Dr Sarah Russell

Dr Russell has changed her days of work to Monday mornings, Tuesday all day and Wednesday afternoons.

Patients who are outside our area

The practice is not currently taking part in the voluntary scheme to register patients outside of our practice area.

Periodically our doctors will review their lists of patients and look at those who are registered here but are outside our practice area.  If you are not currently receiving ongoing care for a current episode of illness or your health is currently stable and well managed, we will write to you to ask you to register with a doctor who covers your area.

We are currently going through this process and some of our patients will receive letters asking them to register elsewhere.  We do appreciate that moving surgeries can be upsetting but in the longer term getting to know your new practice and building a relationship with your doctor will be beneficial should you become ill in the future.

If you are not sure where your nearest surgery is you can find the closest services to you at NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

Dr Matthew King

We would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and support.  Thank you also  for the cards and gifts that have been handed in to reception.  These have been passed on to Mat who has been overwhelmed by your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity.  

Mat says:

Together with friends I have been “training” for the Camino by walking on Dartmoor, walking sections of the South West coastal path, and selected circular walks in East Devon. My kit list is sorted, flights are booked, and feet have thicker skin. I fly to Biarritz, and then by bus and train to St Jean Pied de Port which is the starting town to the north of the Pyrenees. 

If anyone might be interested, a charity donation site has been set up by my family.  The charity is FORCE which seems very appropriate in the circumstances as well as my wife working there as a cancer care counsellor.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MatthewKingCamino

To follow Mat on his epic journey please  subscribe to his blog at matthewkingcamino.wordpress.com

Coleridge Medical Centre closed 1.00pm - 5.30pm Thursday 5th February for staff training

Training Afternoon 

Please note on

Thursday 5^th February 2015

The Coleridge Medical Centre will be closed

between 1:00pm and 5:30pm for staff training.

In an EMERGENCY please dial 999

If you have an URGENT problem please

ring:

NHS 111 service by dialling

1 1 1

For Medical advice please ring:

NHS 111 service by dialling 1 1 1

Who is my doctor now?

From 1st February 2015 you will be registered with a GP Partner who will oversee your care. Dr King's patients will also be temporarily registered with another GP Partner.

When you contact us we will inform you who your registered GP is. However, you will be able to see other GPs within the Practice who will look after you throughout an episode of care.
If you are unsure who your registered GP is, please ask us.

Update on urgent and necessary measures

In October last year NEW Devon CCG announced a number of potential measures as part of their financial recovery programme.  This included publishing a list of services which were being considered for disinvestment.

This is because in 2013/14, the CCG’s financial position was in deficit by £14.5 million and a similar deficit was predicted for this financial year too. 

It was therefore decided  to take essential action to address this in order to prioritise the urgent care system, particularly during the difficult winter months, and to continue to achieve the guarantees that are made to patients in the NHS Constitution. 

  Please follow this link to read more

Friend and Family Test

Here a link to NHS England giving more information for patients about the Friends and Family Test

http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/fft/

You can complete a questionnaire online at our web site or in the practice.  The forms are by the prescription desk in our foyer.

What to do when we are closed

 We will be closed on 1st January 2015     If there is a life threatening emergency please ring 999.   Please do not attend Accident and Emergency with routine problems or problems that can wait until we reopen.    If you need any medical assistance that cannot wait until we reopen please ring 111.

GP appointments are now available on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from Devon Primary Link at Honiton Hospital.  To book an appointment please phone 01392 269486.  The bookable appointment line is open Thursday and Friday 0800 to 1800.

We wish all our patients, staff and friends  a happy New Year.

News update about Dr King

Dr King has recently been away from work.  We are very sorry to announce that he has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour.   Unfortunately this means that he will not be returning to the practice for the foreseeable future.  We appreciate that this is distressing and difficult news not only for Dr King’s immediate family and friends but also for those of us who work with him, his own patients and our wider community.  We hope to be able to publish updates from time to time but would ask that you respect the family’s privacy and not ask our staff for further details at this difficult and uncertain time. 

In our newsletter we highlighted that we are, like many other GP practices, struggling to cope with demand for appointments and recruit and retain doctors.   Please be assured that we are actively recruiting for permanent doctors and in the meantime engaging temporary ones to help with the workload. 

From 1^st February 2015 and with immediate effect for Dr King’s patients, you will be asked to book with the doctor who you will then continue to see for that episode of care.  Our web site and newsletter give further details of this new system and how to access GP appointments at weekends and on bank holidays. 

Please also note that pharmacists can offer advice and often treatment for minor ailments and self limiting illness such as coughs, colds, aches, pains, sore throat, blocked nose, diarrhoea and vomiting. 

We would like to thank staff, patients and colleagues for your continued support and hope that you will continue to bear with us through this challenging time.

Ebola update

You may be aware of the patient currently undergoing ebola tests at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, as well as the confirmed Scottish case.    If you need more information about Ebola please go to the Public Health England’s online question-and-answer sheet at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ebola-public-health-questions-and-answers