Ashburton Surgery

21/08/2025

Urgent information

Apologies in advance but due to some unforeseen circumstances Ashburton surgery will not be able to take telephone calls between 1 and 2 pm to day.

21/08/2025

Please note - autumn/winter vaccine campaign. Important information - the national eligibility criteria has changed for the Covid vaccine.

Flu vaccine will be offered to:

Adults aged 65 years and over
Adults aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
Residential home residents
Carers
Close contacts of immunocompromised patients

Covid-19 vaccination will be offered to:

Adults aged 75 years and over
Residents in care homes for older adults
Individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over

19/08/2025

Ashburton Surgery - Flu and Covid appointments are now available to book . Clinics commence on the 1st October 2025.

13/08/2025

When you find out you are pregnant, you can refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care so you start care with a midwife right away.

Once you sign up online, the maternity team will contact you to book your first appointment with a midwife.

You should do this by the 10th week of pregnancy, if possible, but it’s never too late to start. If you're over 10 weeks, refer yourself as soon as you can.

Start here: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/refer-yourself-for-nhs-pregnancy-care/

13/08/2025

03/07/2025

Interested in research to improve brain health and prevent dementia? Sign up to PROTECT at www.protectstudy.org.uk
Who can take part?
PROTECT is open to anyone aged 40 and over without a diagnosis of dementia. You need to have regular access to a computer and the internet and be able to speak English

02/07/2025

Do you have or care for someone with food allergy?

What are the research priorities for food allergy in children? The Food Allergy in Children Priority Setting Partnership aims to identify the Top 10 research priorities for food allergy in children. 915 patients and clinicians told us questions they want answered by future research, now have your say to pick the TOP 10 in the last survey!
This will ensure that researchers and those who fund research focus on what really matters to both patients and clinicians. Please complete the survey to get involved:

02/07/2025

❗ Missed Appointments Matter – Here's Why ❗

Every week, dozens of GP appointments go to waste because patients simply don’t turn up—and don’t let us know. Patients at Ashburton Surgery missed 104 appointments in June 2025. These missed appointments (DNAs) might seem small, but they have a big impact:

➡️ That unused time could have helped someone urgently needing care
➡️ It increases waiting times for everyone
➡️ It puts extra pressure on NHS staff already working flat out
➡️ It costs money that could have been used to help someone who needs care

We understand that things come up—but if you can’t make it, please cancel. It only takes a minute, and it helps us care for more people in our community. You can cancel via the NHSApp, your online login (https://www.nhsapp.service.nhs.uk/login), our online contact form https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/l83010, or by calling us 01364 652731.

✅ Let’s work together to make every appointment count.

01/07/2025

Ashburton Surgery is supporting research to improve understanding of people’s lives after they have been treated for cancer and think your views will make a difference. All we need is for you to tell us about your life after treatment by completing a survey online, which you can do at your convenience.
To find out more and to take part in the survey, please click on the link

The Indigo project is a digital clinical trial that aims to assess the feasibility of mass recruitment to a community cancer survivor study via a large-scale online platform using participant self-enrolment. Our ambition is to develop a firm, pragmatic evidence based on how to collect patient report...

30/06/2025

🚗 Could you be entitled to free hospital parking?

If you or someone you’re supporting meets certain criteria – such as receiving cancer treatment, being a Blue Badge holder, or visiting a relative who's in critical care , you may qualify for free parking at our sites.

Check the full list and find out more 👉
https://buff.ly/kjwtZzu

30/06/2025

☀️🌡️ Hot Weather Alert – Stay Cool & Look Out for Each Other

Looks like we're in for a stretch of very hot weather here in the UK 🥵 – and while we all love a bit of sunshine, extreme heat can be tough, especially for older people and those with health conditions like asthma, heart issues, or diabetes.

Here are some simple ways to stay cool and safe over the next few days:

💧 Keep hydrated – Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Try to avoid too much tea, coffee, or alcohol.
🏠 Stay indoors during the hottest part of the day – usually between 11am and 3pm. Keep curtains closed in sunny rooms and use fans if you have them.
🧊 Cool down – Use a damp cloth on your neck and wrists, take cool showers or baths, or place your feet in a bowl of cold water.
👕 Dress appropriately – Wear light, loose-fitting clothing and a hat if you’re out and about.
🧴 Don’t forget sun cream – even in the UK, you can burn quickly in strong sun. SPF 30 or higher is best.

❤️ Please take a moment to check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends, or family members – especially those living alone or with long-term health conditions. A quick call or visit could make all the difference.

Let’s all take care of ourselves and each other. Stay safe, stay cool 😎🌿

24/06/2025

❤️❤️ Women and people with a cervix who are overdue for cervical screening in England will be offered an at-home testing option, in plans to help boost participation in the life-saving cervical screening programme.

The new initiative, announced today by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will offer women who are six months overdue for screening a self-sampling kit to complete at home and return to a lab via pre-paid mail. Anyone whose sample shows signs of high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus), the cause of almost all cervical cancers, will then be referred to a specialist for follow-up testing.

The rollout is expected to begin in January 2026.

People who are six months overdue for cervical screening in England will now be offered self-sampling kits they can use at home.