A MANAGING partner of the Ruby Country Medical Group, Jane Wells, provided a written update on the Stratton Medical Centre for members of the Bude Community Network Panel at their latest meeting at the Parkhouse Centre on Monday, October 8.

Although Ms Wells wasn’t there herself, members of the panel were greeted on arrival with an 11-point summary of the goings on which talked about new GPs, blood tests, the redecoration of the building as well as improved access.

Firstly Ms Wells pointed out that Dr Davinder Kandola had started in July, Dr Michelle Higgs was starting on October 9 and Dr Green-Armytage had started a six-month secondment to Stratton on October 1. She will have a list of patients and provide clinical leadership to the Stratton team.

Next on the list were blood tests. They have been moved in house following two safety incidents which occurred in the summer while near patient testing has been introduced, allowing patients to receive their blood test results and any adjustment to their treatment before they leave the building.

Clinics are being moved to spread appointment times across the day and reducing the parking congestion while the minor illness nurse and one of the visiting paramedics are starting their prescribing qualification to improve services for patients. They will be qualified by mid 2019.

Naomi Gruitt has joined Stratton as operations manager and will manage the practice on a day to day basis.

The redecoration of the practice started on October 8 and will last six weeks with Ms Wells asking patients to bear with them during the project.

Improved access appointments were launched on Monday, October 1 and it is planned that appointments will be available in Stratton Hospital.

The final point Ms Wells emphasises is that they are now offering telephone appointments and are launching E-Consult via their website enabling patients to seek medical information and assistance, if required. If so, a health professional from the practice will contact the patient.

Although members read the update in the meeting, only the recently reappointed Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Bude, David Parsons, had anything to say.

He said: “We need to get it better, I know two people who have had to wait at least 25 minutes to get through which is simply not good enough.”

In reply, a member of the public, John Gimson, said: “You can now do it online as well. They have two email addresses which are [email protected] and [email protected], so hopefully people will use them.”