While this is just a brief overview, we hope it gives our patients an insight into the dedication and hard work our team puts in daily to meet all your clinical and administrative needs.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected us in June 2023 and identified some issues for improvement – mainly around internal governance and human resources.

We have worked very hard since then to resolve the issues raised, liaising closely with the CQC and the local Integrated Care Board as part of the assurance process.

We were reinspected by the CQC in May this year and are waiting for the final report and grading, which is imminent – the CQC has informed us in the meantime that progress has been made and we will be out of special measures.

We are committed to providing high quality and safe care to meet the clinical needs of our patients.

A spokesperson for Kernow Local Medical Committee - which represents Cornish general practice - said:

"We have been lobbying the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to publish their reports in a timely way following reinspection of the small number of Cornish GP practices where issues have been identified at inspections - some of which have taken place months or years ago - so that improvements can be formally acknowledged, ratings adjusted, and reassurance provided to patients, clinicians, staff and stakeholders.

"The time lag for the CQC to announce their findings is unacceptable and we have made our feelings known to the regulator."

As an employer, the practice has a duty of care for the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff. The practice also has a legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure working environment for staff. Staff mental health is as important as their physical health.

All patients and staff are expected to behave in an acceptable, respectful manner.

The practice follows the NHS guidance concerning Zero Tolerance.

Any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work is unacceptable and not tolerated.

This includes the serious or persistent use of verbal abuse, aggressive tone and/or language and swearing/foul language.

Staff should not be left upset and distressed following an interaction with a patient.

All instances of actual physical abuse or threatening behaviour on any doctor or member of staff, by a patient or their relatives will be reported to the police as an assault.

The organisation does not expect any staff member, patient or visitor to tolerate any form of behaviour that could be considered violent, abusive or threatening or that becomes so frequent it makes it more difficult for the organisation to undertake its work. Action will be taken to manage this type of behaviour whenever it occurs, including inappropriate behaviour on social media.

Should the episode of behaviour be significant, warranting an immediate application to remove the patient from the practice list.

It should be noted that the same standards of zero tolerance also apply should patients demonstrate violence towards other patients or visitors.

All our health services are busy right now.  We are asking that you Choose Well.

You can play your part in supporting us to care for people with serious and life-threatening illnesses.

Did you know you know you can get help and advice by calling 111 or go online at 111.nhs.uk? You may not need to go and wait in our busy emergency department and could be directed to a minor injury unit which will be quicker and closer to home.

Only dial 999 for an ambulance in a genuine, life-threatening emergency, for example:

• Chest pain / breathing difficulties / heart attack
• Stroke
• Severe bleeding
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe burns or scalds
• Serious head injuries
• Major trauma such as a road traffic accident or a fall from height

If you have called for an ambulance, please do not ring again asking for a time of arrival. Only call again if:

• The patient’s condition worsens
• You no longer need our help

The call handlers must prioritise speaking to the most seriously injured and unwell patients.

If you don’t think it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency:

• Call your own GP. Even if you are in Cornwall on holiday, you could get a phone or video consultation with your doctor at home.
• Go online at 111.nhs.uk or call 111 to get expert advice and be signposted to where you can get the best and nearest care for your needs.
• Ask a pharmacist for advice – they’re experts in treating minor health issues like colds, urinary infections, stomach upsets, aches and pains.

For further information please visit Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB at https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/help-us/where-is-best/

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.

We are starting to invite patients for their RSV vaccination.
RSV is a respiratory syncytial virus.
It is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs.

RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including:

cough
sore throat
sneezing
a runny or blocked nose

It can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. There is no specific treatment, and most infections will get better by themselves. Every year thousands of older adults need hospital care for RSV, and some of them will die. RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.

To find out more you can scan the below QR code or follow this link.

Mask wearing Policy changes

We are no longer expected to wear masks in our building.

Any patients that we bring in with respiratory or covid symptoms should be asked to wear a mask – be mindful that the law does not require them to. 

Acute patients with respiratory symptoms will be seen in our isolation room, away from other patients.

If we have a covid outbreak in the area, we will be required to revert to mask wearing and this will be noted on signs around the building.

We would ask patients to wear a mask if you have:

• Respiratory problems
• A cough
• Flu like symptoms
• Any symptoms of Covid
• Or are vulnerable or have low immunity