Month: <span>November 2015</span>

Medical Centre Christmas/New Year Closures 2015

The Medical Centre has here provided details of when it will be closed for the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays. The dates are:

  • Friday 25th December 2015
  • Monday 28th December 2015
  • Friday 1st January 2016

The Centre reminds patients to ensure they allow adequate time when ordering repeat medication over the holiday period.

New Shropdoc Telephone Number

Hodnet Medical Practice has in this post announced a new telephone number for Shropdoc – the out of hours service.
Patients should now dial 0333 222 66 55  for urgent health care when the Practice is closed.
For life threatening emergencies, always dial 999.
For non-urgent advice contact NHS 111 by dialling 111.

Big Conversation survey launched

Shropshire Council LogoShropshire Council has announced here the launch of a survey as the first phase of its Big Conversation.
The introduction to the post reads:

Residents across Shropshire are being urged to take part in what is the biggest consultation on Shropshire Council services ever launched.

The Big Conversation survey is the first phase of a five-year conversation the council wants to have with the people of Shropshire to ask them what council services are most important to them.

The Big Conversation comes in light of continuous Government cuts which, in five years’ time, will leave only one quarter of the current funding that pays for over 150 services.

Like all local authorities, the council is faced with the need to make further substantial savings in the coming years due to ongoing Government cuts.

For more information about the Big Conversation and to take part in the survey visit: shropshire.gov.uk/bigconversation

Operation Christmas Child 2015 – Thank You

Joanna Davies writes:

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone from St Luke’s church Hodnet, Hodnet primary school, and the people of Hodnet and the surrounding villages who have generously given their time and thought into preparing 77 shoe-boxes.
Not sure where they are going to this year but will let everyone know as soon as I do. You have made a child’s Christmas very special.

Operation Christmas Child

Summer Event Planning Meeting

BuntingA meeting for everyone who would be interested in helping make this happen.

Tuesday 1st December at 7.30pm
Venue: Hodnet Social Club

If you are interested in the above initiative but cannot attend the meeting, or would simply like more information, please contact Jane Evans: Tel. 07717-712315 or email
For a report on the initial meeting please see this post.

Parish Summer Event – Update Nov. 2015

BuntingLast week an initial meeting took place to explore the possibility of organising a summer outdoor event for Hodnet and the surrounding villages. This had been one of the more popular suggestions in the recent Parish Plan Survey for improving parish life. Parish Clerk, organised the meeting and reports on it as follows:

At the meeting there were representatives from Hodnet Scouts, Hodnet Guides, Hodnet School, Hodnet & District Gardening Club, Hodnet Working Men’s Club, Hodnet 2000 Charity, Hodnet WI and the Parish Council. We discussed having an event to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday and as there were already a few street parties arranged in the Parish for the Sunday it was decided to have a Parish / Village Fete on Saturday 11th June and make a weekend of celebrations.
The general feeling was that it was better to have a village fete that involved as many as possible of the already existing clubs, society and possibly businesses that are in the Parish so that they could be ‘showcased’ as new people moving in the the area may not even realise that these groups exist. Also there could be competitions for cakes, pictures and possible photographs in the same way as there was for the Jubilee Celebrations.
There is a further meeting arranged for 1st December at Hodnet Social Club at 7:30pm when we will discuss the quotes being sort for marques, public liability etc. and how these initial costs are going to be met.

Anyone who would like to help in putting on a summer event is invited to turn up at the meeting or to contact Jane – Tel. 07717-712315 or email

Storm Barney causes power cuts

As the storm named Barney by the Met Offices moves away from North Shropshire there are reports of power cuts in the Hodnet area. Western Power Distribution are reporting 2 local outages – Power Cut Map.
At 8:47pm this evening (17 Nov. 15) Hodnet Fire Crew were called to attend an electricity cable fire in Marchamley (details). Western Power report that around 25 properties in SY4 5 & SY5 9 are without power. They do not expect power to be restored until 5.00am tomorrow morning.
In a separate incident 122 properties in SY4 5 & TF9 3 (Wollerton) lost power at approximately 9:12pm. Western Power hope that it will be restored by 1:00am.
Across Shropshire at 11:30pm there was a reported total of 68 incidents resulting in 6,365 premises without power.

Hodnet Patient Participation Group

Derek Hodge, Parish Council Chairman, writes about the local Patient Participation Group:

You may be surprised to learn that we have a Patient Participation Group (PPG) for the Hodnet Medical Practice. This small group meets on a mid-week evening about 3 times a year, with an informal get-together in between each meeting. In order to fully represent the practice population, members of the practice as well as patients are included in the group.
The aim of the group is to contribute to the wellbeing of the community by such activities as health promotion or obtaining patients’ views on practice services. Patients have long valued the general practice at Hodnet and their relationship with their GPs. Our PPG hopes to encourage two-way communication about health matters, both from GPs to patients and from the community to the practice. Recent discussions for instance have focused on the provision of appropriate support and confidentiality in the treatment of young people, and follow-up care after hospital discharge. We are also hoping to develop ideas to combat loneliness and isolation in the community.
We do need additional members to ensure that all ages and areas of the community are represented. We would particularly welcome someone in their late teens, perhaps with an interest in medicine, to represent the youth of the community but all volunteers are very welcome.
Are you interested in the aims outlined above? Could you play a part in the community in this way?

If you are willing to consider participating in the PPG, please contact Mary Hardy on 01952-540970 or by email

Parish Plan Update – Nov. 2015

Parish Council Chairman Derek Hodge writes:

In June the Parish Council distributed some 600 survey forms to gather local opinion on housing, travel and life in our community. The survey would provide guidance to the Parish Council and when incorporated into planning and future funding determine the priorities for the next five years.
Around 125 responses were received both on the forms or on line which represents a 25% return from households which is an excellent result. The priorities are being included in a revised parish plan. The draft has been passed to the Parish Councillors for their review, but while that is happening here are the key priorities that have been identified from the respondents to the Parish Survey.

Details of the key priorities are available on the New Parish Plan web page.

Shropshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Hodnet Medical CentreHodnet Medical Practice has put an item on its website encouraging people to participate in a consultation on Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The post which can be found here, says:

An invitation to share views on health priorities for Shropshire.  Shropshire residents of all ages are being invited to share their views on priorities which have been set out to improve the health and well-being of the population of Shropshire.  Share your views by clicking on the link, and filling in an online survey. All Shropshire residents are encouraged to get involved and to have their say.
https://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved/health-and-wellbeing-strategy

The consultation has been running throughout October and closes on 29 November.