SPANISH doctor Ana Ramos celebrates her first year in Darlington this month with plans to continue her work in the town.

Dr Ramos is one of many foreign doctors working in the UK to help meet the shortfall in the number of British practitioners.

For the past year she has worked as a general practitioner at Park Place, relocating from her home town of Oviedo with her husband, Chema, and children Juan, ten, Elsa, seven, and Roman, two.

"I've had a great reception," said Dr Ramos, who qualified in 1993.

"I feel very comfortable with the patients, although I am still having some difficulty understanding their accents and expressions.

"Compared with Spanish patients they seem to have more trust in the doctor and are much more respectful. I am very happy in Darlington."