Advanced Nurse Practitioners

The role of the Nurse Practitioner is one in which the clinician makes professionally autonomous decisions for which they are accountable.  In the role they screen patients for disease risk factors and early signs of illness.  The Nurse Practitioner can order investigations and prescribe medication when necessary.  Our Nurse Practitioners work collaboratively with the Doctors and Nursing team to provide the best health care possible for our patients.

Mrs Laura Richards (f)

Advanced Nurse Practitioner

My initial training was completed at the University of Nottingham where I gained a BSC (HONS) Diploma in Nursing. Since qualifying I have completed Essential Principles in Palliative and End of Life Care at the University of Lincoln, Non-Medical Prescribing and Physical Assessment and Clinical Reasoning at the University of the West of England.

I have been working in Primary care since I qualified in 2009. I started my career working as a Community Nurse in Lincolnshire and later in Gloucestershire.

After six years of working in the community I began working within a GP surgery in Cheltenham as a Practice Nurse. My role quickly developed into telephone triage and seeing patients with minor illness complaints. I completed my Non-Medical Prescribing in 2019 and have been working as a Nurse Practitioner since.

On my days off I love spending time with family and friends, often going for walks in the lovely countryside that Lincolnshire has to offer, usually with a takeaway coffee in my hand!!

Mrs Deborah Phillips  (f)

Advanced Nurse Practitioner PG Dip, MSC

Debbie joined the practice in March 2022 after gaining experience as a Nurse Practitioner in hospital settings and usually works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Initial nurse training was completed with the University of Bedfordshire before relocating to Cumbria and undertaking her Advanced Practice (Clinical) MSC to work as a Nurse Practitioner.

Debbie gained a wide range of clinical experience including palliative care, acute medicine, and stroke before moving into primary care.

Mrs Christina Child  (f)

I started my career in the army at the age of 17. I did initial solider training before commencing a diploma in higher education as a student nurse part of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

On qualification as a registered nurse, I went on to do specialist training and a degree in critical care nursing. During my 10-year service I deployed to several areas in the UK working in ministry of defence hospital units. I also did a few operational tours overseas including Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan.

Since leaving the forces I developed as an autonomous practitioner, initially as a critical care outreach Nurse Practitioner. I then moved to urgent care and primary care. I have completed qualifications at master’s level at the Sheffield Hallam University including prescribing, advanced physical assessment and minor illness courses. I have gained a PGCERT in advanced clinical practice. I used to locum for Billinghay Medical Practice and now work 2 days a week as permanent staff.

During my days off I am very busy with my 4 children. My husband and I enjoy days out around the area and spending time together as a family.