News

Winter flu vaccination programme 2024
23rd Aug

Winter Flu Vaccination Programme 2024

 
It is nearly time for our our annual flu vaccination programme. Please can we remind our patients that if you are eligible your GP Surgery has bought and allocated these vaccinations for you. Having your jab at your GP surgery helps them!
 
Eligible patients will be sent a booking link via text message or will be called - please wait for us to contact you.
 
UKHSA statement on mpox
16th Aug

UK Health Security Agency Statement on mpox

People in our community may have seen reports in the media about the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying mpox as an international public health concern. 

A statement from the UK Health Security Agency has advised that the risk to the UK population is currently considered low. Nevertheless, be assured that NHS plans are underway to prepare for any cases we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.

Information and advice on mpox is available on the NHS website here>>

UK Health Security Agency and NHS logos and the words The RSV vaccines is available from September 2024. Speak to your midwife, GP practice of health team
24th Jul

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccinations

The UK will become the first country in the world to roll out a national vaccination programme against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), protecting infants & older people from becoming seriously ill. RSV accounts for 39,000 hospitalisations each year.

From 1 Sept, vaccination to protect against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) will be offered to:
 
• Pregnant women (over 28 weeks) to help protect newborn babies
• Adults aged 75+
 
We plan to vaccinate as many people as possible during September and October 2024 before the expected RSV season. Eligible patients will be contacted with an offer of the RSV vaccine once clinic details are finalised.
 
Message words as an image
19th Jul

A message from Dr Scott Crowther

It is with great sadness that I inform you I will be leaving Verwood Surgery on August 1st 2024, to return mainly to Urgent Care Services.

It has been a pleasure and privilege to have been a GP in Verwood, meeting and working with such wonderful people.

My list will be transferred to a newly appointed GP when appointed.

I wish all my patients and colleagues in Verwood the very best for your future and a long, healthy life.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Scott Crowther, MD, MRCGP

The NHS logo and the words Young babies with whooping cough can become very unwell and may need hospital treatment.  If you are pregnant you can help your baby by getting vaccinated.
16th Jul

Whooping cough vaccinations are available for pregnant women

Whooping cough cases have been rising in England. We recommend getting the whooping cough vaccine to help protect you and your baby. It's safe and effective and will provide important protection for your newborn in its first months.
Please contact us to let us know if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment.

The Verwood Surgery logo and the words Staff News
15th Jul

Verwood Surgery Staff News

Our team of experienced doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals is committed to providing you with the highest standard of care and treatment.
 
This website has been updated to include our most recently recruited staff, who we have welcomed to the Verwood Surgery team over the past year.
 
Dr Ferdous Ahmed qualified in 2016 and has previously worked as a GP at surgeries in Poole and within different specialities in the local hospitals. He has a Special Interest in Minor Surgery. Dr Ahmed will take over as registered GP for Dr Pride’s patients.
 
Dr Amy Bridgman is a registrar who started working with us last August, qualified in 2016 from St George’s Hospital University of London and then undertook her foundation programme training in the North West before gaining further experience in both psychiatric and emergency medicine, working as a junior doctor both within the UK and Australia. Dr Bridgman returned to the UK in 2021 to undertake GP training to pursue her interest in more holistic community care.
 
Dr Katie Handasyde Dick graduated from Kings College, London, in 2013 and qualified in 2022. Having previously worked at Fordingbridge Surgery, Katie comes to us following maternity leave. She is a fluent French speaker and has a keen interest in sailing, hiking, and cycling.
 
a cartoon image of medications, the NHS Dorset logo and the words #HelpYourNHS   Prescriptions for 35 minor conditions are no longer available in Dorset.  Please visit your pharmacy instead.
12th Jul

Prescribing over the counter medicines - #HelpYourNHS

In line with NHS England recommendations, NHS Dorset has asked GP teams across the county to stop prescribing medicine and treatment for 35 minor conditions.  Medications for these conditions are readily available at your local pharmacy or supermarket. 

This will release thousands of hours of clinical time to enable us, as a GP Practice to focus on caring for people with more complex needs, increasing patient access.

Find out more about this by downloading and viewing the patient information leaflet here>>

Or visit the NHS Dorset website:   https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/health/medicines/helpyournhs/

a poster for the British Medical Association GPs are on your side campaign
12th Jul

GPs are on your side - a message from the British Medical Association

You have probably noticed that something is wrong and its not as easy as it used to be to see your GP.
 
The past decade has seen the UK lose far too many surgeries and thousands of GPs due to government underfunding.  General Practice is collapsing. Every practice across England is struggling to keep its doors open.
 
We value our patients. We know that most patients value us too, especially when they need us regularly. You know we can deal with most of your health problems, keep you out of hospital, and have your best interests at heart.
 
But did you know that your practice receives just £107.57 per year for each patient, whatever their health needs. That’s less than the cost of an annual TV licence. 
 
 
Did you know?
If General Pratice received a fairer share of NHS funding we could:
• Train and hire more GPs
• Deliver the services you require
• Make it easier to get the appointments you need
• In the last 5 years GP practices have lost funding worth over £660 million
• We're not allowed to use the poor funding we have to recruit more GPs or more practice nurses
• GPs and their team are losing morale
• No matter how many hours we work, we still can't see all the patients that need our care.
 
This is why you struggle to see your GP.
 
General practice is being broken. We know you deserve better than this. GPs are on your side.
NHS logo, a man in his 40s and the words, if you've been invited for an NHS Health Checkby your GP, it's important to book your appointment.
19th Jun

NHS Health Checks - information for patients aged 40 to 74

If we've invited you for an NHS Health Check, it’s important to take up the offer and book your appointment.
Health Checks can reveal whether you're at risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.
 
Many warning signs for these conditions, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, do not have symptoms. So, even if you are feeling well right now, these checks are still essential to help protect your health in the future.
 
If we invite you for an NHS Health Check, it’s important to accept the offer and book your appointment, even if you feel well.

You may be eligible for a community NHS Health Check with LiveWell Dorset. Check your eligibility and find a location near you by following this link>>

Spring COVID-19 booster offer poster
24th Mar

The COVID-19 spring booster vaccination campaign has started

Seasonal COVID Booster Vaccinations are being offered to our patients aged 75 years old or over, those who live in a care home for older adults or are aged 12 or over and have a weakened immune system.

Patients will be contacted if their NHS record suggests they may be eligible for a seasonal spring COVID-19 vaccine to be offered an appointment at drive-through clinics at the Community Vaccination Centre in Verwood.  These clinics are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings commencing the 22nd of April through to early June.

Patients with a mobile phone registered with us will be sent an SMS text message with details of how to book an appointment online.  You will be contacted on your landline if you do not have a mobile telephone number registered.

Please wait to be contacted by the NHS if you're eligible.

For more information on this season’s eligibility criteria, please visit the PCN Community Vaccination page here>>

screenshot of How Do I section
1st Mar

Introducing the new Verwood Surgery website!

We’re delighted to announce the launch of our brand new website. 

This digital platform has been developed with our patients in mind, and we have tried to make it user-friendly and accessible for everyone, whether you’re tech-savvy or just getting started with online platforms.  We have aimed to provide our patients with clear and concise access to services and information they require in an easy and convenient format.

Find our more on the Access to our Services web page by following this link>>

Make sure your child is up to date with their MMR vaccinations
28th Feb

Make sure your child is up to date with their MMR vaccinations

May we remind parents to get their children vaccinated from measles, mumps and rubella, diseases which can cause serious illness. It's important to catch up on any missed vaccines.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Please contact us if your child has missed either of these 2 doses.
 
Image depicting Only Order What You Need campaign
9th Feb

Making a Repeat Prescription Request? Please Only Order What You Need!

Did you know that approximately 1.6 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset every year?  We are asking our patients for help to reduce this.

We want people to have the right medicine and care while reducing the amount of medicine waste. If you have enough medicine at home, there’s no need to order more every time. You will still be able to request your medicine again in the future.  

The good news is that you can help make a tremendous difference by only ordering what you need. 

Thank you to the many people who are already doing this.

Follow this link to discover more>>

cartoon images of GP Practice staff
1st Dec 2023

Access to our Services

We know it is getting very hard to access GP services across the UK. We are working beyond capacity, but we can improve how you can access our services to get the care you need.

From December, we are implementing improvements to our appointment system.  This change is a result of your valuable feedback.  It aligns with national guidance on enhancing appointment availability, ensuring that you receive the care you need when you need it safely and efficiently.

Find out more about how we are addressing this>>

a person holding a smartphone, the NHS logo and the words Online access to GP health records.  Over 12 million patients withonline accounts now have full access to their new GP health record entries.  Over 2,700 practices now offer this access to their patients by default.
28th Oct 2023

Online Access to GP Health Records

From November 2023 all patients in our network who are over 16 will be able to view notes and health records.  This includes notes from GP surgery appointments, test results, medications and letters we receive from hospitals.  These can be viewed online via the NHS App, NHS website, SystmOnline or the Airmid app.    For more details, please visit the Crane Valley PCN information page here>>

If you do not want your record to be available online, please speak with the Reception or Patient Services team at your surgery.

we are an armed forces veteran friendly GP practice
16th Aug 2023

We are an Armed Forces veteran-friendly accredited GP Practice

This means that as part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have a  dedicated clinician who has specialist knowledge of military-related health conditions and veteran-specific services. this is important in helping ex-forces to get the best care and treatment.

If you are ex-forces, please let your GP know to help ensure you are getting the best possible care.

Find out more on our Armed Services Veteran Friendly page by following this link>>