Staff training 13th August

The surgery will be closed between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday 13th August 2014 for staff training.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause

Note to self........

Please remember to come to your appointment; write it in your diary, put it in your phone or sign up for text message reminders.  Please cancel an appointment if you no longer need it so that someone else can use it.

Keep cool!

Click the link to  NHS choices for good advice about how to stay well during hot weather http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Summerhealth/Pages/Heatwave.aspx.  Don't forget to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable neighbours and friends too.

If you need medical help or advice when we are closed please dial 111

Staff training

The surgery will be closed between 1pm and 2pm on Tuesday 1st July 2014 for staff training.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause

Have you struggled to get an appointment today?

If so you are not alone.  Demand for GP services is increasing, there are more patients to see, more test results to read and more paperwork.  Many GP surgeries are simply overwhelmed.

We care about the current situation and want to work with patients and the government to find solutions to provide a better service.  The BMA is calling for long term sustainable investment in GP services now to:

Attract, retain and expand the number of GPs
Expand the number of practice staff
Improve the premises that GP services are provided from

Show your support for us.  Join the campaign at bma.org.uk/yourGPcares  Tell @The BMA on Twitter why you care about your GP practice #yourgpcares

The Future of General Practice

Did you know:-

• waiting times to see a GP or practice nurse are soaring
• Funding for general practice is plummeting
• Up to 100 practices in the UK - serving 700,000 patients face closure

You may also be aware that there is an acute shortage of doctors coming into GP training and a significant lack of local GPs able to cover as locums when our own doctors are on holiday, off sick etc.  

Dont let this be the future of general practice.  Join the campaign today by signing the petition at

www.putpatientsfirst.rcgp.org.uk
or sign the RCGP petition at our reception desk

you can also write to your local MP to share your concerns.

As our local LMC representative, Dr Gurney recently attending the national LMC conference held in York. The conference is an opportunity for representatives to create policy for future General Practitioners Committee (GPC) and  British Medical Association (BMA) action fro the following year.   Please follow this link to the BMA web site to watch GPC Chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul's keynote speech and webcasts of the two day conference in full.

National Carers Week

We are supporting carers and offer health and well being checks.  If you are a carer please contact us to book your appointment.  If you need support to attend a health and well being check or any advice concerning carers and your caring role please contact Devon Carers

Devon Carers is an information, support and short breaks service run by eight organisations working together to improve the quality of services for all carers in Devon; give us a call to find out how we can support you.  

Helpline (open Mon-Friday 8am to 6pm and Sat mornings 9am to 1pm)

  08456 434 435

 Benefits to carers include:

contact with someone to give you advice and support;

access to Flexible Breaks Grants for help towards a holiday, hobby
or leisure activity;

access to the Take a Break sitting service, providing subsidised short
breaks to give you time off from caring;

a Carer Alert Card to ensure the person you care for gets help if
something unexpected happens to you

a regular newsletter with information about events in your area. 

When we are closed over the end of May bank holiday

As the bank holiday approaches it is worth thinking about what you would do if you or a member of your family became unwell over the holiday period.  We recommend that you:-

• stock up on over the counter medicines.  Your pharmacist can also give you advice on treatments and products available.
• check you have enough prescription medicine to see you through the holidays and if you are going away pack enough for at least the duration of your holiday. 

If you need medical assistance when we are closed you can:

• phone the  NHS 111 service for medical advice by dialling 111.
• pop in to your local pharmacy for advice and over the counter medication.
• If your problem is urgent phone the NHS 111 service by dialling 111. To avoid putting undue pressure on this service, please only phone  if your problem cannot wait until we reopen.
• phone 999 immediately in the event of a life threatening, medical emergency.

Please avoid using emergency/urgent services and hospital A&E departments for routine problems or for problems that can wait until we reopen.

We are closed on Monday 26th May 2014 . Otherwise we are open as usual.

Staff training

The surgery will be closed between 1pm and 2pm on Tuesday 20th May 2014 for staff training.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause

When we are closed over the early May bank holiday

As the bank holiday approaches it is worth thinking about what you would do if you or a member of your family became unwell over the holiday period.  We recommend that you:-

• stock up on over the counter medicines.  Your pharmacist can also give you advice on treatments and products available.
• check you have enough prescription medicine to see you through the holidays and if you are going away pack enough for at least the duration of your holiday. 

If you need medical assistance when we are closed you can:

• phone the  NHS 111 service for medical advice by dialling 111.
• pop in to your local pharmacy for advice and over the counter medication.
• If your problem is urgent phone the NHS 111 service by dialling 111. To avoid putting undue pressure on this service, please only phone  if your problem cannot wait until we reopen.
• phone 999 immediately in the event of a life threatening, medical emergency.

Please avoid using emergency/urgent services and hospital A&E departments for routine problems or for problems that can wait until we reopen.

We are closed on and Monday 5th May 2014 . Otherwise we are open as usual.