Do I need to see a GP?

Social Prescribing - Click here for the Facebook link to our Social Prescribing within The Clays Area

Cornwall Hospice Care Newsletter

Please click on the link below to download the latest Cornwall Hospice Care newsletter "What Matters?".

"What Matters?" is a new publication, started in the Summer of 2021, for those approaching or planning for end of life in Cornwall. It’s a joint venture that’s been created by the Cornwall Hospice Care Community Services team with the support of Community Connect.

Click to view the latest "What Matters?" newsletter

Diabetes - What to do if you are ill

  Diabetes Type 1 - What To Do When You Are Ill.pdf

Diabetes Type 2 - What To Do When You Are Ill.pdf

Do you have a cough?

Self Care

Self Care focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations.

• Diabetes
• Help with Health Costs
• Skills for Self Care
• Low Back Pain
• Eczema
• Heartburn and Indigestion
• Fever in Children
• Constipation
• headaches and Migraine
• Coughs
• Acne (Spots)
• Sprains and Strains
• Sore Throat
• Middle Ear Infection
• The Common Cold (Adults)
• Sinusitis (Adults)
• Urine Symptoms in Men
• Nutrition - Vitamin D
• Nutrition - Folic Acid

People who should have a flu vaccine

The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. This is to help protect them against catching flu and developing serious complications.

You should have the flu vaccine if you: 

• are 65 years old or over   
• are pregnant 
• have certain serious long-term medical conditions, including:
  
  • chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma (which requires an inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis 
  • chronic heart disease, such as heart failure 
  • chronic kidney disease 
  • chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis 
  • chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), learning disability or cerebral palsy
  • diabetes
  • problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed 
  • a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
  • being seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)
• are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility 
• receive a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill 

The Clays Practice has launched a Patient Participation Group (PPG)

The aim of the PPG is to bring a sense of partnership between the practice and its' patients by acting as representatives of the patient population and creating a better way of connecting general practice with the community it serves.  They meet on a regular basis to have open and constructive discussions about the services available - always with a view to taking action to make real improvements for both patients and the Practice.

Benefits of PPG's for patients

PPG's are a grassroots way of affecting change, and involving patients in  improving the health and well-being of the local community.  They have an increasingly important role to play in helping to give patient  an understanding of the way services are delivered to best meet their needs., and the needs of the local community.

PPG's are a good interface to identify essential improvements and it is hoped that forming the group will aid communication.  The PPG will be tasked with collecting patient opinions and experiences in the form of a survey available from your local surgery.  This will help the practice evaluate its services and the group will publish the results on a quarterly basis.

You can see more about our PPG on this page of the website

Online Services

The Clays Practice are offering various forms of online GP services. Please read below for details of each service.

The NHS App

We are now suggesting that patients use the NHS app (available via App Stores) or the NHS App Online, where you can order medication, view medical records and your vaccination status.

Click here for more information on the NHS App

See a GP by video with Livi. Even on the weekend.

Patients of The Clays Practice can now see an NHS GP by video using Livi.

Get medical advice, prescriptions and referrals on the same day – even on weekday
evenings and at weekends. The service is provided free on the NHS.
You can download the Livi app to your mobile phone or tablet from the App Store or Google Play. Or visit www.livi.co.uk for more information.

Livi GPs are all GMC-registered NHS GPS, who (with your consent) will be able to access your medical records and give you a considered, in-depth diagnosis based on your medical history.

Get the Livi app here: https://bit.ly/3mMpRQy

eConsult is a service available Monday to Friday (exc Bank Holidays). It is for people who want advice from their doctor, self-help information or have an administrative request. Please click on the blue box below to start:

You can also order medication via either:

• Online ordering from the surgery website: mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/secure/prescriptionsl.aspx?p=l82051
• Post your repeat prescription card request in the box found next to our front door.

Please allow two/three full working days for your order and note that orders requested after 2.00pm will not be processed until the next working day.

MIU - St Austell, Bodmin & Newquay

Minor injury units can treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries which have occurred during the last 14 days, including:

• sprains and strains

• minor fractures

• traumatic wound infections (not surgical wounds)

• minor burns and scalds

• head injuries (where the person has not been unconscious)

• insect and animal bites and stings

• minor eye injuries

• cuts, bruising and grazes

• suspected infections, e.g. chest, urinary, eye, ear, skin, throat (when GPs are closed). Nearly all pharmacies also offer a minor illness service. Find your nearest pharmacy and check opening hours

Please note that minor injury units cannot x-ray hips, femurs, backs, chests, ribs, faces or children under 2.

You can walk into any of our minor injury units. View Cornwall and Isles of Scilly live waiting times and information on current availability of MIUs.

If you are not sure if the minor injury unit is the NHS service you need, visit NHS 111 online or call 111 to check.

People with life or limb-threatening illnesses or injuries should call 999. This includes patients who have suffered a head injury with loss of consciousness or who are on blood thinners; chest pain without injury; stroke symptoms; abdominal pain or severe bleeding.

How to choose the correct health service

All our health services are busy right now, especially our ambulance service and the emergency department team at Truro hospital.

 You can play your part in supporting us to care for people with serious and life-threatening illnesses.

 Did you know you know you can get help and advice by calling 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk? You may not need to go and wait in our busy emergency department and could be directed to a minor injury unit which will be quicker and closer to home.

 Only dial 999 for an ambulance in a genuine, life-threatening emergency, for example:

• Chest pain / breathing difficulties / heart attack
• Stroke
• Severe bleeding
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe burns or scalds
• Serious head injuries
• Major trauma such as a road traffic accident or a fall from height

 If you have called for an ambulance, please do not ring again asking for a time of arrival. Only call again if:

• The patient’s condition worsens
• You no longer need our help

 The call handlers must prioritise speaking to the most seriously injured and unwell patients.

  If you don’t think it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency:

•  Call your own GP. Even if you are in Cornwall on holiday, you could get a phone or video consultation with your doctor at home.
• Go online at 111.nhs.uk or call 111 to get expert advice and be signposted to where you can get the best and nearest care for your needs.
• Ask a pharmacist for advice – they’re experts in treating minor health issues like colds, urinary infections, stomach upsets, aches and pains.

 For further information please visit NHS Kernow CCG at https://www.kernowccg.nhs.uk/get-info/choose-well/

The Clays Practice

Welcome to our Practice, which covers the area commonly known as the “Clays Area”.

Our main site at Roche is open from 08.30-12:45 and 13:30-18.00

Our surgeries at St Dennis and Bugle are open every morning until noon.

Our surgery premises are as follows:

Telephone Contact:
 Telephone  -  (08:00 - 18:30)  -  01726 890 370

If you call between 08:00 and 08:30 or 18:00 and 18:30, you will be able to speak to our message handling service.

Out of Hours Service (18:30 - 08:00):  111

The surgery at Roche is open at the following times:-

NB - If you phone the surgery from 08:00-08:30 18:00-18:30 you will be put through to our call handling service.

  Extended Hours
If you require an appointment earlier in the morning or later in the evening, please ask to speak to the Duty Dr.  A mutually convenient time can then be arranged.



Telephone Appointments
If you have difficulty attending the surgery during our usual opening or extended opening hours, ask to speak to the Duty Dr. 

A telephone appointment can be made for the Dr to call you at home or at a location of your choice.  Please make sure your telephone number is correct!

If you have insulin treated diabetes and would like advice, you can contact the NHS Diabetes Advice Helpline on 0345 123 2399. This service is available Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm

Lunchtime telephones

Please note that our surgery telephone lines will be closed daily between 12:30 and 13:30.

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.