FOLLOWING concern raised by a 'Post' reader regarding the call back service from Stratton Medical Centre, the centre has explained that they have received an upgrade to the system.

Stratton Medical Centre thanked patients for their co-operation during this period of upgrade and apologised to patients for any disruption to their service and any inconvenience caused.

The telephone lines into the surgery have been transferred from analogue to digital so allowing more lines into the surgery, improving access. The surgery has received calls from patients requesting the 'ring back' feature to be re-activated.

Unfortunately, as the lines have been transferred over to digital the feature of 'ring back' is not available on ISDN (digital) lines. Both the company supplying the telephone lines and the supplier of the new telephone system confirm this feature is not compatible with digital lines.

A spokesperson explained that there are six incoming lines into the surgery which are constantly answered. However, the surgery does provide the option of internet access 24 hours a day through EMIS Access. Whether you are at home or work, you can quickly log on to EMIS Access to view, book and cancel appointments and submit your repeat medication request.

They felt this was especially useful when the practice is closed, telephone lines are busy or patients are simply unable to visit the practice. Please ask at the centre's reception for a registration form, take along photographic proof of identification to register and then visit the website http://www.strattondocs.co.uk">www.strattondocs.co.uk