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.
19/12/2025
🤧🦠 Cold or flu - knowing the difference might not seem urgent, but it can help you act right. A cold often develops slowly and stays mostly around your nose and throat, while the flu tends to hit fast, affects your whole body and leaves you feeling really unwell.
Rest well, keep hydrated and if things feel worse than “just a cold”, don’t hesitate to seek advice.
18/12/2025
🎄❄️ Winter Health Check – 18 December ❄️🎄
Because feeling festive is much better when you’re feeling well!
As the countdown to Christmas begins, a little winter TLC can go a long way:
🧤 Wrap up warm – cold weather can affect your heart and lungs, especially if you have long-term conditions.
💧 Wash those hands – winter bugs love busy shops and parties (they weren’t invited!).
💉 It’s not too late – flu vaccines are still available for those eligible via the NHS.
🏥 Choose the right NHS service –
• Minor illnesses? Your local pharmacy can help.
• Unsure what to do? NHS 111 (online or by phone).
• A&E is for emergencies only – help keep it free for those who really need it.
🎁 The best gift this season? Looking after yourself and each other.
Stay warm, stay well, and enjoy the festive season 💙
17/12/2025
💊✨ Did you know your local pharmacy can do far more than just hand out prescriptions? Under the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists can now help with a range of common conditions — often without needing a GP appointment! 🙌
💬 They can offer advice, treatments and even prescribe for minor illnesses. So next time you’re under the weather, head to your local pharmacy first.
Pharmacists are healthcare experts right on your doorstep. 🌟
15/12/2025
The festive season is a time for fun, family and celebrations - but it’s also easy for drinking habits to creep up. Being mindful can make all the difference to your health and safety.
From improving lighting and removing trip hazards to building strength & balance, it’s all about staying steady and safe. Let’s keep moving with confidence this season. 💪🧤
10/12/2025
🧬💊 Keeping on top of your medicine cabinet and daily medications is more important than you might realise. From having the right medicines at home to organising your routine and checking expiry dates — it all matters.
Staying organised means you’re ready, safer and more in control of your health. ✅
09/12/2025
Dear Patients
We wanted to let you know that we are currently experiencing a high level of sickness across the practice. Many patients and staff have been affected by a variety of bugs circulating at the moment.
At the same time, flu rates are much higher than usual for this time of year. According to the latest data from the NHS, influenza-positive tests have jumped sharply, and hospitalisations in London have already tripled compared with the same period last year.
If you haven’t already had your flu jab, it’s not too late. The free NHS flu vaccination programme is still running and the flu jab remains one of the best ways to protect yourself against serious illness or hospitalisation.
Please get in touch to arrange your flu vaccination if you’re eligible, or check with your local pharmacy for a convenient appointment.
Stay safe, and remember to catch coughs and sneezes with a tissue, bin it, then wash your hands. (It really helps reduce the spread!)
08/12/2025
🧼✨ Good hand-washing is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others from illness.
Take 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) to lather, rub all surfaces, rinse & dry — and you’ll make a big difference. 💧👌
05/12/2025
🎄 Christmas is coming! Don’t forget your prescriptions 🎄
The festive season is a busy time for everyone, including pharmacies. To make sure you have all the medication you need over Christmas, please remember to order your prescriptions in plenty of time.
💙 The quickest and easiest way to order is through the NHS App:
✔️ Request repeat prescriptions
✔️ Choose your nominated pharmacy
✔️ Track when your prescription has been issued
Avoid last-minute stress and enjoy a smooth, healthy Christmas season.
Download the NHS App today and get your medication requests sorted early! 🎅📱
Stay well and have a wonderful holiday! 🌟
05/12/2025
👂💡 Ear infections can be painful and frustrating, but knowing the facts can make all the difference! Whether it’s a common middle ear infection or a less common fungal type, it’s helpful to recognise the signs and take steps early.
From itching and discharge to muffled hearing, symptoms vary. And when it comes to treatment, you’ll often hear about pain relief and keeping the ear dry.
Remember: if symptoms persist, worsen or include hearing loss, get medical advice. 👍
03/12/2025
💙 Feeling connected and supported matters more than ever. Social isolation can deeply affect mental health, especially for people living with disabilities - but there are ways to stay active, engaged and supported. 🌈✨
Whether it’s joining a local group, finding an accessible exercise routine or learning what support is available, small steps can make a big difference. 💪💬
01/12/2025
🌍❤️ This World AIDS Day 2025, let’s come together to fight stigma, share knowledge and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by HIV. 💪✨
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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.
