The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 is "community."  It is, therefore, an excellent time to highlight several ways that connecting to the community can reap many benefits.

Our Social Prescriber uses Community SWITCH to connect you with local opportunities to help manage your health and well-being. —SWITCH stands for Supporting Wellbeing Improving the Community’s Health.  Community SWITCH is a programme of self-help and signposting services identified and reviewed by social prescribers and members of our network's Patient Participation Groups.

Unlock the potential of in-community health care and wellbeing support through Community SWITCH here>>

Social isolation can have a detrimental impact on mental health and wellbeing.  Social groups offer a platform to meet new people, make friends, and build meaningful relationships. They can provide a network for support, especially during difficult times.

Download and view our information pack on social groups in the community by following this link>>

Being an unpaid carer is a meaningful and important role — but it can sometimes affect your own health and wellbeing.
Many carers experience stress, exhaustion, and isolation, which can take a serious toll on their mental health. It's vital to remember: you matter too.

If you're a carer in Dorset, take a moment for yourself and explore the NHS Dorset Healthcare information booklet, created by the Carers Development Lead. It's full of support, guidance, and resources to help you look after your own wellbeing while caring for others.

Download and view a PDF copy of the printable booklet here>>

As we move into Spring 2025, it’s the perfect time to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccination. 

If you’re aged 40 to 74 and receive an invitation for an NHS Health Check from us, say yes! 

People in our community may have seen reports in the media about the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying mpox as an international public health concern. 

A statement from the UK Health Security Agency has advised that the risk to the UK population is currently considered low. Nevertheless, be assured that NHS plans are underway to prepare for any cases we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.

Information and advice on mpox is available on the NHS website here>>

The Barcellos Family Practice is trialling a new online consultation system that enables patients to access some of our GP online services such as requesting a fit/sick note or asking about your test results.  

Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) works with us to support and promote the best possible health care for all patients while ensuring that patients are at the heart of decision making.

The next PPG meeting is now scheduled to take place Wednesday the 29th of May at 12pm at Hope Church, next door to our Corbin Avenue surgery.

Find out more about our PPG and how to join on our PPG web page here>>

We’re pleased to advise that next week, the Barcellos Family Practice will install a brand new phone system at our Corbin Avenue and Glenmoor Road surgeries to improve the service we provide to our patients.  

This upgrade is part of our continuing commitment to improving patient access.  The new system is better equipped to handle increased call traffic efficiently, meaning that when we receive high call volumes, to save patients “being put on hold,” they can opt to receive an automated call back when their position in the queue reaches number one.

The system also increases the ability of our team to review call volumes, peak times, and demand to help us identify areas for improvement and refine our services.

Our telephone engineers will work diligently to install the new system with minimal disruption to our services.

This communication aims to inform our patients about the changeover. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition period.

At The Barcellos Family Practice, we want to do all we can to help you with your well-being needs. 

Did you know that approximately 1.6 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset every year?  We are asking our patients for help to reduce this.

From November 2023 all patients in our network who are over 16 will be able to view notes and health records. This includes notes from GP surgery appointments, test results, medications, and letters we receive from hospitals. These can be viewed online via the NHS App, NHS website, SystmOnline or the Airmid app. If you do not want your record to be available online, please speak with the Reception or Patient Services team at your surgery. For more, please visit the Crane Valley PCN information web page here>>

We would like to keep be able to send you Practice communications by email and text message, but first, we need your permission.  Please get in touch with us to provide your consent or follow this link to our online Communications Consent form>>

Not only is it a quick and low-cost way for the NHS to contact patients, but it also saves patients time waiting on the phone to get through to the Practice or having to visit the surgery.

The Practice may use text messages to 

• Send appointment reminder messages – this reduces the chance of you missing a necessary health appointment and avoids wasted appointment times that another patient could use.
• Provide you with the opportunity to book directly into clinics such as Winter flu vaccination clinics, request COVID Booster vaccinations or NHS Health checks.
• Offer digital health management apps to support you in managing any long-term medical conditions, for example, taking blood pressure readings, living with respiratory conditions or managing diabetes.
• Ask you to complete online questionnaires as part of medical reviews, e.g. asthma or contraception reviews.
• Obtain your feedback on your experience (Friends and Family test).
• Support anyone with hearing difficulties or other sensory impairments by offering an alternative way to contact us.

Please be assured that if you cannot receive text messages or choose not to, you can continue to use other communication methods, e.g. phone calls or visits to the surgery.

SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) is a leading independent advocacy charity – providing advocacy services throughout the south west and bordering counties since 1999.  SWAN now offers an Advocacy Service across the county of Dorset. 

For patients who use social media, please note we have a Facebook page and an Instagram account (@barcellosfamilypractice).  We often post breaking news on Facebook earlier than it is posted on this website, so please follow us so these posts appear in your news feed.  

Many people living with Dementia feel that having support along their journey will maximise independent living and prevent a crisis.

NHS bowel cancer screening checks if you could have bowel cancer. It’s available to everyone aged 60 to 74 years. The programme is expanding to make it available to everyone aged 50 to 59 years.

Just a tiny sample detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong. 

If you’re sent a kit, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.

For more information including screening kit instructions in alternative formats visit nhs.uk/bowel-screening.

Help Us Help You – Screening saves lives 

Act F.A.S.T. Call 999 if you see any single one of the signs of a stroke.

There are around 100,000 strokes in England, Scotland and Wales every year,8 with around 33,000 stroke related deaths each year, as well as being a leading cause of disability.

The F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym provides a memorable way of identifying the most common signs of a stroke and emphasises the importance of acting quickly by calling 999.

For more information on stroke, visit the NHS website.

If something in your body doesn’t feel right, don’t carry the worry of cancer with you.

Tests could put your mind at rest, and whatever the result, your NHS is here for you.

When cancer is diagnosed early, treatment is more likely to be successful. However, early in the pandemic the number of people coming forward to their GP with potential cancer symptoms dropped.

Referrals for suspected cancer have been running at record high levels since March 2021, and we need to continue that trend to diagnose more cancers early.