Welcome to Drayton Medical Practice

& Primary Care Centre

Dr Rob Richards

It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce the departure of Dr Rob Richards from Drayton Medical Practice. He will be leaving us in the New Year.

In his own words:

“It is very much with mixed feelings that I will be leaving Drayton Medical Practice in January 2026. I have had the honour of being a DMP partner for over 30 years!

Many of you will know my daughter Ellie, who is currently in her last year of GP training in Edinburgh. We are delighted that she is expecting her first child in November, and our grandson Levi is currently 16 months old. We feel the time is right to move nearer our family while we still have the energy to do so. My wife, Becky, has got a job as associate priest in a group of churches just outside Penrith on the northern fringes of the Lake District. She will start there in early December and I will join her in our new home at the end of January.

I am sure I will be hard pushed to find such a great team to work with up there. I wish everyone, staff and patients, all the best for the future.”

Dr Richards will be missed by all the staff here at the practice and we wish him all the best and good luck in his future adventures.

Private Shared Care Agreements

An increasing number of patients are resorting to seeking private health care to manage their symptoms, given the length of NHS waiting lists.

Sometimes, patient care is shared between a specialist and a GP, and there is a formal ‘shared care agreement’ that sets out the responsibilities of each party. Such agreements usually require the GP to arrange prescriptions and investigations once the patient’s condition is stable, with the specialist overseeing/guiding management accordingly.

All shared care agreements are voluntary, and GPs have no obligation to accept such an invitation from a specialist.

The British Medical Association advised that Share Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principles of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care.

We worry that private providers may not adhere to the same safety standards as NHS providers, and problems can emerge if private providers discharge patients who require an ongoing prescription that requires specialist monitoring/review, or the patient decides to stop paying to see the private specialist.

Our role is to provide NHS care, not to support private services.

Therefore, in keeping with many other GP surgeries, we have decided not to engage with future private shared care agreements and so will not be prescribing new specialist medications in such situations.

Out of Hours and Emergencies

111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It’s fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Serious Medical Emergencies

Patients requiring stitches, or with suspected broken bones, are advised to go directly to the A&E department at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital (Telford) or the nearest A&E department.

If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, please dial 999

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