenge turning my hand to a more clinical aspect working amongst the Minerva team as a clinical pharmacy technician.

It’s my first time working within a PCN but everyone has been very welcoming. I hope I will become a great asset to the team, surgeries and the local community I serve. I’m hoping my previous experience will prove beneficial.

In my spare time I enjoy staying active, participating in regular gym classes and going for walks in the countryside. Also, I enjoy baking and a good boxset or series – thrillers are my favourite.

I am Rachel Dawson, the new Social Prescribing Link Worker here at Minerva PCN. I come to this role having previously worked in the MyScript social prescribing service for Developing Health & Independence.

I will be taking referrals from July 2020. I welcome the opportunity to work with patients on any non-medical concerns that may be affecting their health & wellbeing. My one-to-one appointments with patients will focus on what matters to individuals— identifying their strengths, and those areas they wish to change.

I will work short-term with patients, usually over a 3 month period, using motivational interviewing to co-create a Wellbeing Plan with personalised resources. These resources draw upon community groups and services, and give patients the tools to make positive changes to increase wellbeing. I welcome referrals and look forward to working as part of the team at Minerva to develop the wellbeing and resilience of patients.

I love learning what motivates people to make changes and having been a teacher locally, its great to now be working in this area to help people take action to improve their wellbeing.