News

SURGERY & DISPENSARY CLOSURES

There are no planned surgery closures for July 2026.

For out of hours care or advice during closures, please call 111 or go to www.111.nhs.uk. In the case of an emergency, call 999.

Published on 10th Jul 2026

Coping with the Heat

As the weather continues to stay warm and heat alerts are in place, here are some reminders about coping in the hot weather:

Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated. Older people, those with underlying conditions, and those who love alone are particularly at risk
Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, vulnerable adults, or adults
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest
If you have to go outside in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat
Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day
Make sure you take water with you if you are travelling
During warm weather, going for a swim can provide much welcomed relief. If you are going into open water to cool-down, take care and follow local safety advice

Hot weather causes more fluid loss through sweating and a faster rate of breathing. This can lead to symptoms of dehydration such as tiredness, headaches and heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

When it's hot, aim to drink 1.5–2.5 litres (6–8 glasses) of fluid throughout the day. If you're active or spending time in the sun, you'll likely need more.

Great ways to stay hydrated:

Water (add ice or fruit for extra flavour)
Diluted fruit juice or squash
Herbal teas
Water-rich foods like cucumber, melon, tomatoes, lettuce and strawberries
Try to limit alcohol and sugary drinks, as they can increase dehydration.

Top hydration tips:

Carry a reusable water bottle
Sip little and often
Snack on hydrating foods like fruit and yoghurt
Check your urine colour – pale yellow means you're well hydrated

Remember, please take the heat seriously, stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day, and check on vulnerable family members, friends, and neighbours.

For more information about coping in the hot weather: https://www.nhs.uk/.../heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

Published on 9th Jul 2026

Volunteers Needed

Could you spare a little time to make a big difference?

We're looking for volunteer befrienders to support people who live alone, spend a lot of time on their own, or who are housebound. Just a 15-minute phone call every few days – or even once a week – can brighten someone's day and help them feel less alone.

If you can spare a little time each week, we'd love to hear from you!

📞Contact Anna or Kelly on 01258 880210

✉️ Email: mawellbeingteam@dorsetgp.nhs.uk

Please share to help us find more volunteer befrienders.

Published on 7th Jul 2026

Annual Flu Clinic

We will be running our annual flu vaccination clinic for our over 65yrs old eligible patients on Saturday 3rd October 2026 at the Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall.

Please save this date as we would like as many of our eligible patients to attend; further details including whether we will also be doing Covid vaccinations will follow closer to the time.

Details of dates and locations for the flu vaccination clinic for our eligible patients under 64yrs old will also follow.

Published on 28th May 2026

Surgery Instagram Page

We’re now on Instagram as well as Facebook! If you use Instagram, please follow us to stay up to date with surgery news, helpful information, and wellbeing support.

Just search for 'Milton Abbas Surgery' and you will find us.

Published on 27th Apr 2026

Medication Queries

If you have any questions about your medication, please could you send them to our dispensary using the online request form (previously known as eConsult) and select “medication query”, rather than ringing the surgery to request a call back.

Using the online form helps us manage requests more efficiently, keeps a clear record of your query, and ensures we have all the information we need to help you quickly. This also applies to requests for medications that do not appear on your repeat list (acute prescriptions).

You do not need full online access to use this service as you can submit a request directly through our website – go to www.masurgery.co.uk and click on ‘Contact Us Online’. However, we would encourage patients to sign up for online services if possible, as it makes managing your healthcare even easier.

Thank you for your support in helping us provide the best possible service.

Published on 17th Feb 2026

NHS App

At Milton Abbas Surgery, we’re always looking for ways to improve our service and make the best use of our time, especially as GP practices are under increasing pressure. Each week, many hours are spent by our admin team handling medication requests, sharing blood test results, and answering referral queries. This is time that could instead be used to support our GPs and clinicians in caring for patients.

To help with this, we’d like to encourage our patients to sign up for the NHS App. The app gives you easy, 24/7 access to a range of NHS services on your smartphone, computer or tablet, including booking and cancelling appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, viewing parts of your health record, and receiving test results - all in one place. Using the NHS App not only makes things quicker and easier for you, it also allows our team to spend more time caring for patients and supporting those who can’t use online services.

You will need to sign up to Systmonline to be able to access the NHS app. To do this, you will need to bring in two forms of ID into the surgery – one needs to be photo ID and the other a utility bill showing your address – and then one of our admin team can set you up.

If you need help to set up and use the app, please contact Anna one of our Social Prescribers at the surgery who will be happy to talk you through it. We will also be running some support sessions in our surgery waiting room in the near future.

Published on 16th Feb 2026

Contact Us Online

We’ve changed from eConsult to SystmConnect.

For queries or help regarding an existing medical condition or admin requests, please can we ask that you complete a SystmConnect form online as the GP’s do not take questions via our surgery email address. This would also include requests for sick notes.

To access the service, please click on the button on the front page of our website called "Contact Us Online". It works the same way as before – just fill in the form as you used to.

You don’t need online access to use it; we’ll match your form to your medical records. However, you can access the form through SystmOnline or the NHS app if you would prefer. We aim to reply within 2 working days.

Please note: This service is not for urgent issues or new medical problems. If you think you need a face-to-face appointment, the fastest way is to call the surgery.

Published on 30th Sep 2025

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