Balmoral Surgery

09/10/2025

🍎 Food Bank Donation Collection Point Now Open! 🍞

We’re excited to announce that we now have a food bank donation collection point right here! If you have non-perishable food items to share, please drop them off with us. Every little bit helps families in need.

Thank you for your generosity and support! 💙

29/09/2025

From today all GP appointment requests must be made via Anima. The link for this can be found on our website www.balmoralsurgery.co.uk. If you do not have access to the internet, a smart phone or a computer, please speak to one of our Care Navigators who will be happy to assist you. Thank you

Total Triage Coming 29th September 2025 The way you will access your GP is changing from Monday 29th September 2025, as we adopt the NHS’s Modern General Practice model.

16/09/2025

From 29th September, we will be changing how we book appointments at Balmoral Surgery. All patients requiring an appointment will now have to make a request through Anima, our online consultation tool which is available on our website.

The new system is known as total triage and is part of the Modern General Practice Model supported by the NHS. The aim of the new system is to avoid the “8am” rush, as the online consultation tool will be open all day. Requests will be triaged by a GP and patients will then see the right clinician at the right time.

At Balmoral Surgery we have been slower than some other practices to adopt this new way of working, as we have concerns that this new system does not support patients without the internet, a smart phone or a computer. However we are now in a position where ignoring this new way of working is not an option, as this is very much linked to our compliance with our NHS Contract.

For those patients without access to the internet, a smart phone or a computer, our Care Navigators have access to a more condensed version of the Anima tool, and will complete this with the patient. This can be done over the phone, or in a private room at the practice.

05/09/2025

We are now booking 'flu and Covid vaccinations. If you are eligible, please call to book, or if you have received a text message with a booking link, please use this.

Please support your surgery and have these vaccinations at Balmoral Surgery

Thank you

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Who should have the flu vaccine??

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
have certain long-term health conditions
are pregnant
live in a care home
are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine??

You can get the winter COVID-19 vaccine if you:

are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
live in a care home for older adults

01/09/2025

📢 We are currently experiencing degraded performance with our clinical system. This has been escalated to our service provider to resolve as quickly as possible, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

14/08/2025

01/08/2025

Hair Loss Awareness Month, 1st-31st August

Did you know that August is Hair Loss Awareness Month? You may not know this, but it’s normal to lose around 50-110 hairs per day.

Normally losing extra hair is nothing to worry about, but excessive loss can be a sign of an underlying condition so if you’re worried, it’s important to speak to your Doctor.https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/hair-loss/

Around 40% of women over the age of 50 experience noticeable hair loss and this can impact on both self-confidence and emotional wellbeing. Here are some tips and ideas on treatment options, and options for support: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/hair-loss/coping-tips-for-women/

11/07/2025

We're thrilled to introduce a brand-new monthly session at Age Concern Sandwich. Create and Chat is a warm, welcoming space for people living with dementia and their carers to get creative, connect, and unwind.

🗓 When: 1st Thursday of each month
🖌 Next session: Thursday 7th August
📍 Where: Age Concern Sandwich Well-being Centre
🕜 Time: 1.30 – 3.30 pm

At Create and Chat, participants can enjoy relaxed creative activities,
meaningful conversations, and, of course, a good cuppa! Our first session featured “monkey tree art” – which sparked smiles, storytelling, and some truly imaginative creations. It’s all about gentle stimulation, social interaction, and a little fun with paint and paper.

We’d love your help to spread the word. Please refer anyone you think would benefit from a friendly afternoon of creativity and companionship.

01/07/2025

📢 Protecting Our Children – One Jab at a Time! 💉👶

You may have seen the recent news about falling childhood vaccination rates across the UK. At our practice, we’re proud to have a strong uptake locally, but we know there’s always more we can do to keep our little ones safe.

✅ If your child is due or overdue for any of their routine vaccinations – or if you’re just unsure – we’re here to help.

💬 Give us a call or pop in to check their records and book any outstanding vaccines. Every appointment makes a difference in protecting not just your child, but the whole community.

Let’s keep our kids happy, healthy, and protected. 💪🌈

27/06/2025

🚨 NEW UPCOMING GROUP ALERT! 🚨
🌿 5 Ways to Wellbeing at Walmer Castle & Gardens 🌿

Looking to boost your wellbeing in a beautiful setting? Join us for a free 6-week group course where we’ll explore the 5 Ways to Wellbeing together – through connection, creativity, gentle movement, and nature.

🗓 Starts: Tuesday 29 July
⏰ Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
📍 Walmer Castle & Gardens
💛 Suggested donation: £3
🎟 Booking is essential – places are limited!

Each week has a unique focus – from mindfulness and movement to kindness and creativity. No experience needed.

📞 Please contact us to register your interest:
Call 01304 744075 or email social.prescriberpcn@nhs.net

Let’s explore, connect, and feel good together! 🌸✨

23/06/2025

📢 Mounjaro (tirzepatide) – Who Can Get It on the NHS?

We've had many questions about Mounjaro, the new weight loss injection. Here's what you need to know:

This is not currently available in Kent and Medway at the moment. Mounjaro can only be prescribed on the NHS in additon to support services, and these have not been commissioned yet in our area.

💉 When it does become available on the NHS, this is only for a small group of patients, under strict criteria:

✅ You must:

Be 18 or over

Have a BMI of 40+, or 37.5+ if you’re from a Black, Asian or other minority ethnic background

Have 4 or more weight-related health conditions (e.g. type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, heart disease)

⚠️ It is not available for general weight loss or cosmetic reasons, even if you're willing to pay privately.

🏃‍♀️ Support is available! If you're looking for help managing your weight, check out:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

Thank you for helping us keep our lines clear for those who need medical care

Take steps to improve your health. Lose weight and feel better inside and out. Try our free NHS weight loss plan to get you started.