Okehampton Medical Centre, East Street, Okehampton EX20 1AY

Good Grief Café October

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

Flu Vaccinations

Nasal flu vaccine clinics for children are now available

This years adult Flu Vaccination campaign will start from 3rd October

We will be running clinics though the week and on the following Saturdays:

- Saturday 5th October
- Saturday 12th October

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 will also be offering Covid booster vaccinations to eligible patients

Eligible patients 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

Weekly Working Party - Moretonhampstead Community Allotment

Wednesdays - 2:30pm-4:30pm

All welcome! No experience necessary. Join in and meet new people, learn about growing, and share produce.

Art, music, and growing workshops are available, supporting physical and mental wellbeing.

Tea and cake is provided

For more details, contact Torie at torie@wellmoor.co.uk, or call 01647 478378.

Walks For Men On Dartmoor

Walks for men, led by men

Saturday 19th October, 10:00am-1:00pm, Belstone

Walks are free and led by a qualified guide. Some carshare transport available to walk location

For more details or to register, email torie@wellmoor.org.uk, or call 01647 478378

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. The next drop in will take place on Saturday the 17th August 2024.

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

SystmConnect Availability

SystmConnect is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Please use Systmconnect for all requests between 8am and 4pm. In order to manage demand we are asking that you phone us on 01837 52233, option 3, only if it is urgent after 4pm.

We are currently unable to complete all requests each day so we are prioritising urgent requests and if not urgent, your query will be dealt with within 5 working days.

Repeat prescription requests can still be submitted via SystmConnect.

Thank you for your understanding,

Okehampton Medical Centre

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!

Ear Microsuction Appointments

Lee Curran from Devon Ear Clinic will now be offering Ear Microsuction appointments to patients at Okehampton Medical Centre on Thursday mornings.

Please note: this is a private service.

For patients who are over 75, you will be booked in with Okehampton Medical Centre as usual.

For more information and to book, please click here to visit the Devon Ear Clinic website

MMR Vaccines

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine, it protects against 3 serious illnesses (Measles, Mumps and Rubella).

These highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people.

Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can also lead to serious problems including Meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy.

You need two doses of MMR vaccine to protect you, it's never too late to have your MMR!

Search for 'MMR vaccine' on the NHS website to read further information.

Click here to book a vaccination appointment at Okehampton Medical Centre via Klinik (please select the 'Nurse/HCA appointment requests' tile)

Okehampton Memory Café

Tuesdays 1-3pm
at the Pavilion in the Park

The Memory Café will hold specific activities to help with memory problems, which will also include some physical activities. However, organisers are also aiming to hold more social activities, such as offering the chance to bake cakes.

For more information, please contact:
Ian 01837 54546 / ian@ocrasport.org.uk
or Vicky 079336 63796 / vicky@communitylinks-sw.co.uk

Devon's Community Mental Health

The way we deliver community mental health services in Devon is changing. Click the link to watch a short animation to find out more about the changes we're delivering and what this means for people and communities across the country. If you want to find out more or get involved, email dpt.cmhf@nhs.net.

Click here to watch the short animation on community mental health services in Devon (this will open YouTube)

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