We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience.
By using this site, you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device. Cookie policy.
Cookie settings.
Functional Cookies
Functional Cookies are enabled by default at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings and ensure site works and delivers best experience.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
49 Barrack Road
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 1PA
Stour Surgery December Newsletter
March 2026
As we head into spring, we’d like to share a few updates from the surgery. Dr Hilary Khankashi will be joining us to provide cover during Dr Megan Woodrow’s maternity leave, and we’re pleased to have her supporting the team and our patients during this time.
Please also note that the surgery will be closed over the Easter bank holiday on Good Friday and Easter Monday. Make sure to order any prescriptions in advance and plan ahead for your care.
Spring COVID Booster – Book with Your GP Surgery
It’s spring booster time again! Vaccinations are the best way to protect yourself, your family,
and your community from COVID-19. If you’re eligible, your GP surgery will contact you directly
to book your appointment.
Having your booster with us is quick, safe, and convenient – and it helps reduce the risk of serious illness. Eligibility criteria remain the same as set by the NHS, so if you’re due, make sure you take up the offer and stay protected this spring.
Do more with the NHS App!
Take Control of Your Prescriptions
Did you know you can order your repeat prescriptions yourself? Don’t rely on your pharmacy to request them for you – it’s quicker and more reliable if you do it directly.
You can easily order your prescriptions through the NHS App, ensuring you get your medications on time and helping us manage requests more efficiently. Taking control of your prescriptions is simple, safe, and puts you in charge of your healthcare.
Helping Us Keep Your Appointments on Track
We’ve seen more missed appointments recently. To help everyone get the care they need, please make a note of your bookings and let us know if you can’t attend. A quick call to the surgery frees up your slot for someone else and keeps our service running smoothly. By managing your appointments, you’re helping us provide timely care for all our patients.
Spring into Wellbeing with Walking in East Dorset
With spring on the way, it’s a great time to get outdoors, enjoy fresh air, and support both your mental wellbeing and fitness. Walking in East Dorset offers a range of led walks across beautiful local landscapes, from coastlines to countryside, with routes to suit different abilities.
There’s usually no need to book, just check for updates and turn up, and you can try up to three walks before deciding to join.
Improvements at University Hospitals Dorset
Royal Bournemouth Hospital will be the main emergency centre, with more specialist doctors and teams available every day, meaning fewer hospital transfers and quicker care when you need it. There is still currently an Emergency Department at Poole as well as at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and both sites continue to have Urgent Treatment Centres.
The new BEACH building has modern facilities for emergencies, critical care, children’s health, and maternity, including birthing pools and private postnatal rooms, and the transfer of Children’s Services from Poole to Royal Bournemouth Hospital has been delayed until later in the year. The Coast Building will provide extra beds and improved wards, while the Pathology Hub helps doctors get test results faster and more accurately, supporting quicker, safer, and more comfortable care for everyone.
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
March is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder of the importance of early detection. If you’re sent an NHS FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) kit, it’s really important to complete and return it as soon as possible. The test can detect tiny traces of blood in your stool that you might not notice, helping to find problems early when treatment is most effective.
If you notice any symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, or ongoing tummy discomfort, please contact the surgery. Taking a few minutes to complete your FIT test could make a life-saving difference.
Monthly Activity
196
Appointments were not attended, which equates to 2,589 minutes
6,349
Appointments took place
9,391
Calls were taken
Published: Mar 25, 2026