Doc Martin celebrates Valentine’s Day in Portwenn…with Mango!

Louisa looked across the table at her husband. He was gripping the newspaper and hiding behind it.

"Martin…I asked what we're doing for Valentine's Day!"

She sighed and shook her head.

"I don't know why I bother…" she muttered.

Martin coughed: "Umm, haven't had time to think about it. Taking the GP practice back on has meant a lot of paperwork. Staff training records need to be updated, patient records need refiling properly, and no one has cleaned the instruments in months."

Louisa nodded: "So, we're doing nothing. Like last year, when you said we had a table at the pub but the whole of Portwenn was there and you hadn't booked one?"

Martin shuffled uncomfortably.

"It's just a silly made-up holiday to sell greetings cards. You know that, you're a rational woman…" he said, weakly.

Louisa picked up the baby and stomped into the sitting room.

"Handled that well, didn't you?" he muttered to himself.

****

At the surgery, Morwenna gasped when Martin relayed the conversation with his wife.

"Oh you didn't say that, did you?" she asked.

Martin nodded his head glumly: "She didn't speak to me when I left for work. It's true, though, and she knows how much paperwork we're now dealing with at the practice."

Morwenna turned her computer monitor around so Martin could see it.

"I've got the answer," she said. "Mango."

Martin sighed: "What's that, one of those card companies you can order from online? What are we sending her, a heart shaped balloon?"

Morwenna jabbed at the screen with her pencil: "No! Online compliance software. We can manage all the stuff to do with the building like safety certificates and my staff training here so we can comply with the legislation on health and safety, the environment, and data protection. Obviously, the patient records are in the NHS system, but this will help us with everything else."

Marin read the website: "Interesting. You might have saved us hours of work here and you've definitely banished the piles of paper records. It says I can access them from wherever there's an internet connection. I can even update them on the train."

Morwenna nodded: "Using our VPN, of course, for added security. It also helps our business continuity planning, doesn't it?"

Martin looked impressed: "Those business classes you're taking are paying off. When can we get it?"

Morwenna smiled: "We got it last week. You told me I could make decisions that weren't about the patients in my new role as practice manager."

Martin nodded: "Good…though now I have no excuse not to plan anything for Valentine's Day…"

Morwenna laughed: "All sorted, Doc. Table booked at the pub, flowers ordered at the florist, and I got these earrings delivered last week too."

She passed Martin a box. He opened them and gasped: "Diamonds?"

Morwenna nodded: "I thought you might have some ground to make up, so I went all in."

Martin sighed: "Tell me I can afford all this…"

Morwenna smiled: "Oh, you can afford it. In fact, you can't afford NOT to do it…"

Martin nodded: "Send the next patient through please…"

• Find out how Mango's online compliance software could help your GP practice or healthcare business. Book a free demonstration which will be delivered via Zoom. We can help you achieve the ISOs you need, too. Call Penarth Management on 029 2070 3328 or email info@penarth.co.uk