Medical services and clinics

Many of us like to unwind with a nice glass of something. But it’s funny how drink sneaks up on us. The odd glass in the evening can quickly become two or three regular glasses, most evenings. Too much alcohol is bad news for your appearance, odour, brain, heart, liver and your relationships.

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For support with an alcohol problem please visit the Together Drug & Alcohol Service

Antibiotics are important for the treatment of some bacterial conditions including some which are mild, and others which can be life-threatening. However, antibiotics are also useless in treating many other conditions. Find out about the uses of antibiotics.

If you get wheezy with exertion or have a persistent cough, you may have Asthma, which is when your lungs are over-sensitive. Regular reviews (to ‘fine tune’ your medication) will help you feel much better, sleep better and take less time off work.

• Asthma UK: Inhaler Technique
  • Technique makes a difference - video animations show how to use your inhaler and spacers.
• Charity: Asthma UK
  • We’re the UK’s leading asthma charity. There are over five million people with asthma in the UK, and we’re here for them when they need us most.
• Asthma Action Plan

  • If you use an action plan, you are four times less likley to have an asthma attack that requires emergency hospital treatment!

    Click here to download your planner, fill in your details & print - the rest can be completed with our nurse team at your annual review, or at your convenience.

• Patient: Asthma
  • Asthma is a common condition that affects the airways. The typical symptoms are wheeze, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
• British Lung Foundation: Breathe Easy Support Groups
  • The British Lung Foundation have more than 230 Breathe Easy support groups throughout the UK.

All women between the age of 20 and 65 should have a regular smear test every three to five years. We send out appointment reminders to all of our patients to let you know when your next smear is due.

We send out appointments for regular checks and immunisations for pre-school children. This is to make sure that our doctors and health visitors can check that children are developing normally and that there’s nothing to worry about.

Devon Sexual Health – provides sexual health services that support healthy relationships and sexual well-being.

The services are confidential – even for those aged under 16 years old. 

Other support:

• Cup of tea
  • Enjoy this video about sex, consent and tea
• Devon Sexual Health 
  • Devon Sexual Health – provides sexual health services that support healthy relationships and sexual well-being.
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    The services are confidential – even for those aged under 16 years old. 
• NHS choices: Types of contraception
  • Expert advice for teenage girls about what types of contraception are available and where they can find the right kind to suit them. 
• Sexwise - Family Planning Association
  • Honest advice about sexual health, contraception, STIs, pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy and planning a pregnancy.
• NHS Choices: Contraception Guide
  • Check out this guide to contraception from the NHS, and take the sexual health self assessment.
• NHS: Emergency contraception (morning after pill, IUD)
  • This page provides an overview of the different STIs and links to more information about these conditions.
• NHS: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • This page provides an overview of the different STIs and links to more information about these conditions.
• Patient.co.uk: Contraceptive choices
  • If you don't want to be a Daddy/Mummy just yet, there are ways to stop this from happening. But some ways are better than others!
• NHS Choices: Contraceptive implant
  • The contraceptive implant is a small flexible tube about 40mm long that's inserted under the skin of your upper arm. It's inserted by a trained professional, such as a doctor, and lasts for three years.
• Patient.co.uk: Intrauterine System (IUS)
  • The intrauterine system (IUS) is a very effective method of contraception. It is also used to treat heavy periods (menorrhagia). It sits inside the womb (uterus). Once fitted, it works as a contraceptive for five years. Most women who use an IUS have no problems with it. It is sometimes called a 'hormone coil' because in the 1960s some intrauterine contraceptives were coil-shaped. Mirena® is the name of the only IUS available in the UK.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Emphysema occurs in Smokers and causes shortness of breath.

Find out about local counsellors and advice services. You can access these services by speaking to your GP or the surgery’s receptionist.

Diabetes type 2 is an increasingly common condition affecting how your body manages sugar. Simple measures regarding healthy eating & exercise can dramatically improve this condition.

Keeping your sugar levels and blood pressure under control will reduce your chances of a heart attack or stroke, alongside stopping smoking.

We can diagnose type 2 diabetes with a simple blood test and we can also easily diagnose pre-diabetes, which if managed well, can prevent or postpone diabetes occurring. 

• North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service
  • The North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service project is working to develop person-centred diabetes care integrated across primary and secondary care and delivered consistently across North Devon.
    
    Where clinically required this care will be in hospital, whilst all other diabetes care will be delivered nearer to home enabling a more holistic service where people with diabetes and their families are empowered, manage their health more effectively and reduce the likelihood of further complications by receiving the advice, support and care that they need when they need it.
• Health and Care Videos: Pre-Diabetes
  • Useful videos which provide information to patients regarding Pre-diabetes (at risk of Diabetes).
• Health and Care Videos: Diabetes
  • Comprehensive video library which provides information to patients regarding the management of Diabetes.
• Patient: Type 2 Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in people aged over 40. The first-line treatment is diet, weight control and physical activity. If the blood sugar (glucose) level remains high despite these measures then tablets to reduce the blood glucose level are usually advised.
• NHS: Introduction to Type 2 Diabetes
  • Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
• Pre-Diabetes (At Risk Of Diabetes)
  • Prediabetes, also commonly referred to as "borderline diabetes" or "at risk of diabetes", is a metabolic condition and growing global problem that is closely tied to obesity
• Fact sheet: Nutrition guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes
  • Nutrition management is essential to control both Diabetes types 1 and 2 Download a PDF pamphlet providing useful guidelines.
• Charity: Diabetes UK
  • Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes.

End of life care is about caring for people who have an advanced, progressive and incurable illness so they can live as well as possible until they die. It is about providing support that meets the needs of both the person who is dying and the people close to them.​

End of life care includes "palliative care". If you have an incurable illness, palliative care will make you as comfortable as possible by controlling pain and other distressing symptoms, while providing psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers. This is called a holistic approach, as it deals with the "whole" person rather than just one aspect of care. You may receive palliative care early in the course of your illness, together with other therapies to treat your condition, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, before you are considered to be nearing the end of your life. 

​We work closely with the specialist palliative care team based at Rowcroft Hospice to ensure we provide you with the best care and support possible.

Advanced Care Planning (ACP)

This can help you and those close to you prepare for the future. It gives you an opportunity to think about and write down preferences and priorities for future care, including how you want to receive care towards the end of life. Anything can be included. If it is important to you, you can download the ACP booklet by clicking here.

Ensuring everyone around you understands and knows your care preferences helps to make your experience of care and theirs better.

You might also want to find out a bit more about the two lasting powers of attorney that you can use to legally give people the power to make health and social care and property and finance related decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make these decisions yourself.

• North Devon Hospice
  • We are a local charity providing specialist care and support to people who are affected by a life-limiting illness.  Although many of our patients have cancer, we also care for people who have other life-limiting illnesses too, such as Motor Neurone Disease, Heart Failure and COPD, among others.  Our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do.
• At a loss - Bereavement Support
  • Find appropriate and local bereavement support via our signposting website. Plus an online "grief - chat" service.
• Cruse Bereavement Care
  • We are the leading national charity for bereaved people in  the UK. We offer support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Cruse offers face-to-face, telephone, email and website support. Our services are provided by trained volunteers and are confidential and free. Phone us on 0300 3305466 or email devon@cruse.org.uk

About 1 in 2 men over 40 have difficulty getting a proper erection. There are a number of causes and most cases of "Erectile Dysfunction" can be treated. There are also various other options which may include something like "Viagra". Please make a routine appointment with a GP as we can often help.

We offer a wide range of health screening for men and women at our surgery.

Women aged between 50 and 60 are advised to attend the Breast Screening Unit every three years for a mammography. This is to make sure we can check and detect any abnormalities as soon as possible. These appointments are sent out by the local Breast Unit.

Find breast screening services.

Our antenatal and postnatal clinics are held at our surgery by our doctors and midwives.

The average age is 51. It can cause various symptoms such as hot flushes. HRT can help some women during the time. There are also alternatives to HRT and simple lifestyle changes that can be made which can help you feel better.

Some services available are not covered under our contract with the NHS. This means that these services need to be paid for.

The services that include charges are:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements.
• Insurance claim forms.
• Passport signing.
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad.
• Private sick notes.
• Vaccination certificates.

Our reception staff and GPs will be happy to talk through the charges with you during your appointment.

A big prostate is very common & causes problems with passing urine, including a poor flow. Remedies can be simple & effective. See a GP if you’re concerned.

Smoking 20 Cigarettes a day will cost you over £3,500 per year. Stopping smoking can make a big difference to your relationships, sex life, bank balance, and you’ll live longer too.

• NHS Stop Smoking App
  • Receive daily support on your iPhone with this 30-day quit smoking app. Includes a motivational counter and calendar to keep you on track.
• e-Cigs
  • Although these products are unlicensed and there are still some concerns around their use, we know that they are at least 95% safer than continuing to smoke tobacco. 
• NHS: Smokefree
  

  • Find out how quick you get health benefits from quittIng.

    You are 4x more likely to quit with NHS support via App, SMS or email.  Get your free quit kit here. 

• Book: The Easy Way to Stop Smoking
  • Allen Carr’s innovative Easyway method—which he discovered after his own 100-cigarette-a-day habit nearly drove him to despair—has helped millions kick smoking without feeling anxious and deprived.

It’s worth planning at least 3 months ahead to see what vaccinations or malaria tablets you require.

We recommend that you contact the Barnstaple travel clinic. We can provide you with a printout of your immunisation history to take with you if required (please note that this is charged at 50p per sheet).

Vaccines available from us, free on the NHS, include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, DTP (Diptheria, Tetanus & Polio) and MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). We can advise regarding other vaccinations required, but please note that these cannot be given at the surgery.

• Travel Health Pro
  • The best website for travel advice, including live travel health news. You can search by country or look up specific diseases
• Exeter Travel Clinic (and Barnstaple)
  • The Exeter Travel Clinic is now operating a satellite clinic (The Barnstaple Travel Clinic) based at 102 Boutport St. We have the use of a fabulous new clinical space, kitted out to ensure you travel safely across the globe
• Fit to fly?
  • Are you medically fit to fly?

We offer routine vaccinations and general advice to our patients travelling abroad.

It may take up to eight weeks for a full course of vaccinations, so please contact us in advance to give you plenty of time if you’re planning to go abroad where you need to be vaccinated.

If you are overweight, you may feel tired, lacking in energy or experience breathing problems. You may have difficulty sleeping or get complaints from your partner that you snore. Perhaps you sweat a lot compared with other people or experience back and joint pains which can affect your mobility?​

Being overweight also leads to diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and people dying needlessly from avoidable diseases.

You can lose weight without going on a punishing diet! Please browse the links below.

• Change For Life Recipes
  • Contains over 100 calorie counted, searchable recipes, a great ‘smart recipes’ function which provides suggestions for a day’s meals, and a shopping list function which makes it easy to keep track of everything you need. Most recipes serve four adults and cost around £5 to make.
• Food Fact Sheet: Weight Loss
  • Have you ever tried to lose wight but found it difficult? Lost a little and then regained it? If you have then this fact sheet is for you. You will find advice and tools that will help you start to achieve the goals you want.
• BMI healthy weight calculator - app

  • Find out hThe Apple app designed to calculate and track your BMI. Create a separate user profile for everyone in the family over 2yrs old, set weight loss goals and get tips and adviceow quick you get health benefits from quittIng.

    You are 4x more likely to quit with NHS support via App, SMS or email.  Get your free quit kit here. 

• BMI healthy weight calculator
  • Calculate and track your BMI. Create a separate user profile for everyone in the family over 2yrs old, set weight loss goals and get tips and advice.
• Active 10
  • Walk your way to health! Did you know that walking briskly for just 10 continuous minutes counts as exercise? It's easier than you think to fit into your day!
• NHS Couch to 5K
  • Taking up running can seem like a scary prospect, especially if you feel out of shape or unfit. The Couch to 5K plan is designed to get you off the couch and gradually work you up to running 5K or for half an hour, in just nine weeks.
• Weight Watchers
  • Weight Watchers is an effective Weight Loss Programme with Support & Motivation when you need it. Lose Weight and Keep it Off with Our Meetings and Online.
• Slimming World
  • If you'd love to lose weight without feeling hungry, welcome to Slimming World! Reach your weight loss dream - enjoying the food you love!
• Patient.co.uk: Obesity and Overweight in Adults
  • If you are overweight or obese, you may feel tired, lacking in energy or experience breathing problems. You may have difficulty sleeping or get complaints from your partner that you snore. Perhaps you sweat a lot compared with other people or experience back and joint pains which can affect your mobility?