News

SURGERY CLOSURES

Carers Week 2025

Carers Week (9th June - 15th June 2025) is a time to recognise the incredible work done by unpaid carers across the UK. This year’s theme, Caring about Equality, shines a light on the importance of supporting carers from all walks of life.

On Tuesday 10th June 2025 1.00pm - 4.00pm Carer Support Dorset & Carers Trust will be holding an event at the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in Dorchester called "Caring for the Carers: A Wellbeing & Information Event". For more information, click here to view the poster.

To view a programme of other events happening locally, please click here.

You might not see yourself as a carer - many people simply help a family member or friend without thinking twice. But if you support someone with an illness, disability, mental health condition or addiction, and they rely on you, then you are a carer.

Letting us know you're a carer means we can better support you. We understand the extra pressure caring brings and want to make sure you have access to the right help and information. If you haven’t already, please tell the surgery that you're an unpaid carer and who you care for, so we can note it on your records. You can also pick up a carers information pack from Reception or view it online on our surgery carers page at www.masurgery.co.uk.

To all carers – thank you. We see you, we appreciate you, and we’re here to help.

DNA (Did Not Attend) Appointments

Between January 2025 and April 2025 189 patients did not attend their appointments, equalling a total of 53 hours 45 minutes of clinical time wasted.

• NURSE time wasted: 28 hours 40 minutes = Equivalent of 172 blood tests; or 57 asthma/COPD reviews; or 57 baby immunisations; or 86 cervical smear tests lost
• GP time wasted: 18 hours 40 minutes = 75 GP appointments lost
• HCA time wasted: 4 hours 5 minutes = Equivalent of 24 blood test appointments lost
• PHYSIO time wasted: 2 hours 20 minutes = 7 Physio appointments lost

Some of these appointments are up to 40 minutes long, so missing your appointment or forgetting to cancel means we waste valuable clinic time. For ONE missed Long Term Condition Review appointment, THREE people could have had blood test appointments, so it's important not to waste these slots.

If you can’t attend an appointment, please can we ask that you cancel it at least an hour before so someone else can receive the care they need. This can be done either over the phone or by replying CANCEL to your text reminder.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter - It could make a huge difference to another patient.

Surgery Facebook Page

Our surgery Facebook page (@miltonabbassurgery) is a great way to stay up to date with surgery news, closures, and helpful information to support you and your family’s health and wellbeing.

If you'd like to learn more about using it, why not book a session with one of the Digital Champions sessions run by Dorset Council? 

Digital Champions at Dorset Council are a group of friendly and patient volunteers who are good at explaining computers, without using jargon. They can help you to:

• set up and using devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers
• get online and show you how to do home shopping
• access digital NHS services like the NHS app or SystmOnline to be able to book appointments, view test results and consultation notes

Dorset Council run Digital Champion sessions in Blandford Library on Tuesdays from 10am till 12.25pm, and every other Friday 10.30am till 12noon. To book a session please call 01305 221048.

Autism Health Checks

We have recently launched Autism Health Checks at our surgery and are currently in the process of reaching out to patients. If you would be interested in knowing more, please contact the surgery either by phone or email miltonabbassurgery@nhs.net and ask for Anna (one of our Social Prescribers).

We are also trialling a new Autism Support Pathway to ensure everyone over 18yrs old receives comprehensive support during and after their assessment.

If you have any communication or adjustment needs related to autism, ADHD, or mental health that would make it easier for you to access our surgery, please let our Social Prescribers know. They’ll be happy to help you!

Covid & Flu Vaccinations 2025

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine this spring if you:

• are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 17 June 2025)
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
• live in a care home for older adults

The surgery is not involved with the spring covid vaccinations. If you are eligible, you can book a vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App. Alternatively, you may be able to go to a walk-in site. For more information go to www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine.

We will be running our annual flu vaccination clinic for our over 65yrs old eligible patients on Saturday 4^th October 2025 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.

eConsults

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 ‘Complete an eConsult’ button on the front page 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.

Update to Prescriptions #HelpYourNHS June 2024

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.