A structured programme for those with dementia;

• Enjoy nostaligic memories in the company of kindred spirits and improve your memory skills in a friendly environment
• Brief talks from professionals on safety and the practice of carers
• Fun quizzes and live music, the very popular seated exercises and carft activities, poetry reading and occasional film clips
• Make friends at these free monthly meetings with light refreshments.

Parents and Carers also very welcome!

2024/25 dates:

Thursday 21st November

Thursday 19th December

Thursday 16th Janaury 2025

Thursday 20th February

Thursday 20th March

Thursday 17th April

Thursday 15th May

Thursday 19th June

Thursday 17th July

Roundswell Community Centre 10am- 12pm

Your lungs work hard every minute of your life. As you get older it’s worth having them checked out.

A NHS Lung Health Check can help to find problems early – often before you notice anything is wrong.

Visit Peninsula Cancer Alliance to find out more. ​

Encompass Southwest are excited to offer a new Women's Drop-in that can welcome women with their children in partnership with Action for Children - Devon Family Hubs and North Devon Against Domestic Abuse - NDADA

An opportunity for women to access some support and make referrals to other services. Every other Wednesday 12-2pm starting 18th September at Yeo Valley Hub (access via Sunflower Road)

Contact Brave Spaces on 01271 371499 or email bravespacesnd@encompass-sw.org.uk 

In the month of August we had 84 GP face to face appointments where patients did not attend.

We also had 201 nurse & phlebotomy appointments where patients did not attend.

This is more than 7 days of missed appointment time.

Each missed GP appointment costs the NHS an average of £30 per person (Source: NHS).

If you are unable to attend your appointment please call the surgery to cancel or re-arrange so we can offer the appointment again.

Following the recent British Medical Association (BMA) ballot, which you may have heard about in the press, we are writing to explain what this means for our patients and the future of General Practice.

GPs have for years been doing work that is not funded, and not contracted due to gaps in commissioned services and pressures in secondary care services; we have been doing so out of concern for our patients and to ensure that you continue to receive the care you deserve. However, with chronic underfunding and increased demand it is no longer sustainable for GPs to continue working in this way.

Since 2015 we have seen 1600 Practices close or merge, there are 6 million more registered patients and 2000 fewer full time equivalent GPs across the country. Our funding levels are significantly lower than 2018 levels. This means we must now focus on the safety and stability of our service going forwards. Collective action is about working legitimately within our contracts. You may have heard this referred to in the press as industrial action; this is factually incorrect. We will not be doing anything that compromises your safety, and we will not currently be going on strike.

We hope you understand that we are taking this action to ensure that general practice locally, in Devon and across England is there for our patients in years to come.

For more information, please take a look at the video or click here. 

Visit the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website to see the full list of parking exemptions and how to access them.

In the month of July we had 113 GP face to face appointments where patients did not attend.

We also had 205 nurse & phlebotomy appointments where patients did not attend.

This is more than 8 days of missed appointment time.

Each missed GP appointment costs the NHS an average of £30 per person (Source: NHS).

If you are unable to attend your appointment please call the surgery to cancel or re-arrange so we can offer the appointment again.

Thank you to all the patients who completed the GP Patient Survey. Click here to see the results.......

Being stalked is not your fault, and you cannot control the stalker’s behaviours.

Devon & Cornwall Police have trained stalking experts that promote stalking awareness and understanding across the force.

For more infomation from Devon & Cornwall Police on stalking please click here.

Purple Pals is a group fpr women aged 55+ who find it more challenging in theri later years to make friends and scoialise because of a lifetime of complicated relationships (from partner, ex-partner, children or siblings).

Meeting fortnighlty on Wednesdays at Queen Anne's cafe, Barnstaple 11am-12.30pm.

Please contact Beth by email before attending the group on purplepals60@gmail.com 

We’re seeing an increase in cases of COVID-19 in the community, so please help us to help you and your loved one by not visiting our hospitals if you are showing any symptoms of a virus. Thank you.

In the month of June we had 90 GP face to face appointments where patients did not attend.

We also had 148 nurse & phlebotomy appointments where patients did not attend.

This is more than 6 days of missed appointment time.

Each missed GP appointment costs the NHS an average of £30 per person (Source: NHS).

If you are unable to attend your appointment please call the surgery to cancel or re-arrange so we can offer the appointment again.

GPs and their teams are exhausted and losing morale.

No matter how many hours we work, we still can't see all the patients that need our care.

This is why you struggle to see you GP.

General Practioce is being broken. We know you dereve better than this.

GPs Are On Your Side.

If general practice recieved a fairer share of NHS funding we could:

• Train and hire more GPs
• Deliver the services you require
• Make it easier to get the appointments you need

This is why you struggle to see you GP.

General Practioce is being broken. We know you dereve better than this.

GPs Are On Your Side.

Brannam Medical Centre are proud to be an accredited Veteran Friendly GP Practice and to support our veteran community this Armed Forces Day.

As a Veteran Friendly GP Practice we:

• Have a clinical lead for veteran health, who is supported by the whole Practice to improve veteran health services.
• Ask patients ‘Have you served in the Armed Forces?’ to help identify veteran patients
• Support veteran patients to access dedicated health services
• Undertake regular training and development to meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant and better understand the needs of veteran patients

If you are a veteran patient, please let us know that you have served so we can make sure we understand your health needs.

In the last 5 years GP practoces have lost funding worth over £660 million.

We're not allowed to use the poor funding we have to recruit more GPs or more practice nurses.

This is why you struggle to see you GP.

General Practioce is being broken. We know you dereve better than this.

GPs Are On Your Side.

Please come and join EDP Drug and Alcohol Services fortnightly online ZOOM Group for Women on Thursdays 2-3pm. Every Woman is welcome.

Log in Details -

Meeting ID: 677 1994 1382

Passcode: 684971

Hot weather can increase the risk of dehydration - read more about the signs of dehydration, and how you can help monitor and prevent it here.

Do you know you can get FREE condoms and lube delivered in discreet, letterbox-friendly packs if you live in Devon or Torbay? Order online here today!

Age Concern Barnstaple and North Devon are looking for a volunteer who could play the piano at their monthly music group - an Old Favourites Sing Along. If not can you pass on to anyone you know that might be interested?

In the month of May we had 80 GP face to face appointments where patients did not attend.

We also had 182 nurse & phlebotomy appointments where patients did not attend.

This is more than 7 days of missed appointment time.

Each missed GP appointment costs the NHS an average of £30 per person (Source: NHS).

If you are unable to attend your appointment please call the surgery to cancel or re-arrange so we can offer the appointment again.

If you have any books at home which you don’t need anymore, we would love to take them off your hands.

Our book table in reception is looking a bit empty now and we are asking for any donations of books to help us raise money for our charity.

We couldn't be anymore proud of our Practice Nurse Andrea, our Practice Manager Susie and their friend Hannah for their fantastic achievement completing the Ford Ride London 2024 on Sunday riding 100 miles for a charity close to Andrea's heart Cancer Research UK. We hope you have all fully recovered and think you are absolute super stars.

•  coughing that lasts for a few minutes
•  difficulty breathing after coughing
•  thick mucus that may make you vomit
•  a distinctive 'whoop' sound (although babies and adults may not 'whoop')

For more infomation on the symptoms and vaccination please click here.

We would like to celebrate our amazing colleagues on Nurses Day. Here's some of our team, but we'd like to say a big thank you to each and every nurse who goes above and beyond, works extra hours and puts their patients first

Cervical screening can help stop cancer before it starts. If you missed your last one, book an appointment with us now.

• We will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable. If you’re nervous, you can get in touch before, or speak to us at the appointment to let us know you’d like support.
• If you’re nervous and need more time for your screening, ask the receptionist for a longer appointment when booking. You can also bring someone you trust to the appointment, such as a friend or family member.
• During the appointment you can ask for a private space to undress from the waist down, as well as a sheet to cover you. You can also wear a long top or dress during the screening.
• All our cervical screenings are performed by a female nurse or doctor, but you can request this when you book.
• You can bring your favourite music or podcast to listen to during your appointment if this helps put you at ease.

Superdrug Barnstaple will recycle your medicine blister packs.

No bulk drop off's please. They don't have a collection box in store but you can hand them over to their staff on the tills.

Dementia is progressive - signs and symptoms may be relatively mild at first but they get worse with time. While dementia affects everyone differently, it can be helpful to think of the progression in three stages. Click here to find out more - Alzheimer's Society

At many GP surgeries, there is a range of health professionals who can help you.

The reception team is trained to help people get the right care or service for their health needs.

Your general practice team is here to help you.

Find out about all the things a community pharmacist and their team can do to help you meet your healthcare needs here. Community pharmacists work alongside your GP to help you and your family stay healthy.

If you need mental health support in Devon (excluding Plymouth), rather than going to A&E, contact the First Response Service, which provides 24/7 expert support. Call: 0808 196 8708

Thank you to all the patients who completed the patient survey. Please click here for the results......

This is a website for advice and support for both children and grown-ups, or parents can visit https://chathealth.nhs.uk/start-a-chat/ to start an online chat with the school nurse service.

www.healthforkids.co.uk

If you're a teen that would like confidential health advice and support click here

If you care for a family member or are a professional care worker, this advice will help you keep the person safe. Click the link here to learn about risks and what to do about them, including their free home safety visit service.

Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase in the South West. The best prevention is to always wear a condom. If you're under 25, you can order FREE condoms here.

Do you want to enhance your resilience through these difficult times, rediscover strengths and increase your ability to cope?

The Devon HOPE Programme are launching courses across North Devon to support people who are living with long-term health conditions. Specifically aimed at people who are experiencing anxiety & depression, fibromyalgia, stroke survivors, chronic pain, Multiple Sclerosis, and various other long term conditions.

For more information please email j.cotton@encompass-sw.org.uk 

Join Vista Wellbeing CIC for this new course, aimed at complete beginners or those who would like to brush up their technique in order to get the most from their walks. Nordic Walking is great for taking pressure off the joints, improving posture, increasing range of movement and improving cardiovascular endurance. 10.30am every Friday for 12 weeks, meeting at the stone semi-circle between the bowling club and the skate park in Rock Park, Barnstaple. They provide the poles and the specialist instructor, you just bring yourselves. Please contact Vista Wellbeing beforehand to secure your place.

Unfortunately, we have had numerous occasions of ambulances not being able to gain access to the surgery for emergencies due to cars blocking the roads outside the building.

Can we kindly ask everyone coming into the Surgery or to LLoyds Pharmacy to please use the car park at Belle Meadow (next to surgery).

Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

Please be aware we may contact some of our patients via text message using a service called AccuRx. Through this, we may ask you to book various appointments via an attached link or ask you to complete some questions through a 'Florey' to help us monitor, manage and update your medical records.

To send these messages we ask that you ensure we have your current contact details. If you prefer for us not to send you any text messages please contact Reception.

Thank you!

Are you or someone you love looking for diabetes advice? Call Diabetes UK helpline on 0345 123 2399 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk