Welcome to the latest of our weekly newsletters. We regard it as a priority that all patients at our Adlington, Buckshaw, Croston, Eaves Lane Chorley and Lostock Hall surgeries are kept fully informed of news relevant to them. We hope these updates continue to prove useful.
IMPORTANT - Major Changes to the Appointments System
We are now very close to the new process for booking appointments at your GP practice coming into effect.
The system comes into effect on October 1 and our staff are currently completing training in readiness for the change.
In order to be ready for the changes, we would advise all patients to download the NHS App — it's the easiest way to manage appointments, prescriptions and more.
You can do so by clicking this link www.nhs.uk/nhs-app.
If you do not have internet access, please call at the surgery and our reception staff will offer advice on how it will work for you.
Please note this change has been introduced by the NHS and the Government, not by our GP practice.
Temporary Surgery Closure – Thank You
Thank you to all our patients for their patience and understanding when our surgeries and phone lines were closed on Tuesday afternoon for staff training.
This was essential NHS training and we hope it will help us in our aim of offering the best service possible at all times.
Stoptober
The NHS’s annual Stoptober quit smoking campaign has now been launched and we are backing the campaign.
Research shows that making it 28 days or more smoke-free makes you five times more likely to quit for good, so Stoptober encourages smokers to quit for the entire month of October.
Benefits of quitting begin almost immediately, including improved breathing, taste, and smell, with long-term benefits such as a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.
Please click here to access the NHS online resources or call at your surgery.
Local support is available and sessions offering support are running from noon to 2pm every Wednesday up to October 29 at Duke Street Family Hub, Chorley PR7 3DU.
NHS 111 and Pharmacy First
Using the 111 or Pharmacy First service for less serious complaints can avoid an unnecessary GP appointment, A&E trip or 999 call.
The 111 service operates 24 hours a day and is staffed by fully qualified health professionals and local pharmacies registered with the Pharmacy First service can suggest treatments and even offer prescription medicine for some conditions.
The service can be used if you are suffering from impetigo, infected insect bites, earache, sore throat, sinusitis, urinary tract infections or shingles.