St. Leonard's Practice

29/09/2025

PATIENT INFORMATION

The Practice will be closed from 1.00pm on Wednesday 1st October, for staff training.

Our telephones will be covered by the on-call service from 12.00pm onwards.

The Practice will re-open as usual on Thursday morning.

If you are unwell and need advice, please telephone the Practice - your call will be transferred to the on-call service.

Alternatively, please call 111 for advice.

19/09/2025

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Surviving the Winter Blues Patient Workshop - booking essential
Saturday 27th September 10.00am-1.00pm
Full details in the image below

04/09/2025

UPDATE TO OUR REPEAT PRESCRIPTION SERVICE

We are changing how we accept prescriptions requests. From Monday 6th October 2025 we are moving to a paperless system and are phasing out paper requests.

Additionally your prescriptions will be sent to our prescription HUB to be processed. The HUB is part of the practice and not an outsourced service. There won’t be any changes to your medications but the way you order your medications may change for you.

You can order your medication via the NHS app, NHS online, online from patient services or via email to the practice.

Our staff will continue to support any patients who may struggle with this change but we are confident that the majority of patients will not encounter any difficulties.

Please contact the practice if you require any assistance.

For safety reasons we do not accept prescription requests over the telephone.

29/08/2025

Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, 1st - 30th September

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. During the month, charities raise awareness of gynaecological cancers, which include ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, va**nal cancer and vulval cancer.

Ovarian cancer is often overlooked, misunderstood or misdiagnosed, currently with a shockingly low survival rate, and it’s time to turn this around.

Each year in the UK, over 22,000 women are diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer, and early diagnosis is key to improving outcomes.

If you’ve noticed symptoms that aren’t normal for you, it’s worth getting checked. These symptoms aren’t usually cancer, but it’s important to identify any changes in your own body.
* Unusual va**nal bleeding or discharge, including any bleeding after the menopause
* Persistent bloating, feeling full more quickly or nausea
* A persistent itch, lump or changes to the vulval skin or va**na
* Unexplained lower back, abdominal or pelvic pain

You can book online, call our team or ask at reception.

https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/gynaecological-cancers/

22/08/2025

Ticks are widespread across Great Britain and their distribution is expanding.
Ticks are most active in the spring and summer months but can be active all year round. Lyme disease can be contracted anywhere where humans come into contact with ticks - in the countryside, urban parks or private gardens. It is important not to dismiss any areas as ‘zero risk’.

For travellers, Lyme disease is particularly prevalent in parts of central, eastern and northern Europe (including Scandinavia) and in the north eastern states of the US.

It is important for the public to ‘be tick aware’- to know what measures to take to avoid being bitten, how to perform tick checks on themselves, family members and pets and how to remove any attached tick promptly and safely.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

20/08/2025

St Leonard's Practice will be closed on Monday 25th August 2025 for the bank holiday.

If you need urgent advice over the break and you aren't sure where to go; Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.

Pharmacy opening times over the weekend will vary. Further information is available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/pharm-info/pharmacy-opening-hours/

NHS England — South West » Pharmacy opening hours

07/08/2025

You can now be treated for seven common conditions without seeing a GP. Think Pharmacy First.
https://ow.ly/2SaF50VLiLz

07/07/2025

Prescriptions

Going away this summer? Please remember to order enough of your medication, at least five days in advance of your holiday. Running out of regular medication where you’re unable to source more could cause serious side effects. Enjoy your holiday; request your medication early!

For safety reasons we do not accept prescription requests over the telephone. Please use one of the five options listed below to order your repeat medication.

* Online services (log in required)
* Patient Triage (log in not required)
* Tear off repeat slip and post in the letterbox at street level
* Complete request slip in the entrance lobby and post in the letterbox at street level
* By post

Please ensure you fill in the prescription request form correctly, with your Surname, First Name and Date of Birth.

Please allow 72 hours or three working days for all repeat prescription requests. Allow four working days if your prescription is collected from a Pharmacy.

https://www.stleonardssurgery.co.uk/prescriptions.ph

The St Leonard's Practice provides GP and family doctor services to patients in Exeter, Wonford, Heavitree, St Leonard's, Whipton, Stoke Hill and Pennsylvania.

02/07/2025

UV Safety Month (1st - 31st July)

While it’s important for our overall health to ensure that we get some Vitamin D, it’s also important to ensure that we protect our skin when the sun is out. It’s best to avoid being out in the sun when it’s at its strongest between 11am and 3pm during the period from March to October. You can read additional sun safety information here:

Find out how to protect your skin and eyes from UV sun damage, plus advice on using sunbeds and checking moles.

01/07/2025

Childhood immunisation

The UK childhood immunisation schedule is changing from July 2025.

Your baby will no longer receive the Hib/MenC vaccine at their one-year appointment

The second dose of MenB will be brought forward to 12 weeks

The first dose of PCV13 will be moved to 16 weeks

Find the full schedule here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/routine-childhood-immunisation-schedule

If you’d like more information, please speak to the Practice Nurse or your Health Visitor.

Information for health professionals on childhood immunisations.

27/06/2025

Hay fever

If you’re sneezing more than talking lately, you’re not alone! Hay fever (AKA allergic rhinitis) can really make the warmer months difficult. It causes itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and coughing, a headache or pain around the sides of your head or forehead, loss of smell and feeling tired.

Here are some tips to help you cope during peak pollen season:
* Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
* Keep windows closed during high pollen times
* Shower and change your clothes after being outside
*Antihistamines can help – talk to your GP or pharmacist if you’re struggling

Dehydration

When the weather is very warm, you may be at risk of dehydration if you don’t adequately replace the fluid you lose through sweating and p*eing. Babies, children and older adults are most at risk. You can help to minimise the risk of dehydration by ensuring you drink enough to keep your p*e a pale-yellow colour. You can increase your fluid intake by eating foods that are high in liquids, such as jelly, ice cream, melon, cucumber or soup.

Dehydration is when your body loses more fluid than you take in. Find out what the symptoms of dehydration are, how to prevent it and when to get medical help.