Meet the team

Clinical Director, Minerva Primary Care Network

After finishing his GP training in 2003, Sam joined Combe Down Surgery in Bath as a partner and has been there for the last 16 years. His clinical interests include GP training, respiratory disease and dermatology.

Sam, who’s the proud father to two teenagers, enjoys playing the drums, loves running, and volunteers at the National Children's Music Camps most years.

Clinically, Sam is based with Combe Down Surgery, where he is a GP partner.  Sam works closely with all the Minerva practices is his role as Clinical Director for Minerva Primary Care Network.

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.