Please accept our sincere apologies as we are currently operating a much reduced service due to the absence of several clinical members of staff. We are hoping that this will improve shortly but it has resulted in the loss of over 400 face to face or telephone consultations this week and, as you can appreciate, has impacted massively on what we can do.

With this in mind, we have reluctantly taken the decision to temporarily cease our e-consult service and restrict appointrments to urgent appointments only.

We have managed to recruit a new practice nurse who will be starting with us on the 20th January 2025 and we hope to announce the start date for a new enhanced nurse practitioner very shortly.

We would ask that you bear with us at this very difficult time and understand that our whole team are trying to do the best that they can.

Regards,

Ian Shepherd and Dr Salil Pande – 2nd January 2025

As you may know, many established pharmacies throughout Cornwall are closing. Some of them are reopening and being run by different companies but many are remaining closed.

If you live more than one mile from a pharmacy, we can dispense your medication from our branch at St Breward and you can collect either from there, or from our Camelford or Delabole.

Although we are a provider of medical care, we are also a business. In real terms, funding for general practice has decreased over the last few years and with increased costs, finances are now extremely tight for general practice. As a result, staff recruitment and retention is a big issue throughout the NHS. We, therefore, need to look at ways of increasing income so that we can reinvest in staff and improve services to our patients.

One of these ways to do this is to increase our dispensing income hence the reason for this message.

If a local pharmacy is more convenient for you, then I am not suggesting that you change, but if it is easier for you to come to your local surgery then that will be a much-appreciated show of support to us, and assist us in these increasingly challenging times.

If you would like us to dispense your medication then please email camelford.prescriptions@nhs.net and let us know your name, address, and which surgery you would like to collect from. Please also ensure that you do live more than one mile from the nearest pharmacy otherwise we cannot dispense your medications and you will have to remain with your current pharmacy.