Running to catch up

I can hardly believe that so much time has passed since I last wrote on the blog. So  many things have happened within the surgery that I rather took my eye off the ball. It has been a busy couple of months, with our new practice manager starting in early July, two new receptionists starting around the same time and the loss of our wonderful healthcare assistant, Mary, to a larger practice who could afford to employ her full-time. (boo, hiss!)

Our new practice manager Chrissie, comes to us from a practice in Lambeth and brings with her a wealth of experience. She has had a bit of an induction of fire as Sue our outgoing practice manager was unwell in the run-up to leaving, so Chrissie had to leap straight in, without a handover and unscramble a host of hefty documents which I had been studiously avoiding as they piled up on the manager’s desk. I had paid the bills and other essentials but not dealt with the complexity of the premises survey,  CQC findings, infection control, fire safety, refuse collection audits and all sorts of other baffling things that make up modern day practice. All credit to her she has waded through it and sorted it all.

We have interviewed and appointed a new healthcare assistant.Polly who will be joining us from mid-September. Polly has a great deal of experience having trained initially as a physician's assistant and worked in a number of countries abroad (and Wales). It will take her a little time to familiarise herself with our system but she will be mentored by June, our splendid nurse practitioner.

Manisha who joined  as a receptionist earlier this year has slipped effortlessly into her role and helped us enormously both on the desk and administratively. We are grateful to her for helping things run so smoothly during the staff transitions. Some of the changes that we have had to face are because some of our reception staff have chosen to retire (and Chris, plans to retire in October, though she has promised to cover in times of need).

Janet and Sophie, are our remaining two appointments to reception posts and are currently working through their induction and probationary periods.

Well that seems to have brought the staff information up-to-date. What else has been happening?

Once again I have spent Saturday at the surgery while we replaced the front door for the second time. Having discovered that such a thing as "public access doorways" exist, which allows us to have an entrance without a lip, this should be much safer for all concerned. This time it was fitted by Roberts Windows of Elmers End who seem to have made an excellent job of it. Hopefully this present version will last us for a good long time. Long enough to see us into new premises!

This leads me to the best news which I have kept until last. It finally looks as if the practice has secured a new and purpose-built surgery premises for the future. The planning application was approved at the end of July and now we can begin working on the nitty-gritty. This is only the beginning and after our previous disappointments we are trying to keep the excitement in check. Our hope is that by 2014 you will have access to the best possible facilities.

Haven't the Olympics been a wonderful two weeks? I believe that the forthcoming Paralympic games will be just as uplifting and inspiring and am confident that our teams will surpass the efforts of the Team GB Olympians.

I will be absent from the practice for the two weeks of the Paralympics having been fortunate enough to be selected to work as a general practitioner in the medical centre on the Greenwich site. I am certainly not keeping my excitement in check about this as I can hardly wait for it to start. What a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in such a positive and exciting time for our country. I plan to leave the flags up in the surgery and the bunting up outside until it least the end of the Paralympic games! 

See you after the games!