We are a friendly and dedicated team made up of doctors, nurses, dispensers, allied healthcare professionals, administrative staff, and receptionists.
Together, we work collaboratively to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our community. Welcome to Tavyside Health Centre, Tavistock - a new facility with seven General Practitioner partners, serving the community of Tavistock and its surrounding areas.
07/11/2025
🌿 Feeling sad, worried or overwhelmed? 🌿
You’re not alone — help is always available.
💬 Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support at any time, day or night.
Trained volunteers are here to listen and help you find a way forward.
📱 The service is completely anonymous and won’t appear on your phone bill.
If you or someone you know needs to talk, please reach out.
Support is available 24/7. 💙
Find out more at:
Shout is the UK's first and only 24/7 text service for anyone struggling with their mental health. Text 'Shout' to 85258 for free, confidential support anytime, anywhere
07/11/2025
🌫️ Lung Cancer Awareness Month is here - and this year, we’re shining a light on the connections between lung health, coughs, and family cancer history.
A persistent cough might be dismissed as a cold or heart issue — but sometimes, it’s more than that. If it lingers, gets worse, or you have other symptoms, get it checked.
Key point: family history of cancer doesn’t only mean the same cancer you have. When your doctor asks, they mean any cancer your relatives have had. This information can help assess your risk and guide decisions.
Stay alert to changes, know your family history, and speak up for your lung health 💨
06/11/2025
UKHSA surveillance data indicates that flu is circulating in the community earlier than usual this season with a drifted strain of Influenza A(H3N2) predominating.
🌟 Important: If you’re eligible, please book your free flu jab now!
With the colder months ahead, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself and others from flu. Here’s why and how, according to the latest guidance.
✅ Why getting the flu vaccine matters
The flu vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious illness, especially if you’re in one of the eligible groups. Flu circulating in winter hits vulnerable groups hardest, including older adults, pregnant women, children and people with long-term health conditions. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also helps reduce pressure on health services and protects people around you.
📋 Who is eligible for a free flu vaccine in 2025-26
(See attached image)
If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, please speak to your GP practice or local pharmacist.
You can book your appointment via your GP surgery. Some pharmacies also offer free NHS flu vaccinations (especially for eligible adults), check local availability.
Don’t delay: getting vaccinated early in the season gives the best protection. Even if you had the flu last year, you should still get the jab this year - the virus changes and protection wanes.
📣 What you should do next
If you are eligible → Contact the surgery today to book your appointment.
If you’re not sure → Call your GP surgery or pharmacist and ask: “Am I eligible for the free flu vaccine?”
Tell your friends and family who may be eligible, especially older relatives, pregnant women or those with chronic conditions.
Spread the word, share this post so that more people know they can be protected.
Let’s do this together and stay well this winter! 💪
If you’ve already booked your flu vaccine, thank you for doing your bit. If not yet, please schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
05/11/2025
🧠🌀 Feeling overwhelmed? Stress isn’t just “part of life” — it can affect your body, mind and behaviour in real ways.
Here’s what you might experience:
✔️ Physical: headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, chest‑racing heartbeats
✔️ Mental: trouble concentrating, making decisions, constant worrying
✔️ Behavioural: irritability, sleep too much or too little, eating changes, pulling away from others
When stress becomes long‑term, it can lead to burnout — extreme exhaustion, cynicism, reduced performance.
🎇 Bonfire Night is here - and it’s a time for fun, but also for staying safe! 🔥 Before you light those fireworks and dig into all the good food, here’s what to watch out for:
🍗 Food Safety / Food Poisoning
• Don’t let food sit out too long - especially meats or salads
• Keep raw and cooked foods separate
• Store leftovers promptly at safe temperatures
🚑 First Aid for Firework Injuries
• Minor burns: cool under running water for 10+ minutes
• Seek medical help for deeper burns, wounds, or if you see smoke inhalation symptoms
• Use sterile dressings, don’t apply creams or adhesives until checked
Have a safe and happy Bonfire Night! 🎆
03/11/2025
starts today!
Medicines safety starts with you and me. Whether you’re a patient, healthcare professional, regulator, or company, we all have the power to make medicines safer.
🎃🔪 Thinking of carving up a spooky pumpkin this Halloween? Before you do, here’s how to stay safe - and how to keep your sugar intake in check 👻🍬
How to carve a pumpkin safely:
🛠️ Use a clean, dry, well-lit area with a sturdy surface.
🧼 Wash and thoroughly dry your hands and tools to avoid slips.
🛡️ Use a proper pumpkin carving kit (small serrated saws) instead of large kitchen knives.
🔄 Always cut away from your body and use small, controlled motions.
👨👩👧 Leave the carving to adults; kids can draw the design or scoop out pulp.
⚠️ If you get cut and heavy bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes, seek medical care.
Balance is everything - carve safely, enjoy treats mindfully, and take care.
29/10/2025
Movember is coming up - and we’re calling on everyone who cares about men’s mental health.
Globally, 3 out of 4 suicides are men. That’s 1 man every 60 seconds.
This isn’t just a statistic - it’s someone’s brother, father, partner, or friend 💔🕯️
It’s time to stop the silence. It’s time to unite.
Together, we can:
🧪 Fund life-saving mental health research
📚 Support training and education
🫂 Provide real help for those in crisis
✊🏽 Let’s change the face of men’s health together.
27/10/2025
Vaccines help protect what matters most
Check your child's vaccines are up to date
Stay strong. Get vaccinated.
27/10/2025
Black History Month is a time to honour culture, celebrate resilience, and spotlight important health conversations 🧠💬
🎯 Did you know? People of Black African & Caribbean heritage in the UK are more likely to develop:
🩺 Type 2 diabetes
💢 High blood pressure (hypertension)
❤️🩹 And face a higher risk of heart disease, kidney issues & stroke
But knowledge = power 💡💪
Let’s take action together:
🍽️ Eat for your heart & blood sugar (think more veggies, less salt!)
🏃🏽♂️ Move that body daily
🧪 Get regular checks - blood pressure & diabetes screenings can be life-saving
🫱🏾🫲🏽 Talk to your family - sharing this info could change lives
This month, let’s rise together in strength, in knowledge, and in health 🖤✨
24/10/2025
🎗️ ADHD Awareness Month - October is here! Whether you're newly considering ADHD or already navigating life with it - you’re not alone. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can manifest as inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or all three - presenting differently across individuals and across life stages
Seeking clarity? Begin with ADHD UK’s About ADHD page, offering videos from specialists and a self-screener for adults
ADHD UK also hosts peer support groups, expert-led sessions, and an online marketplace of coaches and tools to help with day-to-day challenges
Why it matters:
• Diagnoses are rising - not because ADHD is increasing, but because awareness is growing and stigma is lifting
• But many still wait long months - even years - for NHS assessments - access remains unequal
• Misinformation online can confuse rather than clarify. Trusted sources like ADHD UK are key
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Tavyside Health Centre has a long tradition of providing high quality and comprehensive primary healthcare services for its patients. The practice can trace its origins back at least as far as Dr Lewis Lindsay, who established a surgery in 1930 on Plymouth Road. Stannary and Wharfside Surgeries (direct descendants of Dr Lindsay's surgery) merged to form Tavyside Health Centre in 2010, and moved into brand new premises on the site of the former Stannary Surgery in 2011.
In 2016, Tavyside Health Centre merged with Lifton Surgery before Dr Sparrows retirement in 2017. Lifton Surgery was established in the early 1950's by Drs. Charles and Mary Sutherland, who continued to work together until the early 1980's. Following Dr Charles' death, Dr Mary Sutherland continued to practice single-handed until the advent of Dr Sparrow in 1988. She retired three years later. Dr Robert Gardner joined Lifton Surgery in 1992, adding his unique brand of medicine to the practice. He departed in 2002. Dr Jonathan Carty joined the Practice in 2006 and continued working at the practice until 2015.
The practice is keen to maintain these long established traditional values of a family doctor service. The demands on the NHS increase every year, both from increasing expectations brought on by medical advances and by the political responses to meet these expectations. The service has to adjust to meet these constantly shifting goalposts, and as a practice contracted by the NHS we expect (and you expect us) to meet the demands, without losing sight of the need to be caring and attentive to the individual.
At Tavyside we work as a team of health professionals, and the days of primary healthcare being delivered by the doctor alone are in the past. Indeed, sometimes your care will be delivered exclusively by our pharmacist or by a nurse, but the service will always be led by the practice doctors. Prevention is an essential component of primary care - by advising on lifestyle and by targeting patients with specific needs, we hope to promote better health in the future for our patients.
Through education, training and regular appraisal of all staff we aim to ensure a continuing high standard of medical care is delivered. However, if the problem demands more complex investigation or treatment than we can offer at Tavyside, we shall refer you to a specialist service for an opinion and treatment whenever it is appropriate to do so.
