Shirehampton Group Practice

28/08/2025

We are working to improve the support offered to people following a cancer diagnosis.

If you have received care and support from your GP practice after your cancer diagnosis, we would like to hear from you.

Please take our quick survey to help us understand your experience - link in the comments below 👇

22/08/2025

Our Autumn/Winter vaccination clinics will be held at the Practice on Saturday 4th & 18th October 2025

You can get the free flu vaccine if you:
• are aged 65 or over
• have certain long-term health conditions
• are pregnant
• live in a care home
• are the main carer for someone, or receive a carer's allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system

A Covid vaccine booster is also available for a smaller group of patients who:
• are residents in a care home for older adults
• are aged 75 years and over
• are immunosuppressed due to disease or treatment

You may receive a letter from the national booking system inviting you to one of the local pharmacies to have a Flu jab and/or Covid Booster.
We strongly urge you to have your vaccinations with the Practice. The Practice has knowledge of which other vaccines you require and will administer them at the same time. This is very important to protect against other disease.
The practice relies on the income generated from the flu program to fund our Practice. Without this income we would risk having to reduce some of our services.
Please support the surgery by doing this.

📱 Appointment invites will be sent out to patients via text message in September, but if you are eligible and wish to book before this, then please contact the Practice.

We will call those patients who are registered as housebound with details of when the team will visit.

19/08/2025

Get your prescriptions before the August . Most practices ask patients to order prescriptions at least three working days in advance.

Phoning 999 because you have run out of your prescription is not a suitable use of our resources.

22/07/2025

☀️ With the summer school holidays just around the corner, has been preparing for one of the busiest times of the year!

by following 10 simple steps to stay safe and well this summer, including:

📍 Knowing your exact location using what3words
💚 Spending 15 minutes learning CPR
🗺️ Learning where your nearest defibrillator is located

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor to the South West this summer, a little preparation goes a long way.

👉 Take a look at all 10 tips here 🔗🔽

https://www.swast.nhs.uk/news/ambulance-service-shares-safety-tips-ahead-of-school-summer-holidays-1366

09/07/2025

High temperatures are expected over the next few days, which could pose a risk to the health of some people, especially those who are more vulnerable.

Who is most at risk? 🤔
While most people can enjoy the warm weather, it's important to look out for those who may be more susceptible to the heat, including:

🧓 older people – especially those over 75
👳‍♂️ those who live on their own or in a care home
👨‍🦱 people who have a serious or long-term illness including heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson's disease or some mental health conditions
😡 people who are on multiple medicines that may make them more likely to be badly affected by hot weather
🤸‍♂️ those who may find it hard to keep cool – babies and the very young, the bed bound, those with drug or alcohol addictions or with Alzheimer's disease
🥵 people who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places – those who live in a top-floor flat, the homeless or those whose jobs are outside
Please look out for anyone who may be vulnerable and check these tips on how to cope: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

💧 Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. Water is best!
🆒 Keep Cool: Stay indoors or in the shade during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm). Close curtains to keep rooms cool.
👕 Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. A wide-brimmed hat 👒 and sunglasses 😎 are essential if you go outdoors.
🤝 Check on Others: Please check in on friends, family, and neighbours who may be vulnerable. A quick phone call can make a big difference.
🚫 NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle. This includes infants, children, and animals.

30/06/2025

💊 Let’s reduce medicines waste – together! 💊

The NHS spends an estimated £300m on unused medicines each year. We need your help to reduce this.

If you take regular medication, there are simple steps you can take to help:

✅ Plan ahead – check what you already have before reordering
✅ Only order what you need
✅ Check your medicines before leaving the pharmacy – they can’t be reused once you leave

Every prescription counts – let’s make sure nothing goes to waste.
Find out more at

A campaign has been launched to reduce medicines waste in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

30/06/2025

📣 Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) – Important Information

We understand there is a lot of interest in Mounjaro, a new medication for type 2 diabetes and weight management.
At this stage, Mounjaro is only available to a limited group of patients who meet strict national prescribing criteria.

⚠️ Please do not contact the practice about Mounjaro at this time.
If and when it becomes available to more patients, we will provide an update.

⚠️ If you qualify, then the practice will be in touch directly (as the service is still being developed). If you are not contacted in the next few months, then unfortunately you do not currently qualify. It's likely in time more patients will become eligible as the criteria is rolled out - this is set nationally and beyond our control.

Thank you for your understanding.

14/05/2025

On National Receptionist Day, a reminder from The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) that receptionists are not 'just admin' - they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need.

The health service is overwhelmed, and front-of-house staff are doing the best they can to get patients the help they need.

Sadly, abuse can push them to breaking point. Burnout is rising, and across the country, surgeries are losing skilled staff who can no longer absorb the emotional toll.

Thank you for being kind & compassionate to our team - you never know what happened on the call they just took. 📞

Receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the cli...

08/05/2025

Feeling sad, worried or isolated as a new or expectant parent? You’re not alone.

Sirona care & health Health Visitor Teams are available to support your emotional wellbeing. You can pop into a baby hub for a chat, or call your local team to ask for a Health Visitor to ring you and arrange a home visit.

All Health Visitors are trained to listen and support you with care and without judgement. Find out more through the link in the comments, or contact your local team via the numbers below.

▶️ Bristol North: 0300 125 6278
▶️ Bristol South: 0300 125 6264
▶️ Bristol East and Central: 0300 125 6274
▶️ North Somerset: 0300 125 5060
▶️ South Gloucestershire: 0300 125 5200

18/03/2025

Catching bowel cancer early reduces your chances of getting seriously ill or dying.
The bowel cancer screening programme now includes everyone over the age of 50.
You’ll automatically be sent an NHS Bowel Screening Kit when you become eligible.
Make sure that you return your NHS Bowel Screening Kit when you become eligible - It’s the most important post you’ll receive.

Completing the bowel cancer screening kit is easier than you think. It can be completed in the privacy of your own bathroom using the simple step by step instructions on the box.

Bowel Cancer Screening If you're aged 50 to 74 and registered with a GP in England, you will now be invited to completed a bowel cancer screening test every two years, as you become eligible. You do not need to contact your GP or local hospital as this is an automatic process. If you are

05/03/2025

From today we will start inviting patients to book their Spring Covid Vaccinations. Our clinics are on Saturday 5th and Saturday 26th April.

Patients eligible for this programme are:
* Adults aged 75 years and over
* Residents in care homes for older adults
* Patients 6 months and over who are severely immunosuppressed (we can only vaccinate those who are 18 or over at this Practice)

We will send text invites to those patients with mobiles and call those who only have a landline number.

We will also be vaccinating our patients in care homes and those who are housebound.

Eligible patients (including those that are under 18 and immunosuppressed) will also be able to book into all the usual local vaccination sites via the National Booking Service from 18 March 2025.

04/03/2025

It’s International HPV Awareness Day today and there’s no better time to check your vaccination status.

Women aged 16 to 25 are eligible for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination if they haven’t already had it, with just a single dose of the vaccination needed. Awareness of the virus is lower than we would like. It is spread by skin-to-skin contact and can increase the risk of ge***al warts and some types of cancer too.

Contact your GP practice or find out more on the NHS website, link in the comments below.