THERE were smiles all round this week as patients at the Okement GP practice received welcome news that was just what the doctor ordered. At a public meeting on Friday patients heard that the successful tender for the practice will include their current GP, Dr Susan Taheri — the outcome many of the patients had pushed for. Patient representative from the practice Ian Read, who sat on the evaluation panel, said: 'This is the very best of news for our patients. 'We get the much valued current GP Susan Taheri as partner in charge and a practice that is forward thinking and at the cutting edge of modern general practice. 'The practice team will continue to include the excellent practice nurse, Mary Tomkins, and the wonderful admin team, which is ably led by the manager, Michelle Freeburn.' The future of the Okement GP practice became an issue when the Devon Primary Care Trust decided it would no longer run the practice directly, a move it felt would be beneficial to patients. The PCT placed an advertisement in a national newspaper on December 21 2007 to try and find a new service provider for the Okement GP practice. There were two tender submissions received, both described by the PCT as 'excellent.' The successful submission was from Wallingbrook Surgery in Chulmleigh. A statement for the PCT said: 'One of the reasons why the Wallingbrook Surgery was selected was their proposal to offer a partnership to the current GP, Susan Taheri. 'This offers benefits of full integration with a large, successful practice, local leadership and continuity of care for the patients of Okement. 'The PCT believes Okehampton patients will continue to receive excellent care and currently there are no plans to rename the surgery.' Rebecca Harriott, director of provider development at Devon Primary Care Trust, added: 'We are delighted to announce Wallingbrook Surgery as the preferred bidder to take on the management of Okement Surgery in Okehampton. 'I am pleased that it was a local GP practice that was able to win an open nation tender.' The PCT stated that there are still some formalities to complete before the final award of the contract but the contract is due to start on June 1.
