Forest Health Care

23/04/2026

🌟 Practice Nurse Wanted – Maternity Cover 🌟

We’re looking for a caring and enthusiastic Practice Nurse to join our friendly Primary Care team on a maternity cover basis.

🩺 Role includes:
• Long term condition management
• Immunisations & cervical screening
• Wound care & general nursing clinics

⏰ Hours: Part time – up to 20 hours

📍 Location: Forest Health Care

If you love working in primary care and being part of a supportive team, we’d love to hear from you!
📩 Interested? For more detail and to apply

To improve our site we'd also like to use cookies which will send information to Google Analytics. You can read more about our cookies before you choose.

16/04/2026

Please note that the surgery will be closed this afternoon, Thursday 16th April, from 1.00 PM for staff training.
If you need urgent medical assistance while we are closed, please call 111 or 999, as appropriate.
We will reopen at 8:00 AM on Friday 17th April

15/04/2026

Managing Memory Together have Dementia Information & Education Sessions for the Forest of Dean - April & May.

Booking is essential.

14/04/2026

New, FREE Live Zoom webinars designed to support parents and carers of young people aged 11-18 in Gloucestershire!

These webinars offer practical tools, expert advice, and a supportive space to help parents and carers better understand their young person's emotional wellbeing. Each session is led by fully trained facilitators with specialist experience in parenting support and young people's mental health.

Currently have sessions from April to May available to book, with more sessions coming in June.

Our sessions delve into two highly relevant and in-demand topics:
1. Self-Harm Explained
This webinar offers evidence-based guidance to help parents and carers understand the "why" behind self-harm, recognise warning signs, and learn practical strategies to support their young person with compassion and confidence.
2. Exam Ready
This webinar helps parents and carers support young people during exam season by exploring academic burnout, coping strategies, effective routines, and how to maintain calm and connection through stressful periods.

Booking & Further Information
Parents and Carers can explore upcoming dates and book their place at:
www.letstalkwell.org.uk/parents-carers/webinars

14/04/2026

🌟 Meet Our New GP – Dr Hilary! 🌟
We’re delighted to welcome Dr Hilary Thornton to our surgery team.
Hilary grew up in Cumbria and completed her medical training here in Gloucestershire. After 20 years of dedicated Army service, she has now settled locally with her husband, three children, two cats and a growing collection of house plants!
She has a passion for the outdoors, gardening and reading, and brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her new role. Hilary has particular interests in veterans’ medicine, paediatrics and musculoskeletal medicine, and has recently completed specialist training in joint injections.
This is her first role after qualifying as a GP, and she’s excited to meet our patients and become part of the community.
Please join us in giving Dr Hilary a warm welcome — we’re thrilled to have her on board! 💙🌿

10/04/2026

💉 Spring COVID Vaccination Clinics – Next Week

Our Spring COVID vaccination clinics will be running next week across all 3 of our surgeries.

📅 Please use your booking link to secure an appointment.
📞 If you're unable to book online, contact your surgery.

Eligibility for the Spring COVID vaccination is limited to:
🟠 Patients aged 75 and over
🟠 Patients who are severely immunosuppressed

🚶‍♂️ We kindly encourage patients to walk to the surgery where possible to help reduce congestion in our car parks.

Thank you for your cooperation 💙

24/03/2026

🌼 Easter Dispensary Opening Hours 2026 🌼
Please see our dispensary opening hours over the Easter period:
Cinderford & Westbury Surgery
🕒 Monday to Thursday: 8:30am – 6:00pm
(Closed 1:00pm – 2:00pm daily)
❌ Closed:
• Good Friday – 3rd April 2026
• Saturday – 4th April 2026
• Sunday – 5th April 2026
• Easter Monday – 6th April 2026
Ruardean Surgery
🕒 Monday to Thursday: 8:30am – 12:45pm
❌ Closed:
• Good Friday – 3rd April 2026
• Saturday – 4th April 2026
• Sunday – 5th April 2026
• Easter Monday – 6th April 2026
💊 Please ensure you request any repeat prescriptions by the 31st of March to allow time for them to be processed before the holiday. 💊
Wishing all our patients a safe and happy Easter! 🐣🌷

20/03/2026

Drop-in Smear Clinic – TOMORROW - Saturday 21st March
8.30am -12noon

We are holding a drop-in clinic open to women who are due their smear test from:
• Forest Health Care
• Dockham Surgery
• Drybrook Surgery
• Mitcheldean Surgery

📍 No booking needed – just come along.

Taking a few minutes for your screening could protect your health for years to come. 💗

13/03/2026

🩺 Don’t skip your smear test — it could save your life.

A smear test (cervical screening) checks for abnormal cells on the cervix before they turn into cancer. It’s quick, usually painless, and one of the most effective ways to help prevent cervical cancer.

✨ Most cervical cancers are preventable when changes are found early
✨ The test usually takes just a few minutes
✨ Early detection means better treatment and outcomes

Drop-in Smear Clinic – Saturday 21st March

We are holding a drop-in clinic open to women who are due their smear test from:
• Forest Health Care
• Dockham Surgery
• Drybrook Surgery
• Mitcheldean Surgery

📍 No booking needed – just come along.

Taking a few minutes for your screening could protect your health for years to come. 💗

11/03/2026

💤 Safer Sleep Week | 9–15 March 👶
Every year, the Lullaby Trust promotes safe sleeping through Safer Sleep Week, which runs from 9 to 15 March. The theme for 2026 is Baby Necessities, encouraging parents and carers to “keep it simple to keep it safe” when choosing baby sleep products.
Sadly, around four babies a week still die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) ⚠️. If all parents were aware of safer sleep advice, many of these deaths could be prevented ❤️.
The Lullaby Trust campaign offers advice and information on:
🛒 What products to buy
❌ What to avoid
🔎 How to check if a product is safe for sleep
🌡️ What to dress your baby in for sleep in different temperatures
More at: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/about-us/our-campaigns/safer-sleep-week/
The NHS Best Start in Life website also has a brief safer sleep advice page:
🔗 https://ow.ly/BrQE50YpHIM

05/03/2026

We know life can be busy and it’s not always easy to fit appointments into your day. If you’ve been meaning to book your smear test but haven’t quite got round to it yet, this is a great chance to pop in.

We’re holding a Drop-In Smear Clinic for anyone who is due their cervical screening — no appointment needed.

Many people put off their smear test for different reasons. You might feel embarrassed, worried it might be uncomfortable, or think you’ll get round to it another time. Please know that our nurses perform smear tests every day and are there to help you feel as comfortable, supported and at ease as possible.

A smear test is quick, and it’s a really important test that can help detect early changes and prevent cervical cancer.

If this drop-in clinic is well attended, we hope to offer more flexible clinics like this in the future to make it easier for everyone to access their screening.

If you’re due your smear test, we’d love to see you there 💙

04/03/2026

Please note that the surgery will be closed this afternoon, Wednesday 4th March, from 1:00 PM for staff training.

If you need urgent medical assistance while we are closed, please call 111 or 999, as appropriate.

We will reopen at 8:30 AM on Thursday 5th March.