Saltash Health Centre

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Latest surgery news

Stay Connected with Us on Facebook!

We are increasing our use of Facebook to help keep patients informed and up to date with everything happening at the practice.

By following our page, you’ll be the first to know about:
✅ Important practice news and updates
✅ Changes to opening hours and services
✅ Public health information and seasonal health tips
✅ Local health campaigns and events
✅ Opportunities to have your say and get involved

It’s a quick and easy way to stay connected with your healthcare team.

👉 Follow us today at www.facebook.com/SaltashHealthCentre

Please note: Our Facebook page is for information only. For any personal or medical enquiries, please contact the practice directly by using our online services or phone.

Thank you for staying informed and involved!

Respiratory Nurse appointments 20/08/2025

Update 21/8/25 – We have recruited a locum respiratory nurse which has enabled us to re-schedule patients appointments that were cancelled.

We are currently experiencing a shortage of respiratory nurse appointments due to staff sickness and planned annual leave. This has inevitably led to some booked clinics being cancelled.

We are very sorry for the inconvenience and are actively looking to recruit short term additional staff resource to cover the gap so we can get back to full capacity as soon as possible.

Thank you for bearing with us while we work through this.

Private Prescriptions for Weight Loss Injections 19/8/25

We are aware that many patients are now obtaining prescriptions for weight loss treatments through private providers.

When we are contacted by these providers, we explain that we cannot review your medical records on their behalf to check safety or contraindications. Our practice’s resources are dedicated to NHS care, and we do not have the capacity to undertake this work for private organisations. We therefore advise providers to ask patients to access their own medical history through the NHS App or online records. You can also request a copy of your medical notes directly from us to share with them.

For clarity, responsibility for checking your suitability for these medicines lies entirely with the prescribing clinician from the private service. They should not assume that no response from us means the treatment is safe for you.

Who weight loss injections are for

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) may be prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in adults who, at the start of treatment, have either:

• a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity), or
• a BMI between 27–30 kg/m² (overweight) with associated health issues such as type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, or a history of heart attack, stroke, or vascular disease.

Wegovy (Semaglutide) can be used for weight loss and maintenance, alongside diet and exercise, in adults with:

• a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher (obesity), or
• a BMI between 27–30 kg/m² with weight-related health problems.

Important advice for patients taking weight loss medication with the pill or HRT

These medicines slow stomach emptying, which can alter how well other medicines are absorbed.

If you take the contraceptive pill:

• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro): may reduce pill effectiveness.
  • Consider a non-oral contraceptive (e.g. coil, implant), or
  • Use barrier protection (condoms) for 4 weeks after starting or increasing the dose.
• Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus): does not usually reduce pill effectiveness, but side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea may still affect absorption. In these cases:
  • Use condoms as backup protection.
  • Follow “missed pill” instructions if you vomit within 3 hours of taking the pill or have diarrhoea for more than 24 hours.

If you are on HRT:
If your HRT includes oral progesterone tablets (e.g. Utrogestan, norethisterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate), weight loss injections may reduce absorption. This can cause irregular bleeding and may reduce protection of the womb lining, which could increase cancer risk over time.

Possible alternatives include:

• Mirena coil (IUS): Often the best option, lasting 5 years, provides both HRT support and contraception.
• Combined HRT patch: Provides both oestrogen and progesterone through the skin.
• Higher oral progesterone dose: Sometimes recommended for 4 weeks after starting or increasing medication.

Please contact us to discuss the best approach for your situation.

If you experience side effects

• Common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.
• These are often mild and settle with time, but if they are severe, persistent, or you notice unexpected symptoms (such as severe abdominal pain, ongoing vomiting, jaundice, or unusual bleeding), you should:
  • Contact your private prescribing provider promptly for advice.
  • If you feel unwell or unsafe, seek urgent medical care through NHS 111 or A&E.
  • Inform your GP of any serious side effects, especially if you require additional treatment.

Patient Expectations Around Prescription Timelines 18/8/25

We have had some  feedback recently  from patients who were surprised that their medication was not ready immediately after being advised that it would be available.

Key points to note for patients:

Processing time: Prescriptions are not necessarily processed  instantly by the practice script team due to the volume of prescriptions that we process each day. Pharmacy workload: Community pharmacies also need time to prepare medication, and this may vary depending on their capacity. Urgent vs routine needs: The time taken process the prescription will vary depending on whether the medication is urgent (same day if clinically necessary) or routine (usually available within 3-5 working days). Repeat prescriptions: Patients are encouraged to request repeats in good time to avoid running out.

We hope that by setting out a realistic timeline and managing patients expectations, we can help reduce unnecessary calls and visits, support our pharmacy colleagues, and maintain patient trust.

Service Update – W/C Monday 7th July

8th July 2025

We are currently experiencing high levels of staff sickness across all teams, including GPs, Nurses and Care Coordination. As a…

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Service Update – Thursday 10th July

8th July 2025

Following our Facebook post on Monday, this is an update to advise the Practice is still experiencing staff sickness across…

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Important information for patients – 2nd July 2025

24th June 2025

The Practice will be closed for staff training from 13:00 on Wednesday 2nd July 2025 and will re-open at 08:30 on…

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