Lancaster Medical Practice

26/09/2025

ℹ Reminder - today!

Do you want to know more about our Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

We're fortunate to have a very active PPG - which is a group of patients and staff that work together to make improvements for everyone.

Steph, our PPG Chair, will be holding some drop-ins in our waiting rooms over the coming months to talk to patients, get their feedback and tell them about our PPG.

📆 Friday 26 September
🕐 9:30am - 10:30am
📍 Owen Road

See you there!

25/09/2025

Plan ahead and get protected! 🙌

You can get your flu vaccine at the practice this autumn if you are:

🤰 Pregnant
🙋‍♂️ A child aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2025 (please note that school-aged children receive their vaccine at school)
👨👩‍🦳 Aged 65+ years (if you are aged 75+, you can also receive your Covid vaccine)
👉 Immunosuppressed (aged 6 months+)
👉 Aged 18-65 in a clinical risk group

Plan ahead and get your autumn appointment in the diary! Book:
📱 Online via the NHS App
📞 Call 01524 238150, or
🚶‍♀️ Walk in to any site and speak to a member of the reception team.

24/09/2025

It's ICON Week - which is dedicated to raising awareness of infant crying and how to manage it.

Crying is a normal part of every baby’s development, but for many parents, it can feel overwhelming. If you can relate to this, please remember you're not alone.

ICON Week aims to help families understand why babies cry, offers practical coping strategies, and highlights the importance of looking after your own mental health.

▶️ www.iconcope.org/iconweek2025

24/09/2025

If your child is age 2 or 3, they are eligible for their flu vaccine to help keep them healthy this winter.

The flu vaccine is normally offered through a nasal spray, and is the best way to protect your child and those around them, against the flu virus.

Book your child in now:
📱 Online via the NHS App
📞 Call 01524 238150, or
🚶‍♀️ Walk in to any site and speak to a member of the reception team.

ℹ The vaccination of school aged children is coordinated via their school and the school immunisations team, and not the practice.

23/09/2025

‼ Parking at University Health Centre ‼

Lancaster University are installing an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system on campus. The system will go live on Wednesday 1 October, and will impact patients visiting the University Health Centre by vehicle 🚗🚗

From 1 October, patients visiting the University Health Centre by vehicle must:

1⃣ Enter their registration number in a tablet at reception upon arrival, and
2⃣ Check the information entered in the tablet before it is submitted, to ensure it is accurate.

ℹ If a patient has inputted their registration into the tablet, they will get two hours parking. Patients are advised to keep track of time spent at the health centre, and to speak to a member of the reception team if they feel their stay will exceed two hours.

ℹ Every patient arriving by vehicle needs to do this to avoid unnecessary charge, even if they have a blue badge.

ℹ Drop offs and pickups will be granted a minimum grace period.

Signage will be in place to remind patients what they need to do, and our staff are always on hand to provide help and advice.

Thank you for your support.

23/09/2025

Important information for pregnant patients ⬇️

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency confirm that taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there is no evidence it causes autism in children.

Read more in their latest update.

➡️ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-confirms-taking-paracetamol-during-pregnancy-remains-safe-and-there-is-no-evidence-it-causes-autism-in-children

23/09/2025

Two years ago, Julie discovered she had high blood pressure, a diagnosis that alarmed her after her mother died of a heart attack. She decided to make a change, working with a health and wellbeing coach to set simple goals.

Julie found ways to incorporate more activity into her busy life. She started parking her car further from work, took the stairs instead of the lift, and paused for short stretching breaks. In the evenings, she swapped TV time for walks along the coast or home-based Pilates workouts.

These small, consistent changes have helped Julie lose weight and lower her blood pressure. She also experiences less pain in her knees and hips, which has reduced her reliance on medication. Julie feels more confident and wants others to know they can also prioritise their health, no matter how busy their schedule.

Discover more Healthy Hearts stories and resources here 👇
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/healthy-hearts/

22/09/2025

Do you want to know more about our Patient Participation Group (PPG)?

We're fortunate to have a very active PPG - which is a group of patients and staff that work together to make improvements for everyone.

Steph, our PPG Chair, will be holding some drop-ins in our waiting rooms over the coming months to talk to patients, get their feedback and tell them about our PPG.

📆 Friday 26 September
🕐 9:30am - 10:30am
📍Owen Road

See you there!

19/09/2025

The ovarian cancer van is at Asda Lancaster today and tomorrow!

Go along and speak to trained volunteers offering talks, interactive symptom checkers, Q&A sessions and signposting to support groups and healthcare providers.

More than 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK each year, but survival rates remain stubbornly low, because many cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

So, we want you to - The ovarian cancer van will be travelling around Lancashire and South Cumbria, visiting local town centres and supermarkets. Next week's dates and locations are:

📍17 September, 11:00-17:00 - Morrisons, Kendal, LA9 6DU
📍18 September, 10:00-17:00 - Morrisons, Kendal, LA9 6DU
📍19 September, 10:00-17:00 - Asda, Lancaster, LA1 5JR
📍20 September, 09:00-15:00 - Asda, Lancaster, LA1 5JR

https://orlo.uk/4eIdq Ovacome - The Ovarian Cancer Support Charity

19/09/2025

📣 Spaces available on the popular Incredible Years programme!

☀️ Do you sometimes find parenting difficult?
☀️ Do you want to strengthen your relationship with your child?
☀️ Would you like to promote your child's social skills?
☀️ Would you like to boost your child's language development?
☀️ Would you like to develop positive parenting skills?

Parents and carers - support is available, you're not alone!

To find out how this could benefit you and your family, or to book a place, please contact Parenting Practitioner, Debra Lawless on 01524 550650 or by emailing debra.lawless@lscft.nhs.uk

18/09/2025

Would you spot the symptoms of measles?

Even before the skin rash appears, there are various symptoms that someone with measles may experience, similar to having a cold.

Remember that two doses of the MMR vaccine can stop your child becoming seriously unwell with measles. Both doses are needed for full protection.

If your child is not up to date with their MMR vaccine, contact the practice to book an appointment.

▶ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

17/09/2025

ℹ️ Reminder! We are closed this afternoon for staff training ℹ️

We will be closed from 1:00pm today for essential staff training and we will re-open at 8:00am tomorrow (Thursday 18 September).

If you require medical assistance while we are closed, please contact 111.

In an emergency (if you have chest pains and / or shortness of breath), dial 999.