News

Practice Update 21/11/24 - Snow

Due to extreme weather conditions, we will only be dealing with emergency cases on Thursday 21st November. If you have an appointment, please do not attend the Medical Centre unless we contact you.

To cancel your appointment, please use the cancellation link in your appointment text confirmation.

Our courier service will not be running today, but we are hoping to deliver to Thorndon, Meldon, Sourton, Lydford, Bridestowe, Springfields, Combebow, Bratton Clovelly, Broadbury and Northlew tomorrow instead (Friday 22nd November).

Dr Tim Watson
Senior Partner

Young Adult Carers Peer Support Session

Are you aged between 18-24 and do you care, unpaid, for a family member or friend who couldn't manage without you?

Do you live in East or Mid-Devon?

We would like to invite you to meet other Young Adult Carers, find out what support is available for you, and to discuss new ideas to help you cope.

When?
19th November 2024
3:30pm- 5:30pm

Where?
Exeter Community Centre, EX4 3RG

Refreshments provided

Funding for travel available

Call 01647 478 378 or email penny@wellmoor.org.uk if you would like to come along.

Young Adult Carers Peer Support Session

Are you aged between 18-24 and do you care, unpaid, for a family member or friend who couldn't manage without you?

Do you live in East or Mid-Devon?

We would like to invite you to meet other Young Adult Carers, find out what support is available for you, and to discuss new ideas to help you cope.

When?
19th November 2024
3:30pm- 5:30pm

Where?
Exeter Community Centre, EX4 3RG

Refreshments provided

Funding for travel available

Call 01647 478 378 or email penny@wellmoor.org.uk if you would like to come along.

SystmConnect Availability

SystmConnect is usually available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. However, if we have reached our safe capacity for taking online requests, then we may have to disable it earlier in the day.

We are no longer taking admin queries via systmconnect, other than repeat prescription requests, and ask that you call us for all admin queries, including requests for sick/fit notes, as we are able to deal with these more efficiently by phone.

If the systmconnect option you need is unavailable, please call us on 01837 52233, option 3 to speak to a Patient Services Advisor.

We will do our best to deal with anything urgent but may ask you to call back or complete a systmconnect the next day if it is not urgent.

If we cannot see you the same day that you contact us and you need to be seen, we may have to direct you to another service such as a walk-in centre or A&E.

We prioritise urgent requests and if not urgent, your query will be dealt with within 5 working days.

Thank you for your understanding,

Okehampton Medical Centre

Flu Vaccinations

We are running clinics thoughout the week.

Flu Vaccination eligibility:

- Those aged 65 and over
- Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- Those in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers in receipt of carers allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home
- Children aged 2-3 years

We are also offering Covid booster vaccinations to eligible patients, who will be sent a booking link via text message or can book by phoning or speaking to a receptionist.

Please click here to see the GOV UK website for further information

Patient notice

Please be aware that Dr Doidge has reverted to her maiden name of Dr Saunders.

Good Grief Café

Have you lost someone you love, recently or a long time ago? Would you like to be part of a group exploring this profound experience that happens to so many of us?

Tuesday 5th November 2024 10:00- 11:30

Okehampton Community Hospital for 5 weeks (Prior booking essential)

Please phone for details or to book a place

Marion Balsdon (Social Prescriber) 07704 155 989 or
Amy Phillips (Hospital Discharge) 07719 068 188

The kettle will be on!

"Good Grief" is run in conjunction with West Devon Community and Voluntary Services with funding from Okehampton United Charities

Reduce Your Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Do you know if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

Would you be interested in a free programme that has helped more than 500,000 people in England to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes?

The healthier you NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will cover all of this and more in their upcoming virtual information event

Register now by scanning the QR code

For more information or to book click here

NOTICE TO PATIENTS

Following the recent BMA ballot which you may have heard about in the press, we are writing to explain what this means for you and the future of General Practice.

GPs have for years been doing work that is not funded and not contracted due to gaps in commissioned services and pressures in secondary care services; they have been doing so out of concern for their patients and to ensure that you continue to receive the care you deserve.

However, with chronic underfunding and increased demand it is no longer sustainable for GPs to continue working in this way. Since 2015 we have seen 1600 Practices close or merge, there are 6 million more registered patients and 2000 fewer full time equivalent GPs across the country. Our funding levels are significantly lower than 2018 levels. This means we will be focussing on the safety and stability of our service going forwards.

Collective action is about working legitimately within our contracts. You may have heard this referred to in the press as industrial action; this is factually incorrect. We will not be doing anything that compromises your safety, and we will not currently be going on strike.

We hope you understand that we are taking this action to ensure that general practice locally, in Devon and across England is there for our patients in years to come, and hope for your forbearance.

North Dartmoor Mental Wellbeing Drop In

Alternate Saturdays, from 10am-12pm, there is now a Mental Wellbeing Drop-In at Okehampton Medical Centre as we are aware that some people find weekends difficult for their mental health.

There will always be a warm welcome, someone to talk to, and a cuppa for anyone who wants to come.

PATIENT NOTICE: Please ensure you leave at least 72 hours for us to process your prescription

Thank you, Okehampton Medical Centre.

Would you like to play an important part in training future clinicians?

At Okehampton Medical Centre, we host various clinical students throughout the year. These include GP Trainees, Years 1-5 Medical Students, Student Nurses and Paramedic Students.

Part of their training may be observing clinics, assisting in clinics, or they may have their own clinics. Initially they will speak with you to take a brief medical history and consider your current ailment, all of which will be discussed with a qualified clinician.

If you are happy to discuss your medical history and any relevant symptoms with our students during their placement, please ask the Patient Service Advisors on the reception desk to register your details, so that we can contact you to arrange a suitable time for a chat/appointment.

We know how important patient care is, and by registering today, you can be part of developing the next generation of clinicians!

Contact Details

It is important that we have up-to-date contact details for you, so we can let you know about screenings, vaccinations and appointment reminders.

If you have changed your mobile number or email address recently, you can add it to your NHS record by following the guidance about managing your NHS account.

You may also receive a text or email from the NHS asking you to do this.

Click here to read the guidance on managing your NHS account

Information Update - Blood Tests

*Please do not book or request blood tests unless you have been specifically advised to do so by a GP or another clinician at the practice.

*HCA’s and phlebotomists cannot request any bloods without prior clinical assessment.

Thank you