By Nicola Davies As I write this, I am hastily trying to finish off last minute bits and pieces before I go on leave for a full week. I know, a week! What am I thinking?! It’s such a full on time at the moment – if I’m not looking at Network stuff, I’m dealing…

By Nicola Davies As I write this, we are 2½ days from the end of the QOF year… it’s been a while since I had a rant and I thought I’d share this latest one with you. Some of you will know that QOF has now been running for 15 years – so this is…

By Nicola Davies I’ve just sat down to write this, after a patient chewed my ear off because his appointment at the Out Patient Clinic has only just been booked and “…I’ve got to wait for 7 £*&%@#$ months…”  I was thinking about sharing the dire state of secondary care services in our locality, the…

By Nicola Davies A successful PPG, finally! My patient group is outstanding, and it’s not just me saying that, CQC agreed with me. Our recent ‘Outstanding’ rating is largely down to the fantastic work my Patient Participation Group has done and continues to do for our community. For a number of years, they have been working…

By Nicola Davies This month’s little missive comes to you fresh from a near-death experience… well, not quite near-death but I was on the other side of the fence for a short while and it was a bit hairy, let me tell you. I won’t bore you with the details (unlike some who are only too…

(Time to read: 4 minutes) By Nicola Davies I’m writing this blog at 11.30 at night. It’s not anything to do with the fact that I’m an OCD-riddled control freak with insomnia (though that is true) AND definitely nothing to do with the menopause, which must surely be kicking in by now. No, it’s just…

(Time to read: 4 minutes) By Nicola Davies I’m writing this piece in a moment of solitude and reflection. No, I haven’t gone mad before you ask. I’m just taking a breather because honestly, it feels like the whole world is against me at the moment. Probably a tad over-dramatic but you know me by…