Burnside Surgery

22/04/2026

🌟 Meet Andrea, Your Local Social Prescribing Link Worker! 🌟
Feeling a bit overwhelmed or unsure where to turn for support? If you live in Halliwell, help is closer than you think.

Social Prescribing is all about connecting you to the right people and services to help improve your overall wellbeing—because your health is about more than just medicine.

Andrea can help you with:
✅ Finances & Employment: Navigating benefits or finding work.
✅ Mental Wellbeing: Supporting your emotional health.
✅ Housing & Independence: Helping you live well at home.
✅ Staying Active & Healthy: Finding ways to move more.
✅ Social Connections: Getting involved in your local community.
✅ Immigration & Carer Support: Dedicated advice for your specific needs.

How to get in touch:
You can reach out to Andrea Hollman directly or use the QR code in the image to self-refer.

📧 Email: andreahollman@nhs.net
📲 Self-Refer: Scan the QR code on the flyer!

Don't struggle in silence—Andrea is here to help the Halliwell community thrive. 💙

22/04/2026

Diabetic eye screening is an important part of diabetes care and helps protect your sight. Diabetes can damage the small blood vessels in the eyes, leading to a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss if not detected early. Screening checks for early signs before you notice any changes, meaning treatment can start sooner and help prevent serious damage.

If you have diabetes and are aged 12 or over, you will usually be invited for screening every 1–2 years. The test is quick and involves taking photographs of the back of your eyes to check for any changes.

Attending your screening appointment can:
• Detect problems early before symptoms develop 👁️✨
• Help prevent or reduce sight loss 💙🩺
• Support long-term eye health as part of your diabetes care 🌿📊

Even if your vision feels fine, it’s important to attend when invited. 💙✨

Learn more about diabetic eye screening: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/diabetic-eye-screening/

21/04/2026

21/04/2026

🎉Today is National Practice Managers’ Day 🎉

A huge thank you to our Practice Manager, whose dedication and calm-under-pressure approach keep everything running behind the scenes. From supporting our team to ensuring patients receive the best possible care.

We truly appreciate everything you do for our practice and our community 💙

20/04/2026

Smoking affects nearly every part of your body, increasing the risk of serious conditions like cancer, heart disease and stroke. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the benefits start almost immediately. It can also have a big impact on your finances, with the cost of smoking adding up over time. Understanding both the health and financial impact can be a powerful motivator to quit. 💷🚭💙✨

Reasons to quit smoking include:
• Improved heart and lung health ❤️🫁✨
• Reduced risk of cancer and serious illness 🎗️💙
• More energy and better overall wellbeing ⚡🌿
• Saving money every week and year 💷📊

Small steps can lead to big changes, and support is available to help you quit for good. 💙🚭✨

Use the smoking cost calculator: https://patient.info/healthy-living/smoking-cost-calculator
Learn about the true impact of smoking: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/why-quit-smoking/understanding-the-true-impact-of-smoking/

17/04/2026

Knowing your blood pressure reading is one of the simplest ways to protect your heart and overall health. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, but it can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney problems if left untreated. Checking your reading regularly and understanding what it means can help you take control of your health.

You can help manage your blood pressure by:
• Eating a balanced diet with less salt 🥗🧂✨
• Staying active and moving regularly 🚶‍♂️💪
• Maintaining a healthy weight ⚖️💙
• Reducing alcohol and stopping smoking 🚭🍷
• Managing stress levels 🧠🌿

Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference over time. 💙🩺✨

Check your blood pressure reading: https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/check-your-blood-pressure-reading
Read about foods that can help lower blood pressure: https://patient.info/features/heart-health/foods-to-lower-blood-pressure

15/04/2026

If you're waiting for treatment or surgery, the My Planned Care website can help you stay informed and supported while you wait. It provides average waiting times for local hospital trusts, helping you understand what to expect, as well as signposting to advice and support to help maintain your health and wellbeing during this time. Taking small steps to look after yourself while waiting can make a real difference. 💙🩺✨

Find waiting times and support on My Planned Care: www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk

13/04/2026

IBS Awareness Month highlights a common condition that can have a big impact on daily life.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects the digestive system and can cause a range of ongoing symptoms that may come and go.

Common symptoms include:
• Stomach pain or cramping, often relieved after going to the toilet 🤕✨
• Bloating and excessive wind 💨💙
• Diarrhoea, constipation or a mix of both 🚽⚠️
• Changes in bowel habits 📊🩺

Symptoms can often be triggered by stress, certain foods or lifestyle factors. Managing IBS may involve dietary changes, staying active, reducing stress and understanding your triggers. If symptoms are persistent or worsening, it’s important to speak to your GP to rule out other conditions. 💙🌿✨

Read NHS guidance on IBS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs/
Learn about digestive issues and when it could be something more serious: https://patient.info/features/digestive-health/could-your-digestive-issues-be-ibd

12/04/2026

Caring for others is a rewarding role, but it’s just as important to care for yourself. 💙

Join Bolton Carers Support for a "Relaxation for Carers" session—a dedicated space to learn breathing techniques, reduce stress, and find your inner calm.

📅 When: Monday 23rd March & 13th April
🕙 Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
📍 Where: The Wellness Room, Thicketford Centre, Bolton, BL2 2LW

Please bring along a mat, cushion, and blanket, and remember to wear comfortable, warm clothes.

To book or for more info:
📞 Call 01204 363056 (Mon-Thu, 10am-4pm)
📧 Email info@boltoncarers.org.uk

11/04/2026

💙 **Bolton Talking Therapies is holding: Compassionate Mind: Baby & Me Group** 💙

A supportive group for parents or carers of babies under two, focusing on managing low mood, anxiety, and self-criticism using Compassion Focused Therapy.

📅 Starts: Tuesday 28 April 2026
📍 Held in Bolton (family-friendly, babies welcome)

👉 To join, complete the online self-referral form via the Bolton Talking Therapies webpage:

https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/bolton-talking-therapies

Are you registered with a Bolton GP and the main carer of a baby under two?

Finding the demands of parenting tough?

Struggling with low mood, anxiety, or feeling stuck in worry and self criticism?

You’re not alone - support is available through our Compassionate Mind for Baby and Me group. 💙

Meet Ziggi (pictured), a CBT Therapist with our Bolton Talking Therapies team, who helps deliver this group based on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT). 👋

The group includes eight weekly sessions, each lasting two and a half hours, held in a family friendly venue in Bolton. Babies and toddlers are welcome to come along.

The next group starts on Tuesday 28 April 2026. 📅

If you think you may benefit from accessing the group, please complete the online self-referral form on the Bolton Talking Therapies webpage (link in comments 👇).

10/04/2026

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder of how important screening is, even if you feel well.

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme is designed to detect cancer early, often before symptoms appear, when treatment is more effective and outcomes are better.

If you are aged 50 to 74, you will be sent a free home testing kit every 2 years. The test is simple to do and checks for tiny amounts of blood in your poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer.

Taking part in screening can:
• Detect cancer early, before symptoms develop 🩺✨
• Help prevent cancer by finding and removing polyps 💙🔍
• Improve survival rates and treatment outcomes 📊🌿

Even if you feel healthy, it’s important to complete your test when invited.

If you notice symptoms like changes in bowel habits, blood in your poo, ongoing tummy pain or unexplained weight loss, contact your GP. Early action can save lives. 💙🎗️✨

Learn more about bowel cancer screening: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/bowel-cancer-screening/

09/04/2026

Taking care of others is a full-time job, but you can't pour from an empty cup. Join Bolton Carers Support for a journey to inner peace and personal renewal with our Gentle Yoga & Relaxation sessions.

We’re hosting four sessions at the beautiful Smithills Hall to help you stretch, breathe, and find a moment of calm.

When:

Friday 20th & 27th March

Friday 10th & 24th April

10:30 am – 12:00 pm (Refreshments and a chat from 11:30!)

Where: Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, BL1 7NP.

What to bring: Please wear comfortable, warm clothes and bring a mat, cushion, and blanket.

How to book:
📞 Call our helpline: 01204 363056 (Mon-Thu, 10 am - 4 pm)
📧 Email: info@boltoncarers.org.uk