Leatside Surgery

14/04/2026

Changes to blood tests requested by the hospital (from 3 April 2026)

From 3 April 2026, there are changes to how blood tests requested by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust are carried out.

These changes have been introduced by the hospital following the launch of their new electronic patient record system.

If the hospital has asked you to have a blood test, you will now receive a letter with a barcode label.

How to book your blood test at the surgery:
▪️Please telephone the surgery to book your appointment as usual, you will be asked by a member of our team, who has requested the test.
▪️You must bring your barcode label sheet with you to your appointment.
▪️Without this label, we will not be able to take your blood sample, this is because GP practices do not have access to the hospital’s system.

How to book your blood test at one of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust provide community phlebotomy locations:
▪️Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust provide community phlebotomy at three locations. To book this service, call 01803 655544.

Bookable appointments are available:
▪️Torbay Hospital: Monday–Friday, 8.30am–5pm
▪️Brixham Hospital: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9am–1.20pm
▪️Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre: Wednesdays, 8.30am–3.40pm

We appreciate this is a change to the usual process and kindly ask for your patience with our team, as these changes are outside of the surgery’s control. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact your hospital specialist team directly.

13/04/2026

Important information regarding our upcoming vaccination clinics

12/03/2026

23/02/2026

🌱 Could you get help with healthy food for your family?

If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4, you might be eligible for the NHS Healthy Start scheme 💛

You could receive a pre-paid card every 4 weeks to spend on essentials like milk, fruit & veg, pulses and infant formula — plus free vitamins for mums and little ones.

👉 Check if you’re eligible and apply today:
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

A small step that can make a big difference 🌞🥕

Get help to buy food and milk Get help to buy food and milk(the Healthy Start scheme) What is Healthy Start? If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk. If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with...

23/02/2026

✨ Save money on your NHS prescriptions! ✨

Did you know you can get a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) to make your NHS meds cheaper? If you live in England, a PPC covers all your prescriptions for a set period — no matter how many you need!

💊 How it works:

A 3-month PPC costs £32.05

A 12-month PPC costs £114.50

💡 This could save you money if you regularly need 4 or more prescription items over 3 months — or 12 or more over a year!

📆 You can even pay for a 12-month certificate in monthly instalments.

👉 Get yours online or by phone:
Visit the official NHS PPC order service https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc or call 0300 330 1341 to buy and start saving today.

NHS Business Services Authority contact number for ordering prepaid prescriptions for 3 or 12 months at a cheaper rate than single prescriptions

06/02/2026

📢 BBC News: Important Update About Statins 🫀

You may have seen the latest BBC article today about statins and their safety — we wanted to share a quick summary to help you make sense of it. 👉

💊 What the new research shows:
• A major new study has found that most side-effects commonly linked to statins are not actually caused by the drugs. This includes things like memory problems, depression, sleep issues and many other symptoms often listed on medication leaflets.

❤️ Why that matters for your health:
• Statins are proven to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and death from heart disease — especially in people at higher risk due to age, cholesterol levels or other health issues.

• The research confirms that the benefits of statins far outweigh the risks for most patients, and that fear of side effects should not be the reason to stop or avoid treatment without talking to your prescriber first

Your heart health matters ❤️

👉 Read the BBC article here:
📎

The results, in The Lancet journal, come from trials involving more than 120,000 people comparing statins with a dummy drug or placebo.

04/02/2026

📱 Did you know you can access NHS services online – anytime, anywhere?

With the National Health Service App, you can quickly and securely:

✅ Order repeat prescriptions
✅ Book and manage appointments
✅ View parts of your health record
✅ Check test results and messages
…and more!

You can use these services either through the NHS App or by logging in on the NHS website — whatever works best for you.

👉 Already have an account? Simply log in.
👉 Don’t have one yet? You can create an account in just a few minutes.

Get started here:
🔗 https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/account/

✨ Take control of your healthcare today — sign up and stay connected to your NHS care, all in one place.

Feel free to like, share, and tag someone who might find this helpful 💙

06/01/2026

❄️ Help the NHS this winter ❄️

Winter illnesses like flu and stomach bugs put extra pressure on NHS services. You can help by choosing the right care and taking simple steps to stay well.

Please remember:

🚑 999 is for life-threatening emergencies only
💻 Use NHS 111 online or call 111 for medical advice or if you’re unsure where to go
🏥 Check opening times and waiting times for minor injury units and urgent treatment centres
💊 Use your local pharmacy for advice and treatment for minor illnesses
🦷 For urgent dental problems (if not registered), contact NHS 111
🧠 Mental health crisis support is also available via 111

🏠 Help hospitals by collecting loved ones when they’re ready for discharge and attending appointments unless told otherwise.

🧣 Stay well this winter
• Keep warm and check on vulnerable neighbours and family
• Wash hands regularly (soap and water work best)
• Don’t visit hospital if you’re unwell
• Wear a mask in healthcare settings if asked
• Stay home and rest if you have a winter bug

ℹ️ More local advice:
👉 www.onedevon.org.uk/our-work/services-and-support/health-pressures

Thank you for helping protect NHS services 💙

Winter is a challenging time for health services, particularly over long bank holiday periods. By planning ...

05/01/2026

We are pleased to be launching our new Total Triage service this morning. Over the first couple of days, you may experience longer waits on our phone lines as the system beds in.

If possible, please contact the surgery via our website, which is currently the quickest way to reach us.

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our service for you.
https://systmonline.tpp-uk.com/2/OnlineConsultation?OrgId=L83043

29/12/2025