AFTER years without a resident paediatric doctor in Portland, Dr Rachna Verma is helping put a smile back on children’s faces.
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Dr Verma, a senior registrar in paediatrics, this month became available to see children referred by their general practitioner or other doctor.
The new service follows the expansion of Portland District Health’s (PDH) obstetric arrangements, with the recruitment of an obstetrician gynaecologist and experienced midwives in the expanded maternity team.
Dr Verma said she looked forward to helping the local children and young families.
“It makes it all worthwhile when you see a sick child and then a few days later you see them with lovely smiles on their faces,” she said.
“We will be offering a broad range of services for children and to support GPs. The community seems excited to have me here.
“Everyone is very friendly and stop and talk to me when I walk down the street.”
Dr Verma arrived in Portland in May with her husband Dr Anil Xavier, who is a consultant physician and nephrologist with PDH.
She graduated in her native India and has spent the past 11 years working in paediatrics in the United Kingdom.