All doctors are allowed to take time off from General Practice and Dr Robbins will be taking a two month sabattical from 7th July. 

During her time off Dr Vicky Evans will be covering her clinics.  This means Dr Evans will be working Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

Dr Robbins will return to work on 4th September. 

Saturday Morning Surgery

We are pleased to announce that the surgery will be opening on Saturday mornings from 5th July 2008.  The opening hours will be from 8am to 10.30am. 

This will be for booked appointments only. 

We will not be taking any telephone calls during this time - these will still be handled by Devon doctors on Call as they are at present. 

Any patients who need to speak to a doctor should call the usual number 613517 and they will be put through to the Devon Doctos call centre.

Booking further appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions can all only be done in person at the surgery on a Saturday.

The NHS Care Records System Spine

I am sure you are all aware that the government is rolling out a programme this year called the NHS Care Records System.  This is a system which will mean that all of our medical records will be kept on what is known as a "spine" which is basically a huge national database. 

Although this system has its benefits (wherever we are in the UK our records can be accessed in an emrgency), some people do fear that this data will be available to too many non-professional people and also fear that the data may be lost, as recently with the Child Benefit data. 

There is no opt out whatsoever for your demographic details such as your name, address, date of birth etc but there is a website (detailed below) that you can log on to and request that your medical details are not put on the spine and for more information. 

www.TheBigOptOut.Org

This will link you to another website which instructs you of what to do next.

For those patients who do not have access to the internet you can simply write a letter to your GP informing him/her that you do not wish for your medical records to go on the spine and we will do the rest.