Please can we ask that from now onwards, rather than use the surgery email address for clinical or medication queries, you complete an eConsult form online.

To access the eConsult service please click on the ‘Consult with your doctor online’ button at the top of our surgery website www.masurgery.co.uk. You can also submit an eConsult from the NHS app.

For more details on how to use eConsult please click here https://econsult.net/nhs-patients/how-to-use-econsult

This will help with efficiency and the GP workload. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

As a surgery, we are not involved in giving the COVID Spring 2024 boosters. You or your child may be offered a spring COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are 75 years or over (you need to be 75 years old by 30 June 2024)
• are 6 months to 74 years old and have a weakened immune system

If you receive a text message from the NHS, please follow the instructions to book online or call 119. You can also book via the NHS App.

For more information, please click here www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination/getting-a-covid-19-vaccine

Did you know that approximately 1.6 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset each year? Did you know that if healthcare were a country, it would be the 5^th biggest carbon emitter in the world? In the UK, the NHS has estimated that the manufacture, supply, and use of pharmaceuticals accounts for 25% of the NHS’s total carbon footprint. We need your help to reduce this. 

Please check what medicines you have at home before you order your repeat prescriptions. If you have enough, only request the medicines you need this time. You will still be able to order your medicine again in future, and you will be helping your community, the environment and your NHS.

Find out more at: www.nhsdorset.nhs.uk/yourmeds

You may have recently heard that the NHS has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 for the first time ever, which could save thousands of lives every year in England. To achieve this pledge, the NHS needs to ensure women come forward for cervical screening.

Cervical screening at Milton Abbas Surgery is carried out by three very friendly and experienced nurses, and we have flexible appointments available throughout the week, up to 5.40pm on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and Saturday mornings from 9 – 10am.

If you have any concerns that you would like to talk through before your screening appointment or if you have had a previous bad experience that has left you worried about attending again, please ring the surgery and ask for Marrianne, Bev or Hannah who would be very happy to call you back.

Our lovely Nurses hope to see you soon. Please don’t delay, take 5 minutes now to ring for an appointment on 01258 880210.

Watch these short videos to learn how to use your inhaler properly and better manage your respiratory symptoms: How to use your inhaler | Asthma + Lung UK (asthmaandlung.org.uk)

Better Care for Carers is an accreditation scheme that encourages GP practices to have a consistent approach of support for their carers. It is very much about a ‘whole practice’ approach and engagement with the scheme works towards a complete shift in culture. The accreditation awards a practice one of four levels: bronze, silver, gold or platinum based on their level of support to carers.

The scheme was launched in September 2022 for the 9 practices in the Mid Dorset Primary Care Network and evidence was submitted in June 2023. After submissions were judged by an awards panel of 8 key stakeholders, it was felt that Milton Abbas Surgery went above the basic requirements for bronze so was awarded ‘Bronze Plus’ level. The outstanding work and progress during the first year of the scheme puts us in a strong position for continuing the scheme and working towards achieving silver level next time.

This is Kelly, our Carers Lead at the surgery, receiving the award on behalf of the team.

If you’re a patient at our practice, you can use the NHS App to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

It doesn’t replace existing services. You can still contact us in the usual ways.

But, once you have verified your identity in the app, you will have easy, 24/7 access to a growing range of health services and information. You can: 

• order repeat prescriptions
• access NHS 111 online
• find NHS services
• view your health records
• book appointments
• and much more… 

If you already use Systmonline you can continue to use it. But the NHS App will give you easy and secure access on your smartphone.

If you have any problems using the NHS App, you can select ‘help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp.

The Mid Dorset Practice Care Network, of which Milton Abbas Surgery is part of, now has a YouTube channel which has short videos on how to use the NHS app. Click here to view the videos https://bit.ly/3PTfd5C

BRIDGIT is a self-help service for unpaid carers, currently being trialled by the Mid Dorset Practice Care Network and Dorset Council. It provides access to online support for anyone who assists a friend or relative. It’s free and quick to use, and can help them to get access to advise, local events, discounts, and services. You can also create a personal and bespoke profile and support plan. For more information, please go to https://bridgit.care/support

As with any pilot scheme, there are always things that can be improved so please feel free to give them feedback, and we would also suggest that you read their Privacy Policy with regards to the information they will collect and how they process any data.

SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) is a leading independent advocacy charity – providing advocacy services throughout the south west and bordering counties since 1999.  They are delighted to be delivering a Pan Dorset Advocacy Service from 1st June 2023 (previously delivered by Dorset Advocacy).

Please see this leaflet which sets out the advocacy services that they currently offer across Pan Dorset. 

Just a reminder that we have changed our surgery policy for patients with symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Rather than just dropping in a urine sample for the Nurses to dip, our GPs would like to examine you.

So if you think you have a water infection, please contact the surgery on 01258 880210 at 8.30am and we will book you in for a face to face appointment with a clinician.

If you could also bring a urine sample along to your appointment that would be very helpful.

13.01.2023