Meopham Medical Centre Kent

06/05/2026

The NHS in Kent and Medway faces rising demand for health and care services – it faces significant financial pressures, fragmented ways of delivering services and persistent health inequalities that must be reduced. That's why NHS Kent and Medway is designing a new five‑year strategy to create fairer, sustainable, future‑ready healthcare for residents.

We want to hear from you about what matters most. Help shape how our five-year strategy can be turned into real change: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/5yearstrategy.

05/05/2026

May is skin cancer awareness month - stay safe in the sun!
During skin cancer awareness month, we are encouraging everyone to take simple steps to stay safe in the sun and recognise the early signs of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, with around 16,700 new cases of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) diagnosed every year and over 150,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed annually. Most skin cancers are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds.
The good news is that around 86% of melanoma skin cancer cases are preventable, and early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
It is also important to highlight that younger children are more vulnerable to the effects of the sun, and sunburn in childhood has been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.

Know the signs
It’s important to regularly check your skin for any changes and speak to your GP if you notice:
A new mole or growth that wasn’t there before
A mole or patch of skin that changes in size, shape or colour
A mole that becomes itchy, painful, crusty, bleeds or oozes
A sore that doesn’t heal within four weeks
Top sun safety tips
The sun can cause lasting damage to your skin, even on cloudy days. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones:
Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and a 4-star UVA rating – apply generously and reapply every two hours, or more often if swimming or sweating
Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is strongest
Cover up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses
Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight and always use suitable sun protection
Avoid using sunbeds or tanning beds, they expose your skin to harmful UV rays and significantly increase your risk of skin cancer
Check your skin regularly, and encourage family and friends to do the same
By taking a few simple steps, you can reduce your risk and help others do the same. Share this information with family, friends, and others – especially those who may be more vulnerable, such as children, older adults, outdoor workers and people with fair skin or a history of sunburn.
If you have any concerns about your skin, don’t wait – please submit an anima request to see a GP.

05/05/2026

🚶‍♀️🌿 May is National Walking Month! 🌿🚶‍♂️

Looking for a simple way to boost your health? Start with a step… then another! Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve your physical and mental wellbeing — no gym, no cost, just you and your trainers 👟

💚 Helps your heart
💚 Lifts your mood
💚 Builds strength & stamina
💚 Great for all ages and abilities

Why not swap a short car journey for a walk, enjoy a lunchtime stroll, or explore your local park this week? Every step counts!

✨ Need inspiration? See our 20 tips to add 20 minutes of walking into your day — small changes can make a big difference!

01/05/2026

🌼🤧 Hay Fever Season is Here! 🤧🌼

As we move into May, pollen levels are on the rise — and so are symptoms of hay fever and seasonal allergies.

Common symptoms include:
👃 Sneezing
👀 Itchy or watery eyes
🤧 Nasal congestion
🤕 Headaches
😣 General discomfort

These symptoms can affect your day-to-day life, but the good news is many cases can be managed safely with over-the-counter treatments

Did you know?
Your local community pharmacy can offer expert advice and effective treatments — often without needing to see a GP.

If your symptoms are mild to moderate, consider speaking to your pharmacist first 🏥

For further information please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/

01/05/2026

🚨 Bank Holiday Notice 🚨
Due to the Early May Bank Holiday, the surgery will be closing on Friday 1st May 2026 at 6:00pm ⏰
We will reopen on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 8AM🩺

🚨 Bank Holiday Notice 🚨

Due to the Early May Bank Holiday, the surgery will be closing on Friday 1st May 2026 at 6:30pm ⏰

We will reopen on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 8AM🩺

Please note: This also includes the dispensary.
If you require medication, please ensure you order and collect it in good time before the weekend.

📌 A list of local pharmacy opening times over the bank holiday weekend are shown in the image.

Thank you for your understanding and have a lovely bank holiday weekend 🌼

28/04/2026

As part of Heart Failure Awareness Week we will have specialist nurses available at the Thanet Community Health Hub tomorrow, Wednesday, 29 April.

They will be offering blood pressure and pulse/rhythm checks, as well as being on hand to talk about risk factors and prevention. They will also be available to chat about living with heart failure and symptoms to look out for.

Visit the hub, in Northwood Road, Broadstairs, from 9am until 12.30pm.

24/04/2026

Please visit https://www.kmhealthandcare.uk/vaccinations for further information on available vaccines

It's World Immunization Week!

Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives since 1974 — not by accident, but because ordinary people made the decision to protect themselves, their children and one another.

That’s 6 lives every minute, every day, for more than 5 decades. Vaccines work!

Your decision makes a difference. Get vaccinated.

24/04/2026

24/04/2026

🚨 Bank Holiday Notice 🚨

Due to the Early May Bank Holiday, the surgery will be closing on Friday 1st May 2026 at 6:30pm ⏰

We will reopen on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 8AM🩺

Please note: This also includes the dispensary.
If you require medication, please ensure you order and collect it in good time before the weekend.

📌 A list of local pharmacy opening times over the bank holiday weekend are shown in the image.

Thank you for your understanding and have a lovely bank holiday weekend 🌼

23/04/2026

Due to staff shortages, our dispensary will be closing early on Monday, 27/04/26 at 16:30. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding.

22/04/2026

We are aware of IT issues currently affecting GP practices across Kent and Medway and are working hard to resolve these as quickly as possible.

Please be patient with your general practice during this time as they are doing their best to help you.

We would ask patients to continue to treat staff at your GP practice with courtesy and respect as they are working hard to keep services running and they have no control over the situation.

22/04/2026

If you’re aged 50 to 74, the NHS will send you a bowel cancer testing kit.

Catching bowel cancer early reduces your chances of getting seriously ill from it. So, don’t just leave it in the back of a drawer - send it back today.

Find out more: nhs.uk/bowel