Stour Surgery December Newsletter

December 2025

 

We’re delighted to welcome some new faces to the surgery! Our new GP, Megan Woodrow, will be seeing patients on Mondays. We also have two new practice nurses joining the team – Carmen, who started in November, and Samantha, who will be with us from January. They’re here to support you and make sure you get the care you need, helping our surgery run smoothly for everyone.

christmas

Christmas wishes

The team at the surgery wishes you a very happy Christmas!

Please note we will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. If you need medical advice during this time, call NHS 111, or dial 999 in an emergency.

 

Open Surgery – Here to Help You

Feeling unwell? Our open surgery is a quick and easy way to get advice from a nurse. Call from 8am for a nurse triage call-back (service runs 8:30 to 10:15am). The nurse will listen to your symptoms and, if needed, arrange an appointment. This is perfect for sudden minor illnesses like coughs, colds, flu, sore throat, sinusitis, earache, hayfever, UTIs, thrush, vaginal discharge, insect bites, or emergency contraception. Please note: Open surgery isn’t for ongoing problems, prescriptions, test results, routine checks, or dental/skin issues.

 

Do more with the NHS App!

nhs app
 

Free NHS Health Checks – Helping You Stay Well

NHS Health Checks are free for adults aged 40 to 74 and are designed to spot early signs of illness. At the appointment, your height, weight and blood pressure will be checked, and a simple blood test is taken. You will also be asked about your lifestyle, such as smoking, activity and diet. Afterwards you will receive clear results and practical advice. The aim is to help you stay well for longer by reducing the risk of preventable conditions.

health checks
 
food bank

Christchurch Food Bank

Christchurch Food Bank plays a vital role in supporting local people who are facing difficult times. Our surgery now has a Food Bank donation point so that together we can help make a real difference. Demand is increasing, and every contribution counts. They are especially in need of pasta sauce, tuna, tinned fruit, custard, IHT milk cartons, tinned corned beef or ham, and festive treats like chocolate, mince pies, biscuits, stuffing, Christmas pudding and gravy. Thank you for supporting our community.

 

Flu, Covid and RSV Vaccinations – Keep Yourself Well This Winter

It’s important to continue attending your cervical screening when invited. Regular screening helps detect any changes early and plays a vital role in protecting your health. From 1st July, there’s a change to how often you’ll be invited for screening. If your test shows no HPV detected (HPV negative), your next appointment will be delayed to 5 years instead of the usual interval.

This change reflects improved testing accuracy and means fewer unnecessary screenings for those at low risk. If HPV is found, your results will explain what happens next and if you need further tests. If you have any questions, please contact your GP practice.

nhs nvaccine
 

Monthly Activity

176

Appointments were not attended, which equates to 2,414 minutes

6,202

Appointments took place

7,598

Calls were taken

Published: Dec 17, 2025