Elm Surgery

Elm Surgery Patient-focused GP Practice providing exceptional healthcare and diverse services.

18/03/2026

๐ŸŒŸ Meningitis Update for Our Community ๐ŸŒŸ

We know many of you may have seen the recent news about the meningitis outbreak in Kent, and itโ€™s completely natural to feel concerned. UKHSA has confirmed that, outside of the specific outbreak area, there is no increased risk at this time. That means thereโ€™s no need for extra measures beyond the usual good hygiene and keeping vaccinations up to date.

๐Ÿ’‰ A quick reminder about routine vaccinations:
Keeping children and young people up to date with their vaccines is one of the best ways to protect them. This includes the MenACWY vaccine, which helps protect against several types of meningococcal disease.

Hereโ€™s how the MenACWY offer works:

GP practices can provide the MenACWY vaccine to anyone aged 14 up to their 25th birthday.

It can be given during routine appointments or if requested.

This includes young people who missed it at school or those heading to university for the first time.

The School Aged Immunisation (SAI) Team will continue offering any outstanding doses up to the end of Year 11.

๐Ÿง’ What about MenB?
Some cases in the Kent outbreak have been identified as MenB. The MenB vaccine is part of the routine schedule for babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year. Current guidance doesnโ€™t recommend MenB vaccination after age 2.

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in places it shouldnโ€™t, ofte...
18/03/2026

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in places it shouldnโ€™t, often causing symptoms like painful periods, pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, pain during s*x, and fatigue.

Find out more here: https://ow.ly/NGX450YvnY8

If youโ€™re experiencing ongoing symptoms that affect your daily life, itโ€™s important to speak with a healthcare professional and describe exactly what youโ€™re experiencing. Early recognition, understanding family history and access to support and reliable information can help you get the care you need. Trusted resources are available to help you learn more about symptoms, management and support. ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฉบโœจ

Read about endometriosis symptoms and care from the NHS: https://ow.ly/eg0I50YvnYy
Could bad period pains be endometriosis? Learn more: https://ow.ly/P0CO50YvnYr
Find endometriosis publications and support: https://ow.ly/uegx50YvnYm

Good sleep habits are essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.Struggling to fall asleep or waking frequently du...
15/03/2026

Good sleep habits are essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.

Struggling to fall asleep or waking frequently during the night can affect mood, concentration and overall health.

Simple changes like keeping a regular bedtime, reducing screen time before bed, limiting caffeine and creating a calm sleep environment can help improve sleep quality.

Understanding the possible causes of sleep problems and accessing trusted advice can make a real difference. Better sleep supports better days. ๐Ÿ˜ด๐ŸŒ™๐Ÿ’™โœจ

Get NHS tips on falling asleep faster and sleeping better:
https://ow.ly/1zUy50Ytjga

Understand common causes of sleep problems:
https://ow.ly/UsgP50Ytjg9

Watch helpful sleep videos and advice:
https://ow.ly/7vVe50Ytjgg

Symptoms such as ongoing tiredness, swelling, changes in urination or persistent kidney pain should never be ignored. Li...
12/03/2026

Symptoms such as ongoing tiredness, swelling, changes in urination or persistent kidney pain should never be ignored. Lifestyle choices, hydration and underlying health conditions all play a role in kidney health.

There is also growing concern about ketamine use in young people, as it can cause serious damage to the bladder and kidneys, sometimes leading to long-term complications. Knowing the risks and acting early can help protect kidney function and overall wellbeing. ๐Ÿฉบ๐Ÿ’ง๐Ÿ’™โœจ

Learn more about kidney health and support:
https://kidneycareuk.org

Take a kidney health check:
https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/kidney-health-information/kidneyhealthcheck/

Read about ketamine risks and organ damage:
https://www.ukat.co.uk/addiction/drug/ketamine/

Young Carers Action Day shines a light on the incredible young people who help care for family members, often balancing ...
11/03/2026

Young Carers Action Day shines a light on the incredible young people who help care for family members, often balancing responsibilities at home with school and friendships.

The 2026 theme focuses on Action for Equality, calling for better recognition, improved support in schools, access to training and employment opportunities, and meaningful breaks so young carers can thrive just like their peers.

Some young carers may miss school activities or struggle with their mental health due to caring responsibilities, which is why awareness and understanding matter. Schools, organisations and communities can access resources and posters to help raise awareness and ensure young carers are not held back. ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒŸโœจ

Learn more about Young Carers Action Day 2026:
https://carers.org/young-carers-action-day/young-carers-action-day

Access awareness resources:
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/event/young-carers-awareness-day-2026

10/03/2026

๐Ÿ“ฃ A quick reminder for our patients

To help us keep things running smoothly, we kindly ask that you check directly with your pharmacy to see if your prescription is ready for collection.

Once a prescription has been sent from the practice, weโ€™re not able to see when it will be prepared or ready to pick up โ€” your pharmacy will have the most upโ€‘toโ€‘date information.

Thank you

10/03/2026

๐ŸŒŸ Weโ€™re Reviewing Patients for Repeat Dispensing ๐ŸŒŸ

Weโ€™re currently looking at which of our patients might benefit from repeat dispensing. This is a system that allows your regular medicines to be issued in advance, so you donโ€™t need to request a prescription from your GP every time. It can save you time, reduce hassle, and help make sure you never run out of the medication you rely on.

How repeat dispensing works:

Your GP authorises a batch of prescriptions for up to 12 months.

Your chosen pharmacy keeps these prescriptions securely.

When you need your next supply, you simply contact the pharmacy โ€” no need to order from the surgery each time.

Itโ€™s ideal for people on stable, longโ€‘term medication.

If youโ€™re eligible, one of our pharmacy team will be in touch to explain the next steps and help you get started.

10/03/2026

Tomorrow is No Smoking Day, a great opportunity to take the first step towards a smoke free future.

Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and increases the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. Some people turn to va**ng to help them quit smoking, but itโ€™s important to understand the facts, including concerns often raised about โ€œpopcorn lungโ€ and other myths.

Getting the right information and support can help you make an informed decision and move towards better health. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your body. ๐Ÿšญ๐Ÿ’™โœจ

Learn what you need to know about va**ng:
https://ash.org.uk/key-topics/va**ng-what-you-need-to-know

Read va**ng myths and the facts:
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/va**ng-to-quit-smoking/va**ng-myths-and-the-facts/

Get free NHS quit smoking support:
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/

08/03/2026

๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ปโ€™๐˜€ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜† is a time to celebrate womenโ€™s strength and resilience, and also a reminder to prioritise your health. Attending cervical screening and breast screening when invited can help detect changes early, often before symptoms appear, improving outcomes and saving lives. ๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ’—๐Ÿฉบโœจ

๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด : https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cervical-screening/

๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ฏ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด (๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—บ) : https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/

Looking after your mental health is just as important, especially if current media stories feel overwhelming or triggering.

๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—ก๐—›๐—ฆ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜ : https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ๐—ณ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜€๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ : https://patient.info/features/healthy-living/how-to-look-after-your-mental-health-on-social-media

With Motherโ€™s Day approaching, this time of year can also bring up feelings of grief and bereavement for many people, and support is available if you need it. Taking care of your physical and emotional wellbeing matters.

๐—š๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟโ€™๐˜€ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜† : https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/managing-grief/grieving-on-mothers-day/

05/03/2026

Practice Notice

The Surgery will be closed on Thursday 5 March from 1:00pm to 6:00pm for mandatory staff training.

During this time, all online forms will be unavailable and will reopen at 8:00am on Friday 6 March.

If you have an urgent medical condition that cannot wait until the morning, please call the usual Surgery telephone number 776772. Your call will be transferred to Practice Plus for assistance.

Thank you

Ovarian Cancer Awareness is a reminder to know the symptoms and act early. Symptoms can be vague and may include:- persi...
04/03/2026

Ovarian Cancer Awareness is a reminder to know the symptoms and act early.

Symptoms can be vague and may include:

- persistent bloating
- tummy pain
- feeling full quickly
- needing to wee more often
- unexplained changes in appetite

If you notice ongoing symptoms that are unusual for you, itโ€™s important to speak to your GP. When discussing symptoms, let your doctor know about any family history of cancer, not just ovarian cancer and not only in parents or siblings, as this can help assess your overall risk.

Keeping up to date with cervical screening when invited is also an important part of protecting your gynaecological health. Early action can make a real difference. ๐ŸŽ—๏ธ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿฉบโœจ

Learn more about ovarian cancer: https://ow.ly/mn6R50YlUaC

Read about spotting the signs and acting early: https://ow.ly/R5lU50YlUaF

Zero Discrimination Day is a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect. The NHS i...
01/03/2026

Zero Discrimination Day is a reminder that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

The NHS is committed to being an inclusive employer and service provider, welcoming people from all backgrounds and communities. We recognise the importance of multi-language communication so we can work effectively with everyone and ensure care is accessible to all. We have a zero tolerance approach to bullying, harassment and racism, and we stand firmly against discrimination in any form. Creating safe, supportive environments for staff and patients is everyoneโ€™s responsibility. ๐Ÿค๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’™โœจ
Find support and advice about hate crime: https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/hate-crime/

Address

Elm Surgery
Plymouth
PL68UF

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+441752776772

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