We are a friendly and dedicated team made up of doctors, nurses, dispensers, allied healthcare professionals, administrative staff, and receptionists.
Together, we work collaboratively to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our community. Welcome to Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock - a new facility with seven General Practitioner partners, serving the community of Tavistock and its surrounding areas.
29/08/2025
⏰ Reminder: Book Your COVID-19 & Flu Vaccinations! 🦠❄️
Autumn is here 🍂 — don’t forget to book your seasonal jabs to stay protected this winter.
📩 Eligible patients will receive a text with a booking link, or can use the NHS App.
📞 Our Care Navigation Team may also call to help you book.
If you need assistance, can’t use the link, or require a car-side jab 🚗, please call 01822 613517.
📅 Clinic Dates & Locations
🏥 Tavyside Health Centre – Saturdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 October
🏥 Lifton Surgery – Saturdays 4, 11 & 18 October
✅ Who’s Eligible?
Age 65–74 (Flu only) 👵👴
Age 75+ (COVID & Flu)
Pregnant women 🤰
People in clinical risk groups ❤️🩹
Immunosuppressed individuals 🛡️
Carers & health/social care workers 🩺
💡 Why book now?
Early protection helps keep you, your loved ones, and the NHS safe during the winter months.
👉 Check your invitation and book today!
28/08/2025
📢 Notice for Monday – Care Navigation Staffing
We wanted to let our patients know that on Monday, 1st September, our Care Navigation Team will be short-staffed due to unforeseen circumstances.
This means it may take a little longer than usual to answer calls or respond to enquiries at the front desk.
We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time, and we encourage you to use online services (such as the NHS App or our website) for routine requests wherever possible.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
Tavyside Health Centre Team
27/08/2025
If your heart age is older than your actual age, you could be at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Please note that GP practices across the area will be closed on Monday 25th August for the Summer Bank Holiday.
📞 For urgent medical help during this time, please call NHS 111.
🚨 In an emergency, always call 999.
Thank you for your understanding.
19/08/2025
🗓 Bank Holiday Weekend: Saturday 23 – Monday 25 August 🏖️
💊 Order your repeat prescriptions early to avoid running out of essential medication.
GP's are closed, and pharmacies may have reduced hours over the long weekend.
📱 Use the NHS App - it’s the quickest and easiest way to request repeat prescriptions at a time convenient for you. You can also:
-Choose your preferred pharmacy
-Track your prescription status
-Cancel GP appointments
-View your health record
-Access trusted NHS advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments.
📞 Know how to get urgent care: for non-emergency health issues, make NHS 111 your first call. Available 24/7 online at 111.nhs.uk or by phone.
Our hospitals and emergency services work best when NHS 111 handles urgent but non-critical needs.
In emergencies (e.g., stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding), always call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
🏥 Your local pharmacy is still there to help with minor ailments like: Sinusitis, Sore throat, Earache, Infected insect bites, Impetigo, Shingles, Uncomplicated UTIs (in women).
Developed by NHS organisations in Devon, the HANDi Paediatric app is available to download for free ...
18/08/2025
🌟 We’re hiring a Phlebotomist! 🌟
Are you great with people and even better with a needle (the gentle, caring kind 💉)? We’re looking for a friendly, skilled Phlebotomist to join our team at Tavyside Health Centre
✨ What you’ll be doing:
> Taking bloods with care and confidence 🩸
> Urinalysis (urine dip)
> Correctly labelling, packaging & sending specimens to the lab 🧪
> Supporting our nursing team and keeping patients at ease 😊
📅 Working hours:
> All day Monday
> All day Tuesday
> Friday morning
Total: 22-23 per week
💡 What we’re looking for:
> Venepuncture skills (essential!)
> Great communication & people skills
> Someone who’s calm, caring, and a real team player
🎁 What We Can Offer
⏰ 22-23 hours per week
🌴 27 days annual leave, plus Bank Holidays
🏥 NHS Pension Scheme
👩🏫 Full and supportive on-the-job training
🌈 Why join us?
> A supportive, welcoming workplace
> Opportunities to learn, grow, and make a real difference
> Be part of a team that genuinely cares about patients and each other
💉 COVID-19 & Flu Vaccinations – Book Your Appointment! 🦠❄️
Autumn is fast approaching 🍂 — it’s time to book your seasonal flu and COVID-19 jabs to protect yourself and your loved ones this winter.
If you’re eligible, you will receive:
📩 A text with a booking link, or use the NHS App or
📞 A call from our Care Navigation Team to arrange your appointment.
If you can’t use the booking link or need to be vaccinated in your 🚗 car, please call 01822 613517.
📅 Clinic Dates & Locations
🏥 Tavyside Health Centre – Saturdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 October
🏥 Lifton Surgery – Saturdays 4, 11 & 18 October
📜 NHS 2025–26 Vaccination Guidelines
✅ Booking Opens: From 1 Sept 2025 for pregnant women 🤰 and eligible children 🧒 in clinical risk groups
From 1 Oct 2025 for all other eligible adults
✅ Eligible Groups Include:
Age 65-74 (FLU ONLY) 👵👴
Age 75+ (COVID & FLU)
Pregnant women 🤰
People in clinical risk groups ❤️🩹
Immunosuppressed individuals 🛡️
Carers and health/social care workers 🩺
💡 Why Book Early?
Booking early means you’ll have maximum protection before winter peaks in illnesses like flu, COVID-19, RSV and norovirus, which place extra pressure on the NHS during ❄️ the cold months.
📞 How to Book or Get Help
Click the link in your invitation (gradually being sent out) 📩
Call us on 01822 613517 if you need help, a car-side jab 🚗, or can’t access the online booking system.
Wear clothing that makes your upper arm easily accessible 👕
14/08/2025
💇♀️ August is Hair Loss Awareness Month 💇♂️
Hair loss is more common than many people realise—and it can affect anyone, at any age.
While some hair loss is normal, sudden or patchy changes could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Common causes include:
- Hormonal changes (e.g. after pregnancy or menopause)
- Stress or significant life changes
- Nutritional deficiencies (like low iron or protein)
- Certain medical conditions or medications
When to seek help:
If you notice rapid hair loss, bald patches, or other symptoms like fatigue, weight changes, or skin issues, it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional.
📅 Our team can assess your symptoms, arrange blood tests if needed, and discuss treatment or management options.
Healthy scalp, healthy you—let’s look after the whole picture. 💙
Hair loss can have many causes. Alopecia is the general medical term for hair loss. Find out when to see a GP and what treatments are available.
12/08/2025
💙 August is National Wellness Month – Small Changes, Big Impact! 💙
This month, we’re encouraging our community to focus on self-care, healthy habits, and mental wellbeing.
Remember – you don’t have to make big changes overnight. Even small steps can lead to better health:
✅ Take a brisk 10-minute walk during your lunch break
✅ Swap one sugary drink for water each day
✅ Take 5 minutes to slow your breathing and relax
✅ Check in on a friend or loved one
Our team is here to support your health journey – whether it’s advice on nutrition, managing stress, or keeping up to date with health checks.
📅 Tip: If you’re due a blood pressure check, you can pop in and use our machine in the waiting room, or book an appointment with our HCA.
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Tavyside Health Centre has a long tradition of providing high quality and comprehensive primary healthcare services for its patients. The practice can trace its origins back at least as far as Dr Lewis Lindsay, who established a surgery in 1930 on Plymouth Road. Stannary and Wharfside Surgeries (direct descendants of Dr Lindsay's surgery) merged to form Tavyside Health Centre in 2010, and moved into brand new premises on the site of the former Stannary Surgery in 2011.
In 2016, Tavyside Health Centre merged with Lifton Surgery before Dr Sparrows retirement in 2017. Lifton Surgery was established in the early 1950's by Drs. Charles and Mary Sutherland, who continued to work together until the early 1980's. Following Dr Charles' death, Dr Mary Sutherland continued to practice single-handed until the advent of Dr Sparrow in 1988. She retired three years later. Dr Robert Gardner joined Lifton Surgery in 1992, adding his unique brand of medicine to the practice. He departed in 2002. Dr Jonathan Carty joined the Practice in 2006 and continued working at the practice until 2015.
The practice is keen to maintain these long established traditional values of a family doctor service. The demands on the NHS increase every year, both from increasing expectations brought on by medical advances and by the political responses to meet these expectations. The service has to adjust to meet these constantly shifting goalposts, and as a practice contracted by the NHS we expect (and you expect us) to meet the demands, without losing sight of the need to be caring and attentive to the individual.
At Tavyside we work as a team of health professionals, and the days of primary healthcare being delivered by the doctor alone are in the past. Indeed, sometimes your care will be delivered exclusively by our pharmacist or by a nurse, but the service will always be led by the practice doctors. Prevention is an essential component of primary care - by advising on lifestyle and by targeting patients with specific needs, we hope to promote better health in the future for our patients.
Through education, training and regular appraisal of all staff we aim to ensure a continuing high standard of medical care is delivered. However, if the problem demands more complex investigation or treatment than we can offer at Tavyside, we shall refer you to a specialist service for an opinion and treatment whenever it is appropriate to do so.
