Dr Reeta Singh has bought out her former partner directors of Ashwood, which is based at Weelsby View Medical Centre, after a dispute arose between them.
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| NEW STRUCTURE: General practitioner Reeta Singh is back as the managing partner at the Ashwood Surgery, Weelsby View Medical Centre, Grimsby. From left, Dr Sanjay Kumar Gupte, Anne Redding, Carolyn Sibson, Amanda Ladds, Reeta Singh, patient Billie-Mae Wren, Jo Short and Dr Omar Qureshi. Picture: Abby Ruston |
As reported, Dr Singh had to temporarily leave Ashwood for one month when the issue with her partner directors – a doctor and two nurses – came to a head in July.
This meant disruption for the 2,500 patients she treated – a time she has described as "traumatic" for everyone involved. She said: "We were all worried, as any company going through major changes like that would be.
"We know there was a lot of hurt felt by the staff and they felt quite bruised by what they went through. We have all been through something quite traumatic but we had a frank discussion and we are putting it behind us and moving forward."
Dr Singh and her husband, Kit, practice operations director, took over Ashwood in late October, bringing in a new practice manager, two doctors and a nurse as well as an administration team.
The former directors are thought to be working in other surgeries in the borough.
Since Dr Singh took over, two on-call clinics – specifically for emergencies and anyone who needs to see the doctor that day – are now operating every day from 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm and there are two new telephone numbers to help patients manage prescriptions, enquiries and book appointments. They also offer telephone call-backs for general discussions about their patients' health.
Dr Singh said: "Our vision is to create a surgery that is completely patient focused. We want to listen to their views and respond accordingly.
"We understand people don't get ill by appointment and the changes mean that if someone wakes up feeling unwell there is a facility to see the doctor on the day.
"We recognise it should no longer be a case of patients not having a choice or option. We want to deliver a quality of service and that means listening to the patients.
"Previously if we didn't have an appointment we had to tell patients to go somewhere else. Now, we are able to tell all our patients to come here.
"We are in a position now where we have a fresh start and we want patients to know we are there for them."
To introduce the new staff and find out what the patients want to see happen in the future, Dr Singh has invited patients, friends of patients and the general public to a coffee and cake morning this Thursday from 9am to 1pm.
New patients will be able to register and there will also be a flu jab clinic where existing patients can receive the vaccination for free.
Dr Singh said: "We want to break down the barriers between patient and GP. While there will always be that professional relationship, we feel meeting and talking in a less formal setting like a coffee morning, where patients can talk about themselves and we can meet their families, is much better. We want to look after our patients from the cradle to the grave and it is of vital importance to build those relationships up.
"Ashwood has always been like a family. Recently it has been tough, we know it will take time to recover from that. But we are confident we will and people will see the positive changes that are happening."
To contact Ashwood Surgery, call 01472 255111 or 01472 255122.
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