Abbey Surgery

01/05/2026

🚨 Important Update – Bere Alston Surgery Closing Early Today 🚨
Please note that Bere Alston Surgery will be closing today at 5:00pm.
If you need medical assistance after this time, help is still available:
❗️For urgent medical advice, please contact NHS 111 (online or by phone)
❗️ In a medical emergency, always call 999
❗️ You can also attend Tavistock Minor Injuries Unit for urgent but non-life-threatening issues
❗️Dartmoor urgent treatment centre is also available. 8:00am -8:00pm.

Thank you for your understanding and support 💙
-Team Abbey

28/04/2026

💊 Prescription Update from Abbey Surgery 💊
To help reduce medication waste and ensure we can safely make any changes to your treatment when needed, we’ll be moving all patients onto 28-day prescriptions, in line with NHS guidance.
We understand this is a change for some of you, and we really appreciate your support in helping us make sure medicines are used safely and effectively.
If you usually pay for your prescriptions, a prepayment certificate may help save you money 💷
As always, if you have any questions, our team are here to help. 😊
-Team Abbey

22/04/2026

💗 Breast Screening is Coming to Town! 💗
The NHS breast screening mobile unit will soon be in our area, and invitations will be heading out to women aged 49–70.
We know life gets busy, but this is one appointment you really don’t want to miss. Breast screening saves around 1,300 lives every year in the UK – and it could make all the difference.
📩 If you receive your letter – please book in and attend.
It’s quick, it’s important, and it could help spot problems early.
Got questions or feeling unsure? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the surgery – we’re here to help.
For more information, visit the NHS website.
https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/
Let’s look after ourselves and each other 💕
— Team Abbey

13/04/2026

🧶💛 Keeping tiny patients warm 💛🧶

Over the past couple of months, our surgery team—along with some wonderfully supportive friends and family—have come together to create something truly special.

With knitting needles and crochet hooks at the ready, we’ve been busy making tiny hats, socks, mittens and cardigans for premature babies in the Transitional Care Unit at Derriford. These small handmade items will help keep some of the tiniest patients cosy and comfortable during their early days. 🍼✨

We’re so proud to say we’ve filled a whole box of these lovingly made garments, which has now been delivered to the unit. Even more special, a former member of our team—now working at Derriford—was there to receive the donation on behalf of the unit. 💙

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, care, and creativity to this project. It’s a lovely reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together.
-Team Abbey

05/04/2026

💛

Big news for Tavistock and surrounding areas 👇

Our Tuesday night groups have been building something special 💛🖤 a space where men can show up, be real, and not have to carry everything on their own.

And now… we’re doing more.

From 16th April, we’re introducing fortnightly Thursday night sessions alongside our existing Tuesday group.

📍 Same place
👥 Same team
💬 Same no-judgement space

(And as always, a solid group of lads ready to listen)

In the photo: Steve, Nick, Rich, Troy, Rich — the faces behind the Tavistock sessions who are there week in, week out making sure no man walks in alone.

Whether you’ve been before or you’ve been thinking about coming along… this is your sign.

More opportunities. More conversations. More support.

No pressure. Just turn up.

👉 Please share this post, you never know who might need to see it today.

31/03/2026

🌼 Easter & Bank Holiday Closure Notice 🌼
The surgery will be taking a little Easter break.
We will be closed over the Bank Holiday and Easter weekend, reopening as normal from the 7th.
Before you settle in for a long weekend of hot cross buns and Easter treats, please remember to order your medications in plenty of time—future you will be very grateful!
If you do need medical help while we’re closed:
For urgent advice, contact NHS 111
For emergencies, always call 999
For those bumps, trips, and “I probably shouldn’t have done that” moments, you can visit:
Tavistock Minor Injuries Unit (MIU)
The Dartmoor Building at Derriford Hospital
Thank you for your understanding—and we hope you all have a lovely, restful (and chocolate-filled) Easter weekend 🐣💛
-Team Abbey

31/03/2026

✨ One Month of Total Triage – Thank You! ✨
It’s been a whole month since we introduced our new Total Triage system… and what a month it has been! 💙
In that time, we’ve: 📊 Booked an incredible 8,776 appointments
👩‍⚕️ Provided 7,917 face-to-face appointments
Our goal remains the same – to give you the care you need, when you need it, while keeping that all-important continuity between you and your GP. We’re also working hard to make sure patients in Tavistock and Bere Alston can be seen as close to home as possible. 🏡
We know change can take a little getting used to, and we truly appreciate your patience and support while we’ve been settling into this new way of working.
Now we’d love to hear from you! 💬
If you’ve used the system, what’s worked well? What could we improve? Your feedback really does help shape the service we provide.
Thank you for being part of the journey with us! 🌿
-Team Abbey

18/03/2026

MENINGITIS B OUTBREAK

We understand that recent news reports about the meningitis outbreak in Kent may be concerning for parents and staff working with children and young people. Advice from UKHSA is that there is no baseline increased risk outside of the specific outbreak in Kent at this time and currently there is no need for any additional actions beyond routine good practice.

This includes reminding parents of the importance of keeping routine vaccinations up to date, including the MenACWY vaccine where applicable. The full UK routine schedule is available here: Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 January 2026 - GOV.UK

GP Practices are required to provide MenACWY vaccination to those aged 14 years up to their 25th birthday. This offer is opportunistic or if requested by the individual. This includes those who may have missed vaccination via the SAI programme, or those who are attending university for the first time (see NHS England » General practice vaccination and immunisation services: standards and core contractual requirements). Eligible patients must be under the age of 25 years at the time of vaccination. An item of service fee will only be applicable for those vaccinations administered by the GP practice.

The SAI Team will continue to offer any outstanding MenACWY doses up until the end of Year 11. GP Practices are responsible for delivering missed MenACWY to those who may have missed the school programme (14

16/03/2026

💛

Why do we offer men a safe, non judgmental and confidential space to connect and talk about their mental health issues and concerns ???

One of the many reasons is that it breaks down the stigma attached to men’s mental health 💪🏻

What is stigma ??

Stigma is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

Stigma also gets in our way when we want to make a change.

Stigma is a deterrent to seeking treatment.

3 out of 4 people with a mental illness report feeling stigmatized.

Stigma can be a direct result of people having a false view about mental illness and that it is under the person’s control. BU****IT !!

Break the stigma. 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

Let’s talk about it

💙