Balmore Park Surgery is a large, well-established training practice in Caversham, close to the River Thames, caring for approximately 21,000 patients. While the area is often regarded as affluent, the practice also serves pockets of deprivation, providing trainees with a varied and rewarding clinical experience.
We have a long-standing commitment to education. The Reading VTS was introduced by a retired senior partner, Dr Patrick Anderson, and training remains central to our ethos. Continuity of care is a core value and is maintained through well-defined patient lists, alongside a friendly, well-organised urgent care team supported by experienced Advanced Nurse Practitioners.
Our nurses provide a wide range of services, including treatment room appointments, vaccinations, well-woman checks and smears, and chronic disease management. Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and prescription clerks form another key part of the team, offering excellent clinical and educational support to trainees. On-site physiotherapists, social prescribers and a shared mental health practitioner provide exposure to some of the more modern aspects of primary care and multidisciplinary working.
The five partners meet weekly, and trainees are encouraged to join meetings to understand how the practice operates and to feel part of the team. There are also regular opportunities for in-house teaching and involvement in safeguarding and palliative care discussions.
Balmore Park is known for its welcoming, supportive environment. Everyone contributes to training, and we take pride in providing a positive, engaging experience for all our trainees.
The Trainer
The practice has two GP trainers: Dr Samantha Potter, a trainer since 2005, and Dr Tom Back, who joined after completing his PGCCE in 2016. Tutorials are mostly led by your trainer but debrief supervision is shared across the GP team.