At last -- around 1,000 Borehamwood people who have been without their own permanent GP for six months can now look forward to signing up with a brand-new surgery for the town.

This cannot come a moment too soon for them. These people, who used to be patients on the doctors' list at the Theobald Centre, have been waiting far too long for permanent care following the troubles at the surgery.

And finally they are going to benefit from the most basic of services to which everyone is entitled, but have been denied for so long.

Being on a doctor's list temporarily should have been just that -- temporary, not months and months. It can only have been a worrying time for many.

In the end health watchdogs had to write to Health Secretary Frank Dobson to get things moving with the appeal which attacked the health authority's choice of doctors for the brand new surgery.

But the Government decided to throw out the appeal and the wheels are now in motion.

The appeal came about when the new choice of doctors was challenged by unsuccesful applicants.

Borehamwood patients are to be congratulated -- for being so patient.

Let's hope this time we really will see a fresh start for the health of the people of Borehamwood.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.