Blood Test Results  Patients should contact the surgery a week after a blood test for the result in case a follow up appointment is needed.  Please phone Reception after 3.00 pm.

Appointment of new GPs   We are pleased to announce that as from 1 February 2009 we have two new GPs joining the practice, each working two days a week.  You will know and recognise them as they have both been working in various capacities at DMC over the past year or so.  Dr Balraj Sandhu will be working every Tuesday and Friday and Dr Katherine Thomas will be working on Mondays and Thursdays.  Since 29th August both Dr Thomas and Dr Sandhu have been performing regular locum sessions prior to  their official appointments in February.

GP REGISTRARS  Dr Hanna Jarvis completed her GP Registrar training with the practice at the end of August.  Dr Jarvis is now undertaking a partnership position in a surgery in Braintree and we wish her well in her future career.

Two new GP Registrars commenced their training with us in August.  Dr James Philips and Dr Sampson Adjei have been placed with us for their final year’s general practice training.

New Medical System  During the next few months the practice will be undertaking deployment to a new computerised medical system.  There will be extensive IT training for all GPs and staff members.  It is hoped that there will be no disruption to our patient services during this time.  The practice is expecting to ‘go live’ with the system at the beginning of December.  We are supported in this process by the NHS and Primary Care Trust.

DANBURY’S COMMUNITY BUS   The ‘flyer’ operates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays It makes three runs round the village to and from the Co-op and Medical Centre and Little Baddow on these mornings. The return fare is £1.50 which entitles passengers to a reduction of £1.00 if they spend £10.00 at the Danbury Co-op (or 50p if they spend £5). On the first Friday of each month, there is a lunch time trip to Morrison’s in Maldon Please ring the Company Secretary, Richard Creak on 01245 223725 for a time-table.

The new Windows based system is far more advanced than our current dated system and will allow additional features to be implemented. We will have a terminal in the entrance area that will enable patients to book in themselves without the need to approach the reception area and we will be looking at implementing ‘Front Desk’ the online appointment booking service.

Premises Update  The surgery plans were withdrawn in order to deal with alterations.  They have now been resubmitted.

Dispensary News  In a concerted effort to ‘up our game’ we have started to bag up the dispensed items prior to giving out to the patients.  The repeat slips are put inside the bag.  Basic stock levels have been increased in order to minimise the need for patients to call back for ‘items to follow’.  This is unavoidable at times although we have two deliveries a day from the wholesaler.