NHS Western Isles welcomes new GP team to Barra

NHS Western Isles is delighted to be welcoming a team of three highly experienced new GPs to Barra.

The new GPs are undertaking inductions before starting to provide patient services. Two members of the team will start providing patient services across St Brendan’s Hospital and Barra Medical Practice next week. The third GP will start practising around spring 2024.

The new GPs, who bring a vast array of experience across a range of specialities, are Drs Eleanor Barkell, Christine Bassindale, and Anthony Mode.

Dr Eleanor (Ele) Barkell and Dr Christine Bassindale will both start practising on Barra from November 27.

Dr Barkell has a BCs (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Glasgow and an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) from the University of London. She qualified as a GP in 2003 and worked as a GP partner, trainer and Appraiser for the NHS until 2022 in Staffordshire. Dr Barkell then moved to become a GP for the Ministry of Defence before taking up post in the Western Isles.

Dr Barkell will cover services on Barra full-time, while Dr Bassindale and Dr Mode will jointly cover the second GP post.

Dr Barkell said: “I’m very keen to get started. The team on the ground have done an amazing job. I have had a fantastic welcome at every stage of our induction and love the outdoors, so I’m very much looking forward to living and working on Barra.”

Dr Bassindale has been a GP principal as well as a GP in out of hours services. She has practised as a GP with a special interest in addiction medicine (community/custodial), and as a forensic physician (custody suite, sexual assault resource centres in UK and Australia, expert witness). She has also been the clinical lead for several forensic medical services and addiction medicine services.

Dr Bassindale said: “My motivation and goal is to work with patients, colleagues, partner organisations and services to improve the holistic health, wellbeing and safety of the entire community. I enjoy face to face patient contact and training and mentoring colleagues.”

Dr Bassindale became interested in working as a GP on Barra during one of her several ‘Barrathon’ running visits.

“Some years ago I called in to the Castlebay Medical Practice and talked about locum work with the manager,” she explained. “I didn’t pursue the possibility then for various personal and professional reasons. When in June 2023 I saw there was a need for GPs on Barra, I applied for a post and was delighted to be short-listed, interviewed and appointed. I am looking forward to starting work with my soon to be colleagues.”

Dr Anthony (Tony) Mode, who starts in post next year, currently serves the military community at RAF Boulmer. He qualified as a doctor from the University of Glasgow Medical School and completed the foundation programme at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Dr Mode worked in hospitals in Glasgow before completing his GP training in Northumberland. 

“I enjoy all elements of being a GP, most important for me is just being there to help,” he said. “My main focus is ensuring the best outcomes for patients and their families, focusing on their comfort and dignity.  I think I am appropriately excited and nervous at the opportunity and responsibility being one of the new GPs on Barra brings.”

Dr Mode is very interested in sustainability and conservation and he is looking forward to taking up the fly-fishing opportunities in the Western Isles, as well as painting in the wonderful landscapes.

NHS Western Isles Medical Director, Dr Frank McAuley, said: “We are delighted that, through our successful recruitment campaign, we were able to attract such experienced, dedicated and motivated GPs to provide this vital service to the population of Barra and Vatersay. Our three new GPs will cover the hospital and GP Practice, providing a seamless and holistic service to the population and helping to improve and enhance the existing systems in place, with the patient at the heart. I am delighted to welcome Drs Barkell, Bassindale, and Mode to NHS Western Isles and specifically to Barra, where I’m sure the community will echo our warm welcome.”