Lochinch Practice is a well established practice based within the purpose built new facilities of the Waverley Medical Centre, Dalrymple Street, Stranraer. Doctors from this practice have looked after patients in Stranraer since the inception of the NHS in 1948, initially from their own homes, then in the Health Centre which was attached to the Garrick Hospital (the second Health Centre to be built in Scotland) and now in our new premises since July 2002. The move to our new premises has enabled us to provide both patients and staff with excellent facilities and the opportunity to improve the level of services which we provide.

Waverley Medical Centre has disabled access to all levels, including a lift to the first floor, should this be required. All surgeries are situated on the ground floor and Lochinch Practice is one of three practices working within the building.

The Practice comprises of 4 general practitioners, Dr Ranald Spicer, Dr Niall Balmer, Dr Athena Vaughan ( part time ) and Dr Kieran McAnulty, Dr Spicer is also a part time consultant Anaesthetist.

We have one Practice Nurses, Liz Jones who is also a Nurse Prescriber and Caroline Maxwell is our Health Care Assistant.

The Doctors and Nursing Team work together to provide a full range of medical services for our patients, including specific clinics for asthma and other respiratory problems, diabetes, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. We are also keen to promote healthy living and will readily provide our patients with assessment, advice and information on specific aspects of health such as Well Woman, Well Man, Exercise and Lifestyle.

We have a full attached compliment of Community Nursing Staff, including District nurses, Health Visitors and Community Midwife. Within the Waverley Medical Centre we have the benefit of the Treatment Room Nursing Staff who are available for such services as dressings, blood tests, travel advice, minor surgery and other procedures.

Our administration staff is led by the Waverley Medical Centre Manager – Kerry Irving, our Senior Practice Administrator is Sharon McCulloch and our Reception Team is made up of Sharon Goupillot, Gayle Blackwell, Lynsey Palmer  and Ann Gibson.

In addition to looking after our patients the practice is also involved in medical education, taking final year students from both Aberdeen University and University College London. We are pleased to be able to offer these future doctors the opportunity to see how medicine is practised away from the big cities. The feedback we get from students is that they very much appreciate both this opportunity to enhance their medical education and also the way in which our patients are so welcoming and friendly to them.

You will see lots more information on the website including information on how to register, appointments, how to request a home visit, information about Out of Hours Services, Prescription Ordering, Data Protection and so on.

The practice strives to offer our patients a top quality service. We realise that there are times when things could go better and if you have suggestions which would help us and your fellow patients then we are always ready to listen and learn.