News
Some fantastic news about seasonal flu vaccine uptake!
We want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who came in for their seasonal flu vaccine this winter. By rolling up your sleeves, you’ve played a vital role in keeping Verwood healthy and safe.
We are absolutely thrilled to share that, thanks to your incredible turnout, Verwood Surgery achieved some outstanding rankings across all Dorset practices:
- 1st Place for vaccine uptake in the Over 65s
- 1st Place for vaccine uptake in 2 & 3-year-olds
- 3rd Place for our "At Risk" patient groups
It’s a testament to how much our patients value their health and the wellbeing of their neighbours.
What’s Next?
- Spring COVID Boosters: For those eligible, clinics start next week! Please ensure you take up this offer to maintain your protection. Check your eligibility.
Stay Informed: Follow our Facebook page and keep an eye on this website for the latest health news and updates.
Winter 2026/27: Details for the next flu vaccination programme will be published in late summer.
Important Update for our BP@Home Patients
We are moving our home blood pressure monitoring from the VISO app to a new, improved platform called Luscii.
This change helps us provide better continuity of care and faster clinical responses to your readings. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Luscii containing your download link and login instructions.
Need help? To keep our surgery lines open for patients needing medical appointments, please contact Luscii Support for any technical questions at 0800 358 6050 (Mon-Fri, 9-5).
Read more about the importance of regularly monitoring your blood pressure.
Meningitis B Update: Information for our Patients
We are receiving some calls regarding the Meningitis B (MenB) outbreak in Kent. To help our team and keep our lines free for emergencies, please read the following guidance:
Am I/Is my child vaccinated?
- Children aged 11 and under: Most will have received the MenB vaccine as part of their routine infant immunisations (introduced in 2015).
- Teenagers & Young Adults: Most were offered the MenACWY vaccine in school (Year 9/10). While this is vital protection, it does not cover the MenB strain involved in the current Kent outbreak.
Can I get a MenB jab now?
Currently, the NHS is only administering MenB vaccinations to a specific "high-risk" group in Canterbury (primarily students in halls at the University of Kent). We are not currently advised to offer MenB vaccines to other age groups.
When should I call the GP?
Only call us regarding this outbreak if you or a household member visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury (March 5–7). Otherwise, the best thing to do is stay vigilant for symptoms.
⚠️ Meningitis is an emergency. Call 999 if you see a non-blanching rash, high fever, stiff neck, or severe headache.
Thank you for your patience while we monitor updates from the Southwest Vaccination Team.
Our Spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts the 13th of April 2026
We are now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments for eligible adults and immunosuppressed patients. A quick booster helps keep you and your loved ones safe from new variants.
Stay protected this spring! The COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible adults and immunosuppressed patients.
A quick booster helps keep you and your loved ones safe from new variants.
Why get your booster:
- Reduces risk of severe illness
Protects family and community
Keeps you active and healthy this season
Eligible patients will receive an invitation to have a booster here at Verwood Surgery.
Check your eligibility for a Spring COVID-19 vaccination here.
If you haven’t yet received your vaccination, please don’t worry. You can still contact the surgery, and we’ll arrange an appointment for you in one of our smaller ongoing clinics with our practice nurses.
It’s also not too late to protect yourself from flu!
Keep yourself and your loved ones protected - winter flu vaccines remain available at our practice until March 31st.
New Service: The Perinatal Pelvic Health Team.
We’d like to share details of a new service available to patients accessing maternity care at Salisbury Foundation Trust, or at any community hub or home birth affiliated with Salisbury District Hospital.
This specialist team is dedicated to supporting women and birthing people from early pregnancy through to 12 months postnatal.
How can they help?
- Specialist Care: A multidisciplinary team of pelvic floor experts.
- Prevention: Reducing the risk of bladder or bowel-related issues.
- Treatment: Evidence-based care for mild to moderate pelvic health concerns.
Your pelvic health matters. Whether you are looking to prevent future issues or need support with current symptoms, this team is here for you.
The service is free of charge and available to all local women accessing their maternity care from Salisbury. Talk to your Midwife, Health Visitor, or GP to learn more or to request a referral.
You can also self-refer by completing an online form with all the relevant information here>>
Perinatal Pelvic Health Team website>>
Update to the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme
Children under 6 are now being offered the MMRV vaccine instead of MMR as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme.
This replaces the existing MMR vaccine and adds protection against chickenpox, in addition to measles, mumps, and rubella.
You don’t need to do anything — your GP will contact you when your child is due.
🔗 nhs.uk/mmrv
Exciting News from Verwood Surgery!
Concerned about drug or alcohol addiction?
Taking the first step towards recovery can feel daunting, but help is available. Reach Drug and Alcohol Services provided by Waythrough is for people who want support to manage, reduce or stop their drug and/or alcohol use or those worried about someone else's.
The After-Reach Support group offers ongoing peer support for people who have completed the REACH programme for alcohol and drug addiction. They meet weekly in Ferndown on Monday evenings.
Find details of these and other local support services available locally on our Community SWITCH website>>
Supporting a Better Start in Life with Start for Life
Start for Life is a NHS programme designed to give every infant the best possible beginning. By offering trusted NHS advice and support, the campaign empowers parents and carers with the knowledge and tools they need from the very start of their parenting journey.
Whether you're a mum, dad, partner, or carer, Start for Life provides practical guidance on key topics like breastfeeding, introducing solid foods, and developing vital communication, language, and literacy skills. Through simple everyday activities like chatting, playing, and reading, parents can build strong foundations for their child’s future.
Personalised Support, Every Step of the Way
One of the most popular features of the campaign is the Start for Life email programme, offering tailored NHS advice at every stage of pregnancy and early parenthood. With different programmes available for mums, dads, partners, and carers, support is personalised and inclusive.
What you can expect from the email programme:
- Weekly updates tailored to your pregnancy stage or baby’s age
- Translations available in multiple languages
- Helpful tips on baby’s development, feeding options, mental wellbeing, and bonding
- Expert advice on pregnancy health, antenatal classes, birth preparation, and safe exercise
- And it works — 96% of subscribers say they would recommend the Start for Life emails to new parents (according to a YouGov survey).
Explore More Resources
Alongside the email programme, Start for Life offers a rich library of digital tools and resources to support parents at every step. From video tutorials to expert articles and interactive guides, the support is there when you need it.
👉 Find out more and sign up today by visiting the Start for Life website>>
Start your journey with confidence — because every baby deserves the best start in life.
FREE Digital Help available at Verwood Library
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.
GPs are on your side - a message from the British Medical Association
NHS Health Checks - information for patients aged 40 to 74
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>>
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
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.
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.
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.
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 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>>
Page created: 26 February 2024
