Bramblehaies Doctors Surgery - Cullompton Devon | Surgery Facilities and Services

We operate this system daily for urgent problems that cannot wait for a routine appointment and problems you feel may need attention the same day (eg infections).
We ask you to provide us with your name, address, contact telephone number and brief details of your symptoms to help the Dr assess the degree of urgency.

We pass this information to our duty doctor, who rings you back to discuss your symptoms further. This may result in an advice call, a prescription being issued, a face to face appointment with the duty doctor at the surgery, or a home visit.
This system has been operating for over three years now and we have found it allows us to respond quickly to urgent problems with less upset to those people attending routine appointments.

Telephone Advice: If you need to speak to a doctor on the telephone please talk to a receptionist to arrange a mutually convenient time. Back to top >>

Home Visits: We can visit you at home if you are unable to attend the surgery, but we all recognise that this takes up a lot of time. Quite often it will be obvious why a visit is necessary but on some occasions you may be asked to explain the circumstances. Please telephone before 10:00 if possible so that we can plan our visits. Back to top >>

Out Of Hours: Devon Doctors on Call can be contacted on 0845 6710270, a telephone operator will take the call and note down all details of the problem. Arrangements will be made for a doctor to call you back or visit you. Back to top >>

New Patients: We welcome new patients to the practice and offer a medical check on joining the practice. You will normally be offered an appointment for this when you register. Back to top >>

This surgery operates a zero tolerance policy towards violent patients, be it verbal or physical abuse. The Partners are committed to do everything possible to protect their staff, patients and visitors from unacceptable behaviour that causes hurt, alarm, damage or danger.

Minor Surgery: All doctors in the practice carry out minor surgery procedures. These can be arranged by appointment with a doctor. Back to top >>

Family Planning/Contraception: We see women of all ages, young and mature; to talk about their contraceptive needs in all our normal surgeries. All doctors are trained in family planning and are able to advise about which particular method may suit you best. Back to top >>

The options available include:-

Combined pill (usually referred to as “the pill”)
Mini pill (progestogen only pill) including Cerazette)
IUCD (intra-uterine contraceptive device or “coil”) – fittings and reviews
Implanon implant – insertion (in upper arm) and reviews
Contraceptive injections (Depo-provera)
The “morning after pill” (post-coital pill) see a nurse or Dr as soon as possible ideally the next morning but available within 72 hours of unprotected sex
Pre-conception advice

For referral for sterilisation, vasectomy or termination of pregnancy (abortion), see one of the GPs. Our nurses are also able to give contraceptive advice and the morning after pill.

Please contact the practice for further information about any of the options above.

The Morning After Pill: Emergency contraception is available from the doctors or nurse if required. It is effective if taken within 72 hours. Back to top >>

All consultations are confidential

Maternity Services: We feel that good antenatal care helps to ensure healthier babies and mothers. We are also keen to offer health advice to anyone who is thinking of becoming pregnant, and encourage them to start taking folic acid supplements. If you think that you may be pregnant, please come to see one of us in surgery about two weeks after your missed period. We can do a test on an early morning urine sample either in the surgery for a fee, or by sending it to the laboratory. After the pregnancy is confirmed we will give you an opportunity to meet the midwifery team - usually at a booking clinic. Thereafter the midwives usually like to see you on a Wednesday afternoon in the antenatal clinic. The Midwives run Parenting classes on Tuesday evenings - a chance for both parents to prepare. Most of our patients have their babies either in the GP maternity unit at Tiverton Hospital, or in the consultant unit in Exeter. Subsequent 6-week post-natal checks are performed at the surgery by the GP. Back to top >>

Cervical Cytology: Smear testing, or a few cells scraped off the neck of the womb; can tell a woman if she is likely to develop cancer there. Changes occur in these cells even though there may be no symptoms. We strongly advise women to attend regularly for a test. In our practice about 95% of women aged 25-65 do so. The smear can be done in surgery by the doctor, or by appointment with one of our nurses. Back to top >>

Health Promotion: The practice is involved in a joint venture with the Culm Valley Sports Centre and Padbrook Park Fitness Centre whereby it is possible to have a “Health Script” to use the facilities at special rates for a limited period. Back to top >>

Routine children’s immunisations: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Hib and Polio are given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age. Back to top >>

Pneumococcal Vaccination is given at 2, 4 and 13 months of age.

Hib Booster with Men C is given at 12 months (Menitorex).

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) - MMR:
This is a combined vaccine and is given at 13 months of age by injection. It is recommended that a booster be given at 4 1/2 years of age. Back to top >>

Pre-school booster: This is a combined injection against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis and Polio given at 4 1/2 years of age. Back to top >>

Fourteen- fifteen year old booster: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio. Back to top >>

Meningitis C: Meningococcal infection can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). The Meningitis C vaccine will protect you against one of the most common types and is given at 3, 4 and 12 months of age, but is available to everyone under the age of 25. Back to top >>

For all of the above, reminder cards are sent from the surgery. When you receive a card you should make an appointment to see the nurse.

Other routine immunisations: Tetanus - The basic course is 3 injections at monthly intervals. We recommend 2 boosters in adult life, or at any time if you have a dirty wound. Back to top >>

Travel immunisation: We offer a comprehensive service to help you plan your travel requirements including immunisations. We have access to up to date information. Please consult our nurse at least 6 weeks before travelling, as some destinations require a complicated schedule of vaccination. We are also an approved centre for Yellow Fever vaccinations. Back to top >>

Some immunisations have to be paid for - please ask reception for details.

Influenza vaccination: As part of a national campaign we offer all patients over 65 years old and ‘at risk’ patients under 65 years old, the flu vaccination during the latter time of each year. Please remember to book an appointment during October if you wish to have this important vaccination. All other patients should ask at reception if they wish to have this vaccination. Back to top >>

Pneumococcal vaccination: Are available anytime - a once-only vaccination for those considered at risk. Back to top >>

Non NHS Medical Examinations: All doctors carry out medical examinations for insurance companies, HGV licence applications, pre-employment and other NHS medical examinations. You can view our private fee schedule listed below. Back to top >>

Private Fees Schedule

Certificates and Letters/signatures £10.50

Forms including detail £17.50

Extract from notes £30.00

Report from records (no exam) £45.00

Data Protection Act

Copying of notes and report £ 0.35 sheet

Access Fee £10.00

Full copies of notes to solicitors £50.00

Medicals £90.00

Shotgun certificate £50.00

Private prescription £15.00

<16 years old £10.00

Carers: You are a carer if you regularly look after a disabled, ill or frail relative, neighbour or friend who cannot manage alone. The Government has asked practices to set-up a register of carers. They recognise the importance of carers and the hard work they do. We can only provide support for carers when we know who they are. If you are a carer please let the receptionist know. Back to top >>

Disabled Patients: All rooms in the surgery are on one level with a gently sloping ramp to the front door. Patients in wheelchairs or with walking disabilities should not find it too difficult to see us. We also have toilet facilities for the disabled. Back to top >>

Friends of Bramblehaies: A patient group exists as a forum for dialogue between patients and staff. The group was formed initially to oversee the practice services. We have now acquired a new emphasis in the raising of funds for equipment and services for the benefit of patients. We welcome comments and suggestions via the relevant book in the waiting room or in writing addressed to Margaret Stocker or Dr Davis. Back to top >>

Medical Students: From time to time students from the Peninsula Medical School visit the practice during their medical training. We hope that you might welcome them if they are present during your consultation. Please let us know if you are not happy to have them in attendance. Back to top >>

Medical Research Council (MRC): The Medical Research Council is a government-funded organisation, which supports high quality research with the aim of maintaining and promoting human health. The practice is a member of the MRC General Practice Research Framework (GPRF), and undertakes research on behalf of the council. You may be requested to participate on some occasions; we hope that you will give your consent to improve the health of all. Back to top >>

Protection and use of information: We ask for information about you so that you can receive the best possible care and treatment. We can keep this information, together with details of your care, to ensure that your doctor or nurse has accurate and up to date information. It may also be needed if we see you again. There are times when we have to pass on information about you to other people such as hospitals, social services or the health authority. This is always done confidentially or by removing your identifying details when they are not essential. Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to maintain the highest level of confidentiality about patient information. If at any time you would like to know more about how we use your information you can speak to the Practice Manager. Back to top >>

Parking: There is ample patient car parking in front of the surgery. Please do not park at the rear of the surgery as this is reserved for doctors and staff. Should the patient car park be full, there is a public “Pay and Display” car park behind the Police Station. Back to top >>

Chemists: There are two chemists in Cullompton, one of which is always open during surgery hours i.e. 0900 - 1830; Fosters also open Saturdays. Also Gables Road Pharmacy in Willand, which is open Monday to Thursday 09-1515, Friday 0845 - 1515, and 0900 - 1230 on Saturdays. Back to top >>

Complaints, Comments and Suggestions: Our aim is to help you. It helps us to know what you think of the services we provide and perhaps how you think they could be improved. We would encourage all patients to feed back any thoughts or comments to us either directly when you see us, or to our Practice Manager by telephoning or by letter. Back to top >>