THE Okement Surgery at Okehampton Community Hospital is welcoming new GP Dr Fiona de Ferrars to their team.

Dr de Ferrars qualified as a doctor at Southampton University before taking time away from medicine to raise her children. Upon her return to the field, she worked at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

After qualifying as a GP she worked as a locum in more than 20 local practices before choosing to work in the Okement Surgery. She has also had specialised training in family planning.

She said: 'Okement is a well run and spacious practice. It is part of the Wallingbrook Health Group, which is very organised, and dynamic in the way that it delivers medical care.

'The partners have selected what many think is the best computer system in the country and make good use of the benefits which it brings. These include good chronic disease management, reliable medication reviews and an excellent task system, which sends me messages about the various tasks which patients have requested me to do.

'I think that Okement Surgery has tremendous potential, as many people like the quiet and spacious surroundings. I envisage it being a great success, as it is a small practice which is able to offer a high quality, more personal medical care. It also has an energetic Patient Participation Group who is currently looking to extend its membership.

I look forward to meeting those patients on my list and aim to provide them with a high quality and continuity of care.'