Because we know these sometimes sneak in unannounced, we wanted to remind everyone that there are 2 Bank Holiday Mondays in May when the practices will be closed:

Monday May 6th and Monday May 27th.

Please ensure you take account of these closures when needing to order or collect prescriptions.

Visit our WHEN WE ARE CLOSED page for all information, medical and pharmacy options with links, if you need urgent medical advice and/or direction on those days.

Please be aware that, although there was a short reprieve from the usual increase in prescription charges in April, they will be increasing from 1st May 2024.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that from 1 May 2024, the NHS prescription charge will increase to £9.90 per item. The cost of prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) will also rise to:

• £32.05 for a 3 month PPC
• £114.50 for a 12 month PPC
• £19.90 for a HRT PPC which covers these items.

PPCs offer savings for those needing any 4 or more prescription items in 3 months, or 12 or more items in a year.

For the full information from the government news release please go HERE

We are now taking bookings for the spring booster vaccinations at all our practices, with clinics open for bookings in April and May. To find out if you are eligible this time, when the clinics are on, where they are being held and how to book, please go straight to our COVID VACCINATION PAGE.

Please be aware that we are taking bookings on two new VACCINATION BOOKING LINES - one for Stratton and one for Holsworthy & Hatherleigh. All the details and times can be found on the COVID VACCINATION PAGE.

We are often asked by secondary care (usually in Hospitals) to undertake blood tests on behalf of consultants, outpatient departments and wards, at our medical centres. This is something we are happy to do as it is easier for our patients and reduces unnecessary travel.

However, we are only able to undertake these bloods tests under certain conditions, which are in the Community Phlebotomy Local Enhanced Service, agreed between local acute Trusts and, therefore, essential.

There are 2 things that must be in place before we can take your blood for other care providers.

1. Each patient must be responsible for making the blood test appointment requested by secondary care. We cannot do this on your behalf.
2. Each patient must come to the appointment with the appropriate 'form' or printed labels provided by secondary care. This ensures the correct tests are done and ensures the results go back to the right place – the person who has requested it. This is important for on-going patient care and to remove any delay in follow-up.

If you need to request a form or labels, the RDUH Community Phlebotomy Service can be contacted on 01395 519922.

To download this information click HERE

Our practices usually take 4 closure afternoons per year, for whole staff training.

The second of our 2024 closures will be taking place on Wednesday 15th May, with all sites and the dispensary at Hatherleigh being closed from 1pm onwards on that afternoon.

Other planned closure afternoons for 2024 are: 

Tuesday 16th July

Tuesday 11th September (changed from previously posted October date)