PLEASE NOTE: Due to illness, the walking group this week has been cancelled. The walk on the 24th July will go ahead as planned in Ansty.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused and we look forward to seeing you next week.

Milton Abbas Surgery as part of the Mid Dorset Primary Care Network (PCN) invites you to our monthly community drop-in session being held at Dorchester Library on Wednesday 24th July 2024 10am – 12pm.

This month our surgery Carers Lead & Social Prescriber Kelly will be there along with other members of our PCN, together with other community services such as Carer Support Dorset. Please pop along to say hi. It will be an opportunity to socialise, have some refreshments and find out what support is available in your communities.

We look forward to seeing you!

We are looking for another volunteer to join our Wellbeing Team and help lead our walking group. It would be once a month on a Wednesday morning. Could that be you?

For more information, please contact Kelly at the surgery either by calling 01258 880210 or by sending an email to [email protected]

To see our walking group leaflet please click here and to see the schedule for June click here.

Milton Abbas Surgery Wellbeing Event on Tuesday 16th July 2024 1.00pm – 5.00pm at the Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall.

Come along to have your blood pressure checked, chat with one of our Digital Care Coordinators for your healthcare app questions, and speak with members of our Wellbeing Team.

We will also be having other support services attend: Help & Care, Carer Support Dorset, Healthy Homes, LiveWell Dorset, Dorset Mental Health Forum and Alzheimer’s Society.

Free kids craft table and refreshments will also be available. No need to book, just drop by. We look forward to seeing you!

Invitation to all unpaid carers:

We would like to warmly invite you to a Carers Coffee Morning on Tuesday 2^nd July 2024 at the Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall 10.30am till 12.30pm.

Whether you would like to come on your own for some ‘me time’ or with the person you care for, it would be great to see you.

Tea, coffee, and cake will be available. We are hoping that one of the Adult Carers Case Workers at Dorset Council will be there to offer advice and support as well as a member of our Occupational Therapist team, so please feel free to pop in to say hello and ask questions even if you are not able to stay long.

If you are interested in coming along, please let Reception know. Alternatively, please feel free to just turn up on the day. We would love to see you!

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, recognise the contribution carers make to families and communities, and highlight the challenges unpaid carers face. It helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities, to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This years theme for Carers week is ‘Putting Carers on the Map‘. There are a variety of events and activities happening across Dorset to celebrate Carers Week. To see a programme of events please go to Carers Week 2024: 10-16 June – Our Dorset or download a printable version here.

Prescriptions for 35 minor conditions are no longer available in Dorset such as hayfever, colds and indigestion. Help your NHS and visit your pharmacy or supermarket instead. #helpyournhs

For more information visit  www.nhsdorset.nhs.uk/helpyournhs or click here to download a leaflet.

There is a national problem with MJOG (the system that sends out text reminders to patients) which they are aware of and is being worked on.

Text reminders sent for new appointments booked from today onwards are correct, but it is sending out text reminders for already booked appointments with the wrong time.

If your text reminder shows a different time to what you thought, please contact the surgery on 01258 880210 to double check.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

15.05.2024

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 as the GP’s no longer take questions via email. This would also include requests for sick notes.

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.

Those eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this spring include:

• are 75 years or over (you need to be 75 years old by 30 June 2024)
• residents in care homes for older adults
• are 6 months to 74 years old and have a weakened immune system

How can I book? You can book via the NHS App, the NHS National Booking Service website or by calling 119. You can check your eligibility and book online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine. You do not need to be invited to book your COVID spring vaccine.

Can I walk in to get my vaccine? Some clinics will not accept walk-in appointments, it is best to book your appointment in advance or check the NHS online ‘walk-in finder’ on the day. If you have a booked appointment but decide to get vaccinated at a walk-in site elsewhere, don’t forget to cancel your booking so someone else can use it.

What if there are no appointments? Sometimes COVID-19 vaccination clinics initially fill up fast once booking is open. If you can’t get an appointment straight away, don’t panic you can try for another date. There are plenty of appointments available for everyone eligible at a number of clinics across the county.

As a surgery, we are not involved in giving the COVID Spring 2024 boosters. Some local clinics are:

• Victoria Park Pharmacy 14 Maud Road, Dorchester DT1 2LW
• Weymouth Pharmacy, 26 Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth DT4 0AE
• Linden Unit, Westhaven Hospital, Radipole Lane, Weymouth, DT4 0QE
• Wareham Community Hospital Streche Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4QQ

As far as we are aware, all the above clinics are appointment only, so you will need to book before travelling.

A full list of local clinics, eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions can be found by clicking here COVID-19 vaccination service (dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk)