Dr. Mattia Gianizza spent 2 weeks in August 2016 completing an attachment at Dounby Surgery in the Orkney Islands of Scotland through the Hippokrates Exchange Program from Italy. Dounby Surgery serves around 3,000 patients and is responsible for two branch surgeries on a neighboring island and village. During his time there, Dr. Gianizza experienced all areas of general practice including visiting the branch surgery, accompanying doctors and nurses on home visits, sitting in with the practice nurse, and participating in daily clinics. The letter provides details of Dr. Gianizza's positive experience at Dounby Surgery despite challenges from the remote location and local accents.

1. 30th
October, 2016
Dear Sir
Mattia Gianizza spent 2 weeks in Dounby Surgery in August, 2016.
He had arranged the attachment through the Hippokrates Exchange Program
from his native Italy.
Dounby Surgery is located in the Orkney Islands in the North of Scotland.
There are 3000 patients registered here. The surgery’s responsibilities
include two neighbouring branch surgeries: one is in the village of Evie and
the second is on a different island (Rousay) which is reached by the daily
ferry.
The surgery is a training practice and hosts medical students and GP
trainees. The staff include two nurse prescribers, a phlebotomist, four GPs
and a team of district nurses. Dounby Surgery has a minor injury service. It
also offers family planning services, joint injections and minor surgery. Finally,
the practice looks after a nearby residential home.
During Dr Gianizza’s stay in Orkney he experienced all areas of the practice.
He visited Rousay and attended the clinic there. He went on house visits with
the GPs and district nurses. He sat in with the practice nurse to understand
more about her role. He also spent time in daily surgeries.
I found Dr Gianizza to be engaging and motivated. It was not an easy
placement for him given the location and the unique accents that he was
exposed to. Nevertheless, his level of English was excellent and all of the
patients enjoyed meeting with him. Dr Gianizza found time to prepare a talk
about GP education and the health service in Italy. He presented this to the
practice team.
I hope this letter provides some detail about Dr Gianizza’s attachment to
Dounby Surgery. Please contact me if you require more information.
Dounby Surgery Dounby Orkney KW17 2HH
Branch Surgery: EVIE
Phone: 01856 771209
Fax: 01856 771320
E-mail: mailbox@dounbysurgery.co.uk
www.dounbysurgery.co.uk
Dr H Thomas
Dr M Thomas
Dr J Kirk
Dr R Hazlehurst