Gladstone House Surgery

24/03/2026

If you’ve developed lymphoedema — a build up of fluid that causes swelling in the limbs — after cancer or cancer treatment, you’re not alone. There are ways it can be managed to help you cope and live well.
Find out more from 👉 bit.ly/4k9yFJ7

23/03/2026

Wilms’ tumour is a rare kidney cancer that mainly affects children under five. The most common symptom is a painless swelling or lump in the tummy. While several risk factors are known, having one does not mean your child will definitely develop cancer. Learn more from 👉 bit.ly/3OBMmFp

20/03/2026

🎥You will have seen in the news that there has been an outbreak of meningitis in Kent.

The overall risk of Meningitis B (MenB) to people outside the Kent area remains low.

MenB needs close and prolonged contact to spread, such as living in the same household or intimate contact such as kissing or sharing drinks and vapes. It is not as contagious as other infections like measles or COVID-19.

👀Learn more about meningitis, including how to spot it and when to get help if you need it: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

🧑‍🔬Routine vaccination against MenB for babies and young children was introduced in 2015, so children born after 1 May 2015 will already have received the vaccine at their 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1-year appointments. If your child has missed any of their MenB vaccines, they can still have the MenB vaccine up to the age of 2.

Following the recent outbreak, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with NHS England and the government are coordinating a targeted vaccination programme against Meningitis B (MenB).

👉Here is what you need to know about who is eligible, how the vaccine works, and what other protections are available.: https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/18/meningitis-b-outbreak-what-you-need-to-know/

Meningitis B vaccination is being offered to those at highest risk from the current outbreak
in Kent.

Check to find out if that includes you.

➡️ https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/20/who-is-eligible-for-the-menb-vaccine-and-do-i-need-it-myself/

19/03/2026

We are currently experiencing high levels of sickness across both our clinical and administrative teams, which has unfortunately impacted our service provision.

We are working hard to minimise disruption and maintain safe care, and we sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

18/03/2026

Anyone with ovaries should be aware of the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer, as the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat. Knowing the symptoms could save your life. Find out more from 👉 bit.ly/4hNN107

17/03/2026

Needing to wee more often, difficulty starting, blood in your wee or weak flow? These could be signs of prostate cancer. Check your prostate cancer risk in just 30 seconds: prostatecanceruk.org/hnyca-risk

16/03/2026

Symptoms of kidney cancer are often vague. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and it is detected during tests for other medical conditions. Learn more from 👉 rebrand.ly/316b46 and visit your GP with any concerns.

13/03/2026

The symptoms of ovarian cancer vary from person to person and can be similar to other problems, such as IBS. That’s why it’s important to recognise what is or isn’t normal for you and see your GP if you have any concerns. Find out more from 👉 rebrand.ly/ovariancan

12/03/2026

We continue to experience high call volumes for GP and Nurse Practitioner appointments. To help us manage demand and ensure our phone lines remain available for patients who truly need them, we strongly encourage patients to complete their own eConsult request online wherever possible.

Completing an eConsult yourself is quick, simple and the fastest way for your request to reach a clinician.

💻 Online via eConsult (please use this where possible)
Submitting your request online allows our clinical team to review your problem quickly and decide the most appropriate care or appointment. All GP and Nurse Practitioner appointment requests are reviewed by a GP first, who will assess your clinical need and direct you to the most appropriate care.

📞 Phone or in person (for those unable to use online services)
If you are unable to complete an eConsult yourself, our reception team can complete the same online form with you over the phone or at reception. However, we kindly ask patients who are able to access the internet to submit their own request online to help keep phone lines free for others.

☎ Call Back Option
If our phone lines are busy, you can select the call back option rather than waiting in the queue. This keeps your place in the queue and our team will call you back when it is your turn.

There is no longer a need to call at 8am, as all medical requests are reviewed by a clinician and prioritised appropriately throughout the day.

🩺 Routine nurse appointments (dressings, smears, immunisations, blood tests) can still be booked as normal through reception.

12/03/2026

✨ Celebrating Our Team - Hartlepool & Stockton General Practice Awards 2026 ✨

We are incredibly proud to share that several members of our team have been shortlisted for the Hartlepool & Stockton General Practice Awards, taking place this March.
These nominations were voted for by colleagues across general practice and recognise the hard work, dedication and teamwork shown across the practice every day.

General Practitioner of the Year:
Dr Samantha Foreman
Dr Carl Parker

Manager of the Year:
Sarah Herd
Faye Ridgeway

Nursing Team Member of the Year:
Rebecca Lilley

Administrator of the Year:
Jennifer Bradley
Kelly McMorris

ARRS Team Member of the Year:
Jemma Reed
Edie Coates

Team of the Year:
McKenzie Group Home Visit & ANP Team

Practice of the Year:
McKenzie Group Practice

A huge congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted. We are extremely proud of the dedication and care shown by our teams and wish everyone the very best of luck on the night. 👏

12/03/2026

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer. That could be a dad, uncle, brother, partner or best mate. Share online risk checker with them now ➡️ bit.ly/3gUpVab
It only takes seconds to complete and might just save their life.

11/03/2026

Thinking of quitting smoking? Giving up is one of the best things you'll ever do for your health. The power is literally in your hand… download the free NHS Quit Smoking app today for all the help and support you'll need.