Welcome
FURTHER CHANGES:
We have recently been reviewing our appointment system and have re-instated a Nurse / HCA clinic each week in Polruan. This will be on a Tuesday morning from 21st June.
CORONAVIRUS:
We ask ALL our patients to continue to wear a face covering when accessing the Surgery. Further guidance can be found here
Mental Health Foundation MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS week 9-15th May
The campaign points patients to 'Every Mind Matters loneliness' website for support and advice on dealing with loneliness. We are also encouraging people to complete the 'Mind Plan quiz' to get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips to help deal with stress, anxiety, low mood, trouble sleeping plus advice on how to copy with feelings of loneliness.
CERVICAL SCREENING CAMPAIGN
NHS England & NHS Improvement are launching a Help Us Help You - Cervical Screening Campaign, highlighting the benefits of cervical screening.
Women aged 25-64 are eligible for routine cervical screening, every 3 years up to the age of 50 and every 5 years thereafter.
Please take this opportunity to book your cervical smear, appointments are available in Par and Fowey and can be booked via your Online Services / NHS App account. If you have any concerns about cervical screening, please make an appointment with our Practice Nurse who can discuss this with you and allay any of your fears.
POLRUAN SURGERY CHANGES
From November 2021 a Clinician will be in clinic on a Monday afternoon. This means there will be an adjustment to our opening times.
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday remain the same 0830-1200
Monday we will be open between 2.00 - 5.00pm.
Health Service Pressures
All our health services are busy right now, especially our ambulance service and the emergency department team at Truro hospital.
You can play your part in supporting us to care for people with serious and life-threatening illnesses.
Did you know you know you can get help and advice by calling 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk? You may not need to go and wait in our busy emergency department and could be directed to a minor injury unit which will be quicker and closer to home.
Only dial 999 for an ambulance in a genuine, life-threatening emergency, for example:
- Chest pain / breathing difficulties / heart attack
- Stroke
- Severe bleeding
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe burns or scalds
- Serious head injuries
- Major trauma such as a road traffic accident or a fall from height
If you have called for an ambulance, please do not ring again asking for a time of arrival. Only call again if:
- The patient’s condition worsens
- You no longer need our help
The call handlers must prioritise speaking to the most seriously injured and unwell patients.
If you don’t think it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency:
- Call your own GP. Even if you are in Cornwall on holiday, you could get a phone or video consultation with your doctor at home.
- Go online at 111.nhs.uk or call 111 to get expert advice and be signposted to where you can get the best and nearest care for your needs.
- Ask a pharmacist for advice – they’re experts in treating minor health issues like colds, urinary infections, stomach upsets, aches and pains.
For further information please visit NHS Kernow CCG at https://www.kernowccg.nhs.uk/get-info/choose-well/
Help at Hand Community Information App: 
The Help at Hand community info App provides you with easy access to the latest support services available in the Fowey area, by telephone and online.
This App is available via the App Store (iPhone, iPad) or Google Play (Android).
The App and most of the services listed on it are completely free of charge.
Please share with your friends, family and work colleagues. We aim to make sure all these support services are available to everyone.
Thank you and keep safe.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/help-at-hand-community-info/id1441107175
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=community.hand.help
https://hand.community/
Self Referrals to the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme
If you feel you are vulnerable at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and you would benefit from the NHS Volunteer Responders you can self-refer to the scheme rather than depending on us or other professionals to refer you.
The number to make a self-referral is: 0808 1963646.
The volunteers can help you with shopping, prescription deliveries, biological sample collection and transport to medical appointments.
Domestic Abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse you can seek support by ringing the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or, if an emergency, please dial 999.
Medication:
Your medication will be issued as normal. However, you will also no longer be able to come into the surgery to collect prescriptions. This is to prevent too many people in the waiting area. All prescriptions will need to be sent electronically to the chemist (for this we will need your consent - please call reception and tell them that you would like your prescriptions to go electronically and to which chemist).
Order prescriptions online (links below).
Please order your medication 7 days in advance, this will allow us time to process your prescription whilst ensuring you don’t run out. Prescription requests WILL NOT be taken by telephone. We are not able to process more than a months' worth of medication at a time. This is to prevent stock piling and creating a lack of available medication for the whole country.
Appointments:
Clearly this is a rapidly evolving situation and our service may have to change to reflect this but please be assured that the care of our patients will be met as far as we can.
Self Help:
We will endeavour to keep our website updated but there are ways you can help yourself:
Use eConsult (link above)
NHS England have produced a very simple 'Stay At Home' guidance document which is attached here.
NHS England is running a pilot to improve contact details. You may receive a text or email asking for your up to date information. This can be updated using the NHSApp or NHS login. Please read this leaflet on how to set this up.
(Site updated 21/07/2022)