27/10/2025
SURGERY UPDATE
Dear Patients,
As many of you know, Cobbs Garden Surgery has been working hard to grow and modernise to meet the needs of our expanding community. While progress with finding a larger site has proved challenging, our commitment to developing the practice remains as strong as ever.
We were disappointed to lose the site previously offered to us due to a change in plans between Milton Keynes Council and the East Street Community Centre, and a further opportunity to expand into the former Cobbs Garden Dental property was not successful after the lease was awarded elsewhere. Despite these setbacks, we remain determined to expand and improve our facilities so we can continue to offer high-quality NHS care in Olney.
To support our ongoing growth, we have also been strengthening our clinical team and are delighted to announce several new appointments.
New Doctors 🥳
Dr Richard Edgington will join us as our new clinical partner. He will start working one day a week initially and increase this to three days a week from April 2026, when he leaves his current practice. Richard has an extensive knowledge of information technology, having worked in the computer industry before becoming a doctor. He will help us modernise the way we work to make us more efficient. He is also interested in mental health and clinical education.
Dr Charlotte Weston will be joining us in February 2026 as a salaried doctor for two and a half days a week, and she would like to develop her interest in training at the practice.
Dr Abhilash Singal will also join us in February 2026 and will work three days a week. He has a background in orthopaedics and musculoskeletal medicine and also has an interest in training.
Current Team Updates ❤️
Dr Shova Thapa will shortly go on maternity leave, and Dr Jason Reddy, who used to be the senior partner at Sharnbrook Surgery, will provide locum cover during this time.
Dr Katie Herman will continue her role as the senior partner. She has just been approved as a GP trainer, and Cobbs Garden Surgery is now a recognised training practice. We welcome our first GP trainee in February 2026 and are also hoping to become involved in training medical students from Buckingham University.
Dr Chris Herman will continue in his role as the managing partner and will lead on the strategic direction and redevelopment of the surgery.
Debbie Murphy, our practice manager, joined us a year ago and has made a significant contribution to the management of the practice. As a result, she will shortly join Dr Edgington as one of our new partners.
Premises and Development 🏠
Later this year, we are planning to begin work to increase our clinical space at the surgery, and we will update about this on a separate post. We will keep you informed about this work and will do our best to minimise the disruptions.
Although the loss of the larger development site has been disappointing, please be reassured that we have a passionate and skilled team working hard to provide the NHS care and treatments you should be able to access locally.
Looking Ahead 🚀
With the NHS plans to provide more hospital services within the community, we will continue shaping our practice to meet the future health needs of Olney, and we greatly value your continued support on our journey.
Best wishes
Dr Katie Herman and Dr Chris Herman
