MANY patients are unsure what to do if they fall ill, or run out of their prescribed medication over Christmas and New Year if their surgery is closed. This can particularly apply to people living in remote, rural areas, those with no transport or those
MANY patients are unsure what to do if they fall ill, or run out of their prescribed medication over Christmas and New Year if their surgery is closed. This can particularly apply to people living in remote, rural areas, those with no transport or those who live by themselves.
Each GP surgery and community hospital has different opening times over this period. For more information on opening times call your local practice or community hospital in advance, most will have notices in their reception area. The same also applies to your local pharmacy. GP practices will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, but should offer normal services in between.
Here are some general tips to keep well not just over the festive season but throughout this winter
-Check to see if you are entitled to a flu jab
-Get well stocked up on over the counter medication from a pharmacy such as paracetamol, cold and flu remedies
-Think twice before calling for 'out of hours' assistance if you are able to treat yourself
-If it is appropriate, call NHS Direct 0845 4647 (open 24 hours a day) if you require any health information/advice
-If patients require medical advice or treatment from a clinician, which cannot wait until their surgery is open, they should ring Devon Doctors 0845 6710 270
-Only visit A&E if you consider it to be really necessary, most minor ailments can be treated at your local Minor Injuries Unit (MIU)
-Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
-Wash your hands often to avoid the spread of infections / viruses
-Patients should only dial 999 for an ambulance if they consider themselves or relatives to be under life-threatening conditions.
-Attend your own surgery before it closes for Christmas and New Year if you require advice from your own GP or nurse about maintaining your health at this time.
-If you are taking regular medication, try to ensure that you have enough to last over the holidays.
-If you plan to leave Devon at this time, please ensure you take enough medication with you. If you do need medical assistance when staying outside of the county, you will need to access the medical services local to where you are staying rather than your own Devon Surgery.
-If you are suffering from dental pain and have a regular NHS dentist you should contact your practice during normal working hours. If your practice is not open you will be directed to the Devon Dental out of hours service by answer phone message.
-Patients who have dental pain can contact Devon Dental direct on 01392 823682 between 8am to 10.30pm on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 and 28 December and ---New Year's Day. Normal out of hours operating times are 6pm to 10.30pm on weekdays, and 8am to 10.30pm on weekends and Bank holidays.
Out-of-hours urgent GP care is provided by Devon Doctors. If a patient telephones Devon Doctors, their call will be returned by a clinician. The patient will either receive advice over the telephone, be invited to attend a local Treatment Centre or, if clinically appropriate, receive a visit at home.
To contact Devon Doctors, please call 0845 6710 270.
Opening times and telephone numbers of local community hospital Minor Injury Units and NHS walk in centres:
Ashburton/Buckfastleigh Hospital 10am-6pm daily01364 652203
Axminster Medical Centre 8am-6pm (not 25th-26th Dec)01297 630400
Bovey Tracey Hospital 10am-6pm daily 01626 832279
Dartmouth Hospital 9am-5pm Daily01803 832255
Dawlish Hospital 10am-6pm daily01626 868500
Exmouth Hospital 24 Hour 01395 279684
Honiton Hospital 24 Hour01404 540540
Moretonhampstead Hospital 10am-6pm daily 01647 440217
Newton Abbot Hospital 8am-10pmdaily01626 354321
Okehampton Hospital 8am-10pmdaily01837 658000
Ottery St Mary Hospital 8am-4pm daily01404 816000
RD&E Walk in Centre 7am-10pm daily01392 411735
Sidmouth Hospital 10am-6pm Daily01395 512482
South Hams Hospital 01548 852349
Tavistock Hospital 8am-10pm daily (xmas day 9.30 - 10pm) 01822 612233
Teignmouth Hospital 8am - 10pm daily01626 772161
Tiverton Hospital 24 hour01884 235400
Totnes Hospital 24 hour01803 862622
Sidwell Street Walk in centre will be closed on Christmas day, will be open between 9am-5pm on boxing day and New Years day. Normal service will resume in between Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 8.30am-6pm and Sun 10am-4pm. For more information please contact the centre on 01392 276892.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here