What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 12pm 2pm - 5pm Saturday 8:30am - 12pm

The Spa Pharmacy

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The Spa Pharmacy

An independent community pharmacy serving Montpellier and Cheltnham for over 150 years. A free collection and delivery service - all local surgeries.

28/04/2026

Meningitis 3

What are the treatment options?

People with suspected meningitis will usually have tests in hospital to confirm the diagnosis and check whether the condition is viral or bacterial. Bacterial meningitis usually needs to be treated in hospital for at least a week.

Treatments include:

• Antibiotics given directly into a vein
• Fluids given directly into a vein
• Oxygen through a face mask.

Viral meningitis tends to get better on its own within 7-10 days and can often be treated at home. A number of meningitis vaccinations provide protection against many of the infections that can cause meningitis:

• MenB vaccine offers protection against meningococcal group B bacteria, which are a common cause of meningitis in young children. In the UK, a vaccine is recommended for babies at 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at 1 year.

• 6-in-1 vaccine (also known as DTaP/IPV/Hib/Hep B vaccine) Offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio and haemophilus influenza type B. It is given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 18 months old.

• Pneumococcal Vaccine which is offered at 16 weeks and a booster given at 1 year. A single dose is offered to adults aged 65 or over.

• MMRV vaccine which offers protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox. It is usually given to children when they are 12 months and 18 months old.

• Men ACWY vaccine which offers protection against 4 types of bacterial meningitis that can cause meningitis. The vaccine is offered to teenagers aged 14 and people up to the age of 25 who have never had a vaccine containing Men C.

21/04/2026

Meningitis 2

What causes meningitis?

Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection and can be spread through sneezing, coughing and kissing. Viral meningitis is the most common type. Bacterial meningitis is rare but can be very serious if not treated. Overall, it’s estimated up to 1 in 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal and of those that survive 1 person in every 2 or 3 will be left with 1 or more permanent problems.
Several different viruses can cause meningitis including:

• Meningococcal bacteria-there are several different types called, A. B. C. W. X. Y and Z.
• Pneumococcal bacteria
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) bacteria
• Enteroviruses – that usually only causes a mild stomach infection
• The mumps virus
• The herpes simplex virus – a virus that usually causes cold sores.

14/04/2026

Meningitis 1

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Meningitis can affect any one but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. Symptoms of meningitis can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all. In the early stages, there may not be a rash.

You should get medical help immediately if you are concerned about yourself or your child. Trust your instincts and do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash appears. Symptoms of meningitis include:

• A high temperature
• Cold hands and feet
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Breathing quickly, muscle and joint pain
• Pale, mottled or blotchy skin (This may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• Spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• Headache
• A stiff neck
• A dislike of bright lights
• Being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• Fits (seizures)

Someone with meningitis can get a lot worse very quickly. Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you care for could have meningitis. Tests for meningitis may include a physical examination, a blood test to check if the condition is caused by a virus or bacteria, a lumber puncture or a CT scan.

07/04/2026

Brain Tumours 6

Quiz & Answers

Q1. What are brain tumours?
A1. A growth of cells in the brain that multiply in an abnormal uncontrollable way.
Q2. How many people are diagnosed with primary brain tumours every year in the UK?
A2. 12,000.00
Q3. How many are cancerous?
A3. About half.
Q4. How may types of brain tumour are there?
A4. 2 main types - non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous.
Q5. How are brain tumours graded?
A5. Low grade (1 and 2) which grow slowly and are less likely to return after treatment and high grade (3 and 4) which are more likely to grow back after treatment.
Q6. What are the symptoms?
A6. Common symptoms are headaches, seizures, feeling or being sick, drowsiness, mental or behavioural changes, memory problems, progressive weakness, vision or speech problems.
Q7. When should I see my GP?
A7. If you have any of the symptoms that won’t go away. It’s unlikely to be cancer but it is important to get them checked by a doctor.
Q8. Who is affected?
A8. Brain tumours can affect people of any age.
Q9. What are the risk factors that increase your chances of developing a brain tumour?
A9. Age, radiation, family history.
Q10. How are brain tumours treated?
A10. Treatments include steroids, medicines to help with the symptoms, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.

31/03/2026

Brain Tumours 5

Quiz

Q1. What are brain tumours?
Q2. How many people are diagnosed with primary brain tumours every year in the UK?
Q3. How many are cancerous?
Q4. How may types of brain tumour are there?
Q5. How are brain tumours graded?
Q6. What are the symptoms?
Q7. When should I see my GP?
Q8. Who is affected?
Q9. What are the risk factors that increase your chances of developing a brain tumour?
Q10. How are brain tumours treated?

24/03/2026

Brain Tumours 4

Treating Brain Tumours

If you have a brain tumour, your treatment will depend on:
a. The type of tumour
b. Where it is in your brain
c. How big it is and how far it has spread
d. How abnormal the cells are
e. Your overall health and fitness

Treatments for brain tumours include:
1. Steroids
2. Medicines to help with your symptoms
3. Surgery
4. Radiotherapy
5. Chemotherapy

After being diagnosed with a brain tumour, steroids may be prescribed to help reduce swelling around the tumour. Other medicines can be used to help with other symptoms such as antiepileptic medicines for seizures and pain killers for headaches.

Surgery is often used to remove brain tumours. The aim is to remove as much abnormal tissue as safely as possible. It is not always possible to remove all of a tumour, so further treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be needed to treat any abnormal cells left behind.

Treatment for non-cancerous tumours is often successful, and a full recovery is possible. Sometimes there is a small chance the tumour could return, so you may need regular follow-up appointments to monitor for this.

17/03/2026

Brain Tumours 3

Who is Affected?

Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children, although they tend to be more common in older adults. More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK every year, of which half are cancerous. Many others are diagnosed with a secondary brain tumour.

The cause of most brain tumours is unknown, but there are several risk factors that may increase your chances of developing a brain tumour. The risks include:

• Age - the risk of getting a brain tumour increases with age (most brain tumours happen in older adults aged 85 to 89) Although some types of brain tumour are more common in children
• Radiation - exposure to radiation accounts for a very small number of brain tumours, some types of brain tumours are common in people who have had radiotherapy, or very rarely CT scans or X-rays of the head
• Family history and genetic conditions - some genetic conditions are known to increase the risk of getting a brain tumour, including tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis type 1 and very rarely Turner syndrome

10/03/2026

Brain Tumours 2

When to See a GP

You should see you GP if you have any of these symptoms, particularly if you have a headache that feels different from the type of headache you usually get or if the headaches are getting worse. You may not have a brain tumour, but these types of symptoms should be checked.

If your GP cannot identify a more likely cause of your symptoms, they may refer you to a doctor who specialises in the brain and nervous system (neurologist) for further assessment and tests, such as a brain scan.

03/03/2026

Brain Tumours 1

Brain Tumours

Brain tumours are a growth of cells that multiply in an abnormal uncontrollable way. Brain tumours are graded according to how fast they grow and how likely they are to grow back after treatment. Grade 1 and 2 are low grade and 3 and 4 are high grade.

There are 2 main types of brain tumours:
• Non-cancerous (benign) brain tumours- these are low grade (1 or 2) which means they grow slowly and are less likely to return after treatment
• Cancerous (malignant) brain tumours- these are high grade (3 and 4) and either start in the brain (primary tumours) or spread into the brain from elsewhere (secondary tumours) and are more likely to grow back after treatment.

The symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain affected. Common symptoms include:
• Headaches
• Seizures
• Persistently feeling sick, being sick and drowsiness
• Mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
• Progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
• Vision or speech problems

Image by myUpchar / Creative Commons License

24/02/2026

Coeliac 6

Quiz & Answers

Q1. What is coeliac disease?
A1. It is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten.

Q2. What are the symptoms?
A2. There is a range including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.

Q3. How many people have coeliac disease in the UK?
A3. About 1 in 100.

Q4. What causes the disease?
A4. In people with the disease their immune systems mistake substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body and attacks thick healthy tissue.

Q5. Why does their immune system act in this way?
A5. It is not entirely clear but is thought to be a combination of genetics and environment.

Q6. What happens then?
A6. The surface of the small bowel (intestines) becomes damaged disrupting the body’s ability to take in nutrients from food.

Q7. What is the treatment?
A7. There is no cure for coeliac disease but following a gluten free diet should help control the symptoms.

Q8. How do you diagnose coeliac disease?
A8. Testing is usually only recommended for people who have a family history of the condition.

Q9. What happens if I continue to eat gluten?
A9. Potential long term complications include weakening of the bones, iron deficiency, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Q10. Where can I get help and support?
A10. Coeliac UK is a UK charity that has useful resources like information about gluten free diets, local groups and ongoing campaigns.

17/02/2026

Coeliac 5

Quiz

Q1. What is coeliac disease?
Q2. What are the symptoms?
Q3. How many people have coeliac disease in the UK?
Q4. What causes the disease?
Q5. Why does their immune system act in this way?
Q6. What happens then?
Q7. What is the treatment?
Q8. How do you diagnose coeliac disease?
Q9. What happens if I continue to eat gluten?
Q10. Where can I get help and support?

10/02/2026

Coeliac 4

Treating coeliac disease

There is no cure for coeliac disease but following a gluten free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of the condition. Even if you have mild symptoms, changing your diet is still recommended, because continuing to eat gluten can lead to serious complications.
This may also be the case if tests show that you have some degree of coeliac disease even if you do not have noticeable symptoms. It is important to ensure your gluten free diet is healthy and balanced.
You can get help and support from Coeliac UK which is a British charity for people with coeliac disease. Its website has useful resources including gluten free diets, local groups, volunteering and ongoing campaigns.

For more information about this or any other minor health problem you may have, contact one of our trained team

Address

12 Rotunda Terrace Montpellier Street
Cheltenham
GL511SW

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 12pm
	2pm - 5pm
Saturday	8:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+441242522130

Website

http://www.spapharmacycheltenham.co.uk/

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