THE new GP surgery in Hatherleigh was officially opened just in time for Christmas on December 14 by town mayor Cllr Clare Tyson.

The new practice welcomed patients through its doors on December 17 for the first time at its new premises in the former NatWest Bank building on Bridge Street following planning consent given by West Devon Borough Council to the Ruby Country Medical Group.

The medical centre will provide appointments with two GPs, Dr David Lee and Dr Mark Eggleton. There will also be a nurse practitioner, nurse and a phlebotomist and it is hoped an onsite dispensing service will be up and running soon.

Jane Wells, managing partner of the RCMG, said: “We’ve been busy working to get the practice up and running so it’s a real delight to open the doors of our brand new surgery, in the heart of Hatherleigh.

“It’s been in the planning for some time, and not only will it offer first rate facilities for all our patients, it also offers them the option of onsite medicine dispensing. 

“Patients will see all the familiar practice faces, with GP’s offering clinics five days a week alongside our nurse practitioner, who can treat a wide-range of conditions and write prescriptions when required. We also have a dedicated phlebotomist consulting room, which will provide much needed tests throughout the week.

“Ruby Country Medical Group now offers pre-booked appointments, telephone appointments and ‘on the day’ emergency appointments all day every day at both of our surgeries in Hatherleigh and Holsworthy. A duty doctor is available all the time and the five-strong visiting team also works throughout the day visiting patients who are housebound, vulnerable or too ill to travel as well as those in nursing and residential homes across the whole practice area. We will roll out our dispensing service fully over the next few weeks.”