A doctor's surgery will continue to run morning open clinics following a successful trial.

The Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery, in Factory Lane West, Halstead, introduced the system at the start of June following long-running concerns from patients about being unable to see a doctor quickly.

The clinics run between 8.30am and 10.30am on weekdays and allow patients with new ailments to be seen by a clinician without having pre-booked an appointment.

With the system now a month old, practice manager Richard Hartwell says the clinics will continue to run following a positive response.

He said: “It has been going well and the feedback has been mostly positive.

“The surgery discussed the trial at a recent meeting and it was decided to continue with the open surgery as we believe it is being of benefit.

“As usual with any change, while the new system bedded down it was a bit hectic but as time has progressed the staff have settled into the new system and things have become calmer.

“The staff are happy with the new system as they feel it is easier to deal with our patients as there is no pressure during the morning period to quickly book appointments.

“From a patient point of view if you can get here then we will see you, so there’s less pressure from them on our staff which has made our mornings a lot calmer.

“This is not the finished article and we will continue to review and improve where we can.”

Before the open clinics were introduced, patients were regularly seen forming large queues outside the surgery early each morning in a bid to get an appointment.

Despite the introduction of the new system, queues are still a common sight outside the surgery before it opens at 8.30am.

Mr Hartwell says patients attending the open clinic do not need to join the early morning line and will be seen on the day providing they turn up before the 10.30am cut-off time.

He said: “We understand that people may choose to queue in the morning to get into the surgery early but by turning up later they are not affecting their chances of being seen.”