The Blackmore Surgery has now closed permanently ahead of the service's re-location to Sidmouth Hospital.

In an update this week, the surgery said: "We have not yet moved into Sidmouth Hospital, we will update all patients of the date when we have moved in. But the Blackmore Surgery is now closed permanently.

"The Beacon Medical Centre, Sedemuda Road (Sidmouth, EX10 9YA) is open Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm.

"During normal surgery hours, please call 01395 512601. A minor injuries service is available.

"If you have an urgent problem outside of our surgery hours, please dial 111 for the NHS Service. In an emergency dial 999. If you have an URGENT problem outside of our surgery hours, please dial 111 for the NHS Service."

The Sid Valley Practice is to improve and expand facilities at its Beacon site, while re-locating the Blackmore practice to Sidmouth Community Hospital in the town centre next year.

The expansion at Beacon will make 16 new rooms available for patients and staff in late 2023. More physiotherapists, pharmacists and mental health workers will be able to work from the site, as well as administration support and a team to support care home residents.

Rooms will also be available to student nurses, medical students, and GP trainees.

The additional space will also enable the practice to see more patients from the Newton Poppleford area, who have been keen to join the practice list for many years.

An extra operating theatre at the Beacon site will provide more operating time for skin cancer surgery and carpal tunnel surgery, saving patients from having to travel to Exeter.

Office staff will move onto one site to streamline administrative services and provide more efficient handling of phone calls.

The Blackmore branch surgery, which lacks safe and modern healthcare facilities, will relocate to Sidmouth Community Hospital, meaning the practice will be able to continue seeing patients in the town centre if they cannot travel to Beacon.