A DOCTOR’S surgery is finally fully staffed after undergoing a major recruitment drive.

For some time, Wimpole Road Surgery, in Colchester, was served by only two and a half GPs for 7,500 patients.

There were also no male GPs, which caused an issue for some patients wanting to discuss a sensitive health issue.

Staff went on a recruitment drive and from this week there are now six doctors as well as a nurse who will offer walk-in clinics.

GP partner, Dr Linda Mahon-Daly, said: “The doctors and staff at Wimpole have been working heroically to try to meet demand, despite being under resourced for some time.

“We have been working hard to improve the situation and have been making steady progress.

“We are now back to full strength and can offer the service and access to appointments our patients deserve.

“Not having male GPs here has also been an issue for a while. But nowwe have managed to get a good balance of genders, so patients have the option of seeing either a male or female GP as they prefer.”

Shrub End, Castle Gardens and Wimpole Road Surgeries are part of the Colchester Medical Practice, which has a catchment area roughly covering half of Colchester.

Each practice remains at its own individual site, but the merger means they share back office duties such as payroll and pensions, making them more efficient. The merger happened last April, with the centre looking after 25,000 patients.

Dr Mahon-Daly said the surgery is already planning on its next step - introducing electronic prescribing in April.

It will mean most patients won’t need to collect their prescriptions from the surgery as they will be sent to the pharmacy of their choice electronically.