Horncastle Medical Group

18/03/2026

🚨 Meningitis Update – Please Read 🚨

We’ve had a few queries today about meningitis following the recent outbreak in Kent.
We understand this is worrying, and we want to reassure you with the latest guidance as below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cases-of-invasive-meningococcal-disease-confirmed-in-kent

👉 Patients over the age of 10 would not have had the MenB vaccine, and we have NOT been advised to offer this at present.

👉 We have also been advised NOT to provide antibiotics unless directed by public health as per the guidance above.

Meningococcal bacteria often live harmlessly in the nose and throat, but can spread through:
➡️ Close & prolonged contact
➡️ Intimate contact (e.g. kissing/sexual contact)

👥 What counts as close contact?
✔️ Living or sleeping in the same household
✔️ Sharing a dormitory
✔️ Partners (boyfriend/girlfriend)
✔️ Students sharing a kitchen in halls

❌ What is NOT usually close contact?

Same school, class, or workplace
Friends (without prolonged close contact)
Casual kissing (e.g. cheek kiss)
Sharing drinks, food, or vapes
Social events
Sitting next to someone on transport

🚑 Get help immediately if these symptoms are present:

🟣 A rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass
🌡️ Sudden high fever
🤕 Severe, worsening headache
🧍‍♂️ Stiff neck
🤢 Vomiting and diarrhoea
💪 Joint and muscle pain
💡 Sensitivity to bright light
🧊 Very cold hands and feet
⚡ Seizures
🧠 Confusion or delirium
😴 Extreme sleepiness / difficulty waking

❗ Important: The rash may not appear early (or at all)

Symptoms can develop very quickly. It can look like flu at first, but then worsen rapidly

👉 If you or someone else has these symptoms:
📞 Call 999 or go to A&E immediately

We’ll continue to keep you updated as we receive further guidance 💙

Latest updates from the ongoing outbreak.

16/03/2026

📢 Vaccination Clinic – Wednesday 18 March

Horncastle Medical Group will be holding a vaccination clinic on the morning of Wednesday 18 March for patients who are eligible for the following vaccines:

💉 Flu vaccine (very limited supply)
💉 Pneumococcal vaccine
💉 Shingles vaccine
💉 RSV vaccine (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

If you are eligible and would like to book an appointment, please:

📲 Send a request via Anima, or
📞 Call the Surgery on 01507 522477.

Appointments are limited and will be offered while availability lasts.

Thank you,
Horncastle Medical Group

13/03/2026

📢 Hearing Aid Battery Update

With the recent opening of Specsavers in Horncastle, hearing aid batteries will no longer be available from Reception at Horncastle Medical Group.

Patients who need hearing aid batteries can now collect them directly from Specsavers, which is conveniently located on the High Street in Horncastle.

This change allows patients to access hearing aid support and supplies in one place. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

03/03/2026

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council and Healthwatch Lincolnshire, is gathering lived experience feedback to understand how people with sensory loss experience health and care services. The insights collected will help shape improvements, reduce inequalities, and remove barriers to access.

Why this matters
You may support people who face the biggest barriers to accessing services. Your help in sharing this call for experiences ensures that:
• Voices that are less often heard are included
• People with complex needs are represented
• Improvements are shaped by real lived experience

The survey is open until 13 March, and every response makes a difference.

26/02/2026

📅 Save the Date

💉 COVID spring vaccines will be available on Saturday 18th April.

⚠️ Please do not contact the Practice yet, as we do not have appointments available to book into.

This is advance notice only — further details will be shared soon.

✅ Eligible patients will be:
• 👵 Adults aged 75 years and over
• 🏡 Residents in a care home for older adults
• 🛡️ Individuals aged 18 years and over who are immunosuppressed
(for example: those receiving chemotherapy, on certain immune-modifying medications, or have had a a recent organ transplant for e.g.)

❗ Please note: we will not be vaccinating anyone under 18 years of age at the Practice.

24/02/2026

⚠️ Important Notice – Please Share ⚠️

We have been made aware of an individual targeting vulnerable patients in the community and charging a fee to help set them up on ANIMA.

❗ This is a SCAM.

If you or someone you know needs support setting up or using ANIMA, please contact the practice directly and our team will be happy to help.

Please help us protect our patients by sharing this message with friends, family, and neighbours.

Thank you for your support

23/02/2026

Illnesses such as measles and whooping cough can be serious. Vaccinating your child can help protect them and others. To check if they are missing any vaccines, look in their red book or speak to your GP practice www.nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations

23/02/2026

📢✨ Important Update – Long Term Condition Reviews ✨📢

From April 2026, we will be introducing a new recall system for patients with long term conditions.

Going forward, patients will be invited for their routine annual review during their 🎂 birth month each year.

This change will help us:
✅ Manage appointments more effectively
💙 Provide more personalised care
🗓️ Plan reviews more efficiently

During the first year of this change, some patients may receive their review invitation slightly ⏰ sooner or later than usual while we transition to the new system.

If you are invited more than a year after your last review and have any concerns about your condition in the meantime, please 📞 contact the Practice — we will be happy to help.

🙏 Thank you for your understanding and support as we make this important change to improve your care.

20/02/2026

Patient Information Notice - 20.02.2026

We have been informed that Boots (located on our grounds) does not have a pharmacist available today and, as a result, will not be open.

We are sharing this information as it has been provided to us, to help patients make alternative arrangements where necessary.

17/02/2026

Patient Information Notice - 17.02.2026

We have been informed that Boots (located on our grounds) does not have a pharmacist available this afternoon and, as a result, will not be open.

We have also been advised that the Boots branch in Woodhall will not be open this afternoon.

We are sharing this information as it has been provided to us, to help patients make alternative arrangements where necessary.

16/02/2026

🚨 Measles Outbreak Alert –🚨

The NHS has reported a significant measles outbreak affecting several schools in North London 🏫. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed 34 cases in Enfield between January and February, accounting for more than a third of cases across England 📊.

Some children have required hospital treatment 🏥, with many cases linked to those who were not vaccinated.

All Health authorities are strongly urging families to ensure their children’s MMR vaccinations are up to date 💉 to help prevent further spread.

🔗 Learn more about measles and the MMR vaccine:
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/05/23/what-is-measles-and-why-is-it-so-important-were-all-up-to-date-with-our-mmr-vaccine/

Please stay informed, check vaccination records 📋, and if you are unsure on it's safety then contact the Practice and speak to a health care professional. 💙

As families prepare for travel over the summer break, there is more chance for measles to be brought in from countries where there are outbreaks. Catching up children who missed out on their MMR vaccines is a priority, in order