Latest News

Our Mission Statement

To deliver high quality health care to our community with purpose and kindness, ensuring easy access to excellent patient services. Providing an open and supportive environment for patients and staff, promoting a culture of fairness and equality to all.

We are always happy to welcome new patients from people residing within the practice boundary. See our Registration page.

Garstang Medical Practice is part of the Wyre & Fylde Rural Extended Network (WREN) Primary Care Network (PCN). This is a new collaboration between the five practices in Kirkham, Great Eccleston, Preesall and Garstang.

 

Patient Feedback

We are very pleased to have received excellent feedback in the December Friends and Family test. The themes are summarised in the tag cloud above, 95% of patients were either 'extremely likely' or 'likely' to recommend our services. To read more please visit our Patient Feedback page.

 

Important Patient Updates

Urgent Prescription Request Policy

Currently, if a patient contacts the practice and states that they need medications urgently, these are processed the same day. We do not differentiate between medications that are truly urgent for the patient to take, and those that are not.

This system is no longer sustainable. The demand on our medicines management team is overwhelming; we can often receive hundreds of requests for urgent same day supplies in addition to our usual work in preparing prescriptions. We do not have the capacity to carry out this extra work. In line with neighbouring practices within our locality we are therefore implementing a new system from Monday 6^th January. 

We will no longer meet urgent requests for repeat prescriptions unless they are for certain medications. This will be based on clinical need and NOT patient preference.

Any prescriptions requested as urgent, that do not fall into the below categories, will be processed as routine e.g. within 5 working days.

Medications available for urgent prescription requests:

• Asthma/COPD  Inhalers
• Adrenaline Auto-Injectors: Epipen, Jext, Emerade
• Anti-Depressants/Mental Health Medications: eg.  Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, Citalopram, Vortioxetine
• Warfarin and other Blood thinners: Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, Dabigatran, Edoxaban
• Anti-Parkinson’s Drugs: Sinemet, Madopar, co-careldopa, co-beneldopa, sastravi, stanek, stalevo
• Immunosuppressants: Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Ciclosporin, Mycophenolate, steroid tablets
• Palliative Care Medications
• Anti-Convulsants (Epilepsy Medication) Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam, Phenytoin, Sodium Valproate (epilim), Topiramate
• Insulin: Lantus, Novorapid, Humulin, Humalog, Tresiba, Levemir, Actrapid, Insuman, Insulatard etc
• GTN spray
• Paediatric milk

The medications listed would be considered treatments whereby potential harmful side-effects may occur if the patient does not receive the medication the same day.

We get lots of frequent requests for patients requesting same day emergency supplies of their medications because they are going on holiday. Whilst we appreciate arranging additional supplies of your medications for this reason can sometimes be stressful- going on holiday does not mean we can issue/supply the medications urgently the same day of request. Patients are reminded to order supplies of medications in good time ahead of any planned holidays.

Remember- it is your responsibility to order your medications in good time.

Please do not be frustrated with the reception team if these changes make you unhappy- this decision has been made by the GP Partners.

 

Change to the Progestogen dose for Endometrial Protection in HRT

The British Menopause Society has released a new joint guideline which has made suggested changes to the dose of progesterone for women on oestrogen for HRT. 

 

Repeat Prescription Service

From 25 November 2024 Repeat prescription requests are no longer accepted via the Repeat Prescription Line answerphone. 

This change is to ensure the following:

• Patient Safety – to minimise the risk of errors and help ensure you receive the items that you requested. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to hear what has been said, or messages are prematurely cut off, which can result in mistakes being made. 
   
• Speed and Efficiency – prescriptions ordered by online access or from repeat order slips can be processed significantly faster.

From 25 November 2024 patients on Repeat Medication are able to order their medication in the following ways:

• Online via NHS app, myGP app or Patient Access - If you are not already registered for online services, you can do so by downloading the NHS app and following the registration process, or by bringing 2 forms of ID (one with a photo and one with an address) to our reception desk. Please note, registering for the NHS app does not require contact with the surgery if your mobile number is already registered with us, so please utilise this service where possible to alleviate pressure on our services. Registration instructions are available on our Online services page or via Reception if you are struggling.
   
• In Person – Drop your repeat prescription order slip (found in your last prescription bag) into one of the Prescription boxes found at both entrances to the Health Centre. Please ensure the items required are clearly marked.

Please always allow five working days for your request to be processed.

If you are unable to use either of these options, you can arrange for a family member, friend or carer to do this on your behalf online using Proxy Access. Information about this service is available on our Online services page or via Reception.
If this is not an option for you, please contact the practice for advice.

The practice staff understand how important your health is, and a change in the way you order medications can initially appear difficult and worrying.  Please be reassured our staff are committed to assisting you where they can with this change.

 

FLU & COVID VACCINATION CLINICS

We have now completed our vaccination clinics for this season, however, appointments are still available at other vaccination sites locally. Please contact the National Booking Service online or call 119 to book an appointment. 

Vaccinations are available to anyone aged 65 and over (by 31st March 25) and those under 65 in a clinically at-risk group. To check if you are in one of the at-risk groups please visit:

Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

JCVI statement on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for autumn 2024 (www.gov.uk)

 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination 

Respiratory Syncytial Viruses (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. It usually causes a mild self-limiting respiratory infection in adults and children, but it can be severe in infants and older adults who are at increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection.  It is an important cause of emergency department attendances and amongst the leading causes of infant hospital admissions.

Adults aged 75-79 will be offered an RSV vaccination this Autumn with this in mind. Pregnant women will be offered the vaccine at 28 weeks through their midwifery service.

For more information, please read the RSV vaccine for adults leaflet

 

Shingles Vaccination

The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It's recommended for:

All adults who turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023
You'll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart. You'll remain eligible until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday).

All adults aged 70 to 79
Depending on the type of vaccine you have; you'll have either 1 dose or 2 doses (given between 6 and 12 months apart). You're eligible up until your 80th birthday (but you can have your 2nd dose up until your 81st birthday).

Adults aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system
You're eligible for the shingles vaccine if you're aged 50 or over and you're at higher risk from shingles because you have a severely weakened immune system. This includes:

• some people with blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
• some people with HIV or AIDS
• some people who've recently had a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or an organ transplant
• people taking certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system

You'll be given 2 doses of the shingles vaccine. These are given between 8 weeks and 6 months apart.

What the shingles vaccine is for?

Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash. It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.

You're more likely to get shingles, and it's more likely to cause serious problems, as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system.

The shingles vaccine helps:

• reduce your chances of getting shingles.
• reduce your chances of getting serious problems if you do get shingles.

Please contact the surgery if:

• you think you're eligible for the shingles vaccine, but you've not been contacted.
• you did not have the vaccine when you were contacted and you're still under 80 (only people with a severely weakened immune system can get the vaccine after 80 years of age)
• you've had the shingles vaccine before, but you now have a severely weakened immune system – depending on the type of shingles vaccine you had, you may need another shingles vaccine.
• you're due to have your vaccine and you're feeling unwell – you may need to wait until you're feeling better before having the vaccine.
• you need to change your vaccination appointment.

Retirement - Catherine Thornton

After 35 years of service, our Business Partner Catherine Thornton retired on 4th September. We would like to thank Catherine for her outstanding contribution to the health care of our community for so many years and especially throughout the recent most challenging times. She will be greatly missed by the whole GMP team. We all wish her a long, happy, healthy and well-deserved retirement.

We are grateful to Jacinta Edgar, Business Partner, who will be overseeing the practice moving forward.

 

Accessing appointments

We are seeing an increase in the number of patients coming to the desk to request an urgent or same day appointment. 

All of our consultations are by appointment only and we have no capacity to provide a walk in or emergency care service. We do aim to keep additional capacity for urgent/same day appointments. 

If you attend the reception desk for an urgent clinical matter, you will be advised that a clinician will phone to speak to you as part of our duty service. This is to ensure equity of access and that your care is dealt with in the most appropriate manner. You may then be given a later allocated appointment time at the surgery following phone assessment.

A number of conditions including possible heart attacks, strokes and sepsis will result in advice to contact 999. If you have any symptoms linked with these please do not contact the surgery but phone 999 to ensure prompt and safe care. 

 

Healthwatch

Healthwatch visited Garstang Medical Practice on 1st December 2023 to gather views and experiences of patients and staff on our service and observe our environment to assess the quality of the service provided. We received positive feedback and have now implemented all suggestions made by their report. The full report is now available on their website.

Healthwatch Lancashire makes sure that your views on health and social care services are listened to by those who manage and run local health and social care providers, report concerns to the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission, and feed intelligence on a national level to Healthwatch England.

 

A Respectful and Heartfelt Plea to our patients

 

Right Person, Right Care 

Did you know general practice has a range of healthcare professionals who can help with health issues? Practices across Lancashire and South Cumbria are supporting the #RightPersonRightCare campaign. 

General practice now offers much more than just being able to see your GP. From advanced nurse practitioners to pharmacists and physiotherapists to social prescribers, these specialists can give comprehensive advice on specific health issues.  

Our trained receptionists may offer you an appointment with a healthcare professional other than your GP. This could mean you get the right, specialist care for your condition, save you time waiting for an appointment with a GP and help your local NHS manage the current extraordinary demand.  

If you think another healthcare professional can help, please mention this to our reception team when getting in touch.  

Find out more by visiting the Do you know about the wide range of healthcare expertise available via your local GP practice? ICB page.

Reception staff are trained care navigators and ask questions about your symptoms and/or condition to ensure you get the correct, specialist care in a timely manner. This may also include a referral outside of general practice where relevant, for example to a community pharmacist, who can treat minor illnesses and issue urgent supplies of prescribed medicine.

If an appointment with your GP remains the most appropriate choice for your condition, this will be arranged for you.

The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) is a community pharmacist led clinical service for people with a minor illness or who require an urgent supply of their regular medicines, to get help at a community pharmacy instead.

If, during your initial assessment we think you will get the quickest and safest care via a consultation with a pharmacist, we will arrange that for you, so you avoid having a long wait.

 

Appointment Cancellation Line 

We are still seeing a high volume of missed appointments, with 266 appointments not attended in the past month. We have, therefore, been looking at ways to make it easier for patients to cancel unwanted appointments. Along with the methods detailed below, we have now introduced an Appointment Cancellation Line. This can be accessed via our main phone line by pressing option 1 for the Surgery, followed by option 4 for the Cancellation voicemail. Please leave your name, date of birth and details of the appointment you wish to cancel. Please note, this is a cancellation line only. If you wish to rearrange your appointment, please call the surgery and speak to a receptionist to make a new appointment.   

You can also cancel your appointment: 

• via Patient Access or the myGP app.
  You can cancel appointments here even if they were not booked via online services 
   
• by responding 'CANCEL' to your text message reminder  
  Please ensure we have your current mobile phone number so that text message reminders of your appointments can be sent. For any patient aged 0-15 years, please provide a mobile number for a parent/guardian.
   
•   or by calling reception on 01995 607399. 

To cancel an Evening & Weekend appointment, arranged with the Extended Access Service, please contact 01253 952950.

 

Home Visit Requests

Please note that you do have the option to press 2 to request a home visit. This is to assist our more vulnerable patients. Please do not use this option for anything other than to request a home visit for a housebound patient.  

 

Healthy Young Minds

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board has launched a brand-new mental health campaign aimed at children and young people.

The campaign encourages young people who may be feeling anxious about school, finding it hard to fit in, or having negative thoughts about how they look, to find help and support on the Healthy Young Minds Website.

It also encourages parents and carers to talk more to their children about mental health concerns.

The campaign, which features young people from the Blackburn Youth Zone, will mainly be seen on social media channels TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

You can find out more on the campaign page of the Healthy Young Minds website.

 

Macmillan Cancer Support Clinics 

Macmillan aim to help everyone with Cancer to live life as fully as they can. They offer a range of support for patients, families and carers and can provide information and support services; emotional and practical support; financial support and benefit advice. 

Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Clinics are held here at Garstang Medical Practice on the first Friday of each month. If you would like the opportunity to see or speak to the Macmillan Advisor, please contact the Cancer Patient Priority Care Line on 01995 608107 or Reception on 01995 607399 to arrange an appointment.

Local Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Services can also be accessed via:

• Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service Preston
  Rosemere Cancer Centre, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, PR2 9HT, Telephone 01772 523709 Email cancerinfocentre@lthtr.nhs.uk

• Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre Lancaster, Macmillan Hub, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP Telephone 01524 519578 or 07972 639424 Email: macmillan.info@mbht.nhs.uk

• Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre Blackpool, Windmill Unit, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR Tel 01253 955710 Email: bfwh.macmillan.info@nhs.net

Macmillan have a phone line which anyone affected by cancer can call where cancer experts can answer people’s questions and worries, or just listen if they need to chat.  Please call 0808 808 00 00. 

Macmillan Website

 

Veterans Priority NHS Treatment

All patients who have served in the armed forces are entitled to priority access to NHS care (including hospital, primary or community care) for conditions associated with their time within the armed forces (service-related). This includes veteran-specific services like prosthetics and mental health. Please let the surgery know if you are a veteran so that this can be recorded in your medical record. For further information, see NHS page - priority NHS treatment for veterans.

Garstang Medical Practice is an Armed Forces Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practice.

 

Easy Eye Care

Easy Eye Care is available for people with learning disabilities and autistic people of all ages. Appointments are available locally at Clare & Howard Opticians, High Street, Garstang.

For easy read information about having an eye test, visit www.seeability.org/EReyetest
For more information, please contact Steve Kill on 07738 040307 or s.kill@seeability.org 

 

Wyre and Fylde Rural Extended Network (WREN)

On 1st July 2019 Garstang Medical Practice officially became part of the Wyre & Fylde Rural Extended Network (WREN). This is a collaboration between the five practices in Kirkham, Great Eccleston, Preesall and Garstang. The network is part of the new NHS Long Term Plan and aims to develop over the next few years.

The initial stages will focus on building strong working relationships with the other practices to collaborate on improving services and access.

As the network matures we have been asked to develop a better understanding of our shared population. This will allow us to work with our local community health services to improve quality of care to our patients. This will continue to support and extend the WREN Integrated Care Team that is led by our lead nurse Helen Kerrigan-Hawkes.

Within this we have also been asked to work closely with the local authorities and voluntary agencies to improve the health and care of the whole population. Through the ICT we already have good relationships with the agencies and will look to build and strengthen these.

Dr John Miles has been chosen as the Clinical Director for the network and as such has responsibility to work for all of the practices towards these aims and objectives. We will also be sharing learning with the other local networks across the Fylde Coast and working with the wider health economy to ensure that we meet these aims and objectives.

 

Clinical Practice Research Datalink

This practice contributes to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Information in patient records is important for medical research to develop new treatments and test the safety of medicinces. This practice supports medical research by sending some of the information from patient records to the CPRD.

CPRD is a Government organisation that provides anonymised patient data for research to improve patient and public health. You cannot be identified from the information sent to CPRD.

If you do not want anonymised information from your patient record to be used in research you can opt out by speaking to your doctor. For more information about how your data is used visit the CPRD Website or view our Privacy Notice.

 

Audiology Screening Service

We are now able to offer a free to access screening service for patients who are suffering from hearing related difficulties. This service is provided by Scrivens Audiology at Garstang Medical Practice. A limited number of appointments are available each week for patients aged 18+.

If the screening identifies a hearing loss, patients aged 55+ will be referred to the appropriate Audiology or ENT service. Scrivens are unable to refer patients under 55 years of age directly to NHS Audiology services, however options will be given to the patient at the screening appointment and a report will be sent to their GP for onward referral as required.

If you believe that you are suffering from hearing related difficulties, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment. For further information, please contact the surgery on 01995 607399 or Scrivens Patient Services on 0800 027 5102.

Full Audiology Assessments are also available free of charge by contacting Scrivens Patient Services directly on 0800 027 5102.

 

Hospital Blood Requests

We are unable to book appointments for patients who need bloods requested by a hospital. We are not responsible for doing bloods requested by the hospital and need to reserve our appointments for blood tests requested by our clinicians at the surgery.

Hospital blood request appointments should be arranged directly with the relevant hospital blood clinic. Details as follows:

Royal Preston Hospital
Blood clinics are currently running by appointment only. Open 8:30am – 4:45pm Monday to Friday. Tel: 01772 524143. Please take the blood form from your consultant with you. If you do not have a blood form please give the name of your consultant when booking.

Lancaster Royal Infirmary
Please attend RLI Blood Clinic. No appointment needed. Please take the blood form from your consultant with you. If you do not have a blood form please give the name of your consultant when booking in. Please avoid attending in mornings as this is their busiest time.

Bookable appointments are available at Dalton Square surgery on Fridays. Please ring 01539 715700 to arrange your appointment (lines open Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm).

 

Digital Diabetes Education Resource Now Available

Your Diabetes Your Way is an easy to use interactive website available to help support people living with diabetes. You'll find leaflets, videos, educational tools and games containing information about diabetes.

Register now at: Your Diabetes Your Way or ask your local healthcare team to help you sign up!

 

NHS Diabetes Helpline

NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new helpline in response to disruption to normal diabetes services due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response.

The service is for adults living with diabetes who use insulin to manage their condition and require immediate clinical advice. Whether you or a member of your household have caught the virus, or routine care has been disrupted, the helpline is available for immediate clinical advice to help you un...derstand how to effectively manage their diabetes.

You can access NHS Diabetes Advice via Diabetes UK's support line on 0345 123 2399 Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm.

 

George Cross Medal awarded to Garstang Medical Practice

We are very excited to be able to announce that, following nomination by one of our lovely patients, Angela Mather, we have received the George Cross Medal from the Queen!! 🎉🥳🍾

This honour was given to the NHS as a whole last year, but only those who are specifically nominated receive their own George Cross Medal.

Angela Mather applied for our medal in appreciation of the great work we do. She especially recognised our contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination programme.

Thank you Angela! We are overwhelmed by your support and this great honour. 💙

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month & 'Wear It Pink' Day - 18th October 2024

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide annual campaign taking place in October, involving thousands of organisations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Now aimed to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support life-saving research and life-changing support.

As the UK's largest breast cancer research charity, along with their supporters, they aim to do this through campaigning, raising money and an array of events across the UK including 'Wear It Pink' on Breast Cancer Awareness Day - 18th October 2024.

On Breast Cancer Awareness Day the surgery staff wore pink to raise money and awareness and to support the 'Wear It Pink' campaign. A total of £172.68 was raised!

 

Macmillan Coffee Morning 2024

Garstang Medical Practice staff came together on Friday 27th September 2024 to eat cake & donate for Macmillan Cancer Support. We are very pleased to have raised an amazing £132.34!!! We know that every single penny raised will help Macmillan do whatever it takes to help people living with cancer.

 

Wear A Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research

On Friday 31st March GMP and KLP staff joined together to raise money for #WearAHatDay. An amazing £224.82 was raised!

Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2023

On Friday 17th March GMP staff wore red to raise money for Comic Relief. A total of 124.05 was raised!

BBC Children in Need 2022

On Friday 18th November 2022 staff members joined in the rest of the country by wearing our PJ's to work to help raise money for #Childreninneed2022. A total of £40.95 was raised!

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month & 'Wear It Pink' Day - 21st October 2022

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide annual campaign taking place in October, involving thousands of organisations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research.

On Breast Cancer Awareness Day the surgery staff wore pink to raise money and awareness and to support the 'Wear It Pink' campaign. A total of £243.70 was raised!

 

Organ Donation

Did you know? The law around organ donation has changed. Find out what this means for you at: Organ donation website
#organdonation

 

International Nurses Day - 'Shine a light'

On 12th May 2020 we marked International Nurses Day, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and “shined a light” on our fantastic nursing team here at Garstang Medical Practice. Here are just some of our wonderful nursing team but we want to recognise and thank the whole team for their hard work and support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Winmarleigh School Visit November 2019

We were happy to welcome the children from Winmarleigh School who visited both Garstang Medical Practice and Kepple Lane Pharmacy in November.

Jeans for Genes - 16th to 20th September 2019

Jeans for Genes is the annual fundraising campaign for Genetic Disorders UK, the national charity that supports individuals and families affected by a genetic disorder.

Monies raised through Jeans for Genes fund the work of the charity and provide grants to organisations for projects that aim to transform the lives of children with genetic disorders.

During the week our surgery staff dressed in jeans (or something denim) to support this campaign and raised money towards the work of Genetic Disorders UK.

 

Dementia Action Week 2019

In order to raise awareness and show our support for those with Dementia, the surgery team had a 'Wear something purple for Dementia' day on Wednesday 22nd May 2019 in exchange for a donation to the Garstang Memory Café.  

During the week members of our PPG (Patient Participation Group) had a 'Listening stand' in the main foyer with the aim of raising awareness and providing information and support for those with Dementia and their carers. 
The donations raised by our staff were presented to Sandra Perkins, a member of our PPG and co-ordinator of the Garstang Memory Cafe. Sandra was absolutely thrilled by the gesture.

For more information, support and advice please visit the Alzheimers or Dementia UK websites.

 

Garstang Town Council Good Citizen of the Year Award

Congratulations to our Lead Nurse Helen Kerrigan-Hawkes who was given this truly deserved accolade at the Town Council Awards on 25th April 2019.  As Chair of our WREN Integrated Care Community she has worked tirelessly for our patients and for all patients across our WREN network and her dedication and enthusiasm has been both infectious and admirable. Huge congratulations Helen from all of us; we are very proud of you and all you have achieved.

 

Countryfile Ramble for Children in Need

As part of the Countryfile Ramble for Children in Need, staff, friends and dogs of the Garstang Medical Centre enjoyed a Ramble on the 7th October 2018 covering 12km. We are very pleased to have raised £680. A massive thank you to everyone who donated.