Longton Health Centre, Lancashire

18/03/2026

NHS App – New Look

Over the next few weeks, the NHS App will automatically update for users who have enabled auto‑updates.

Anyone without this setting will receive a prompt to update later in the rollout, which is scheduled to begin by the end of March 2026.

These improvements are shaped by extensive research involving more than 1,000 users – including dedicated accessibility studies – and developed in partnership with healthcare and clinical safety experts.

The result is a more intuitive, accessible design that makes it easier for people to navigate the App and quickly find the services they need.

You can watch a short video to give you a glimpse of the new look:

Find out what changes we are making to the layout of the NHS App and why we are making them. The NHS App provides a simple and secure way for people to access a range of NHS services on their smartphone or tablet.

18/03/2026

**Meningitis Outbreak 2026**

The Men B Vaccinations are not available on the NHS Currently - apart from baby immunisations.

People under 10 years old should have been offered the vaccine. The schedule is being reviewed in light of the Meningitis outbreak.

There is currently no recommendation for mass Men B vaccination. UKHSA management of the Kent incident is focused on targeted vaccination of defined groups, alongside antibiotic prophylaxis for close contacts.

Men B vaccination should not be offered on demand for reassurance, as protection is strain-specific, takes time to develop, and is not part of the current outbreak control strategy.

There is more information below:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3rzg0vg947o

17/03/2026

Week is an important moment to celebrate the strengths, perspectives and talents that neurodivergent people bring to our communities every single day.

Inclusion and acceptance should never be confined to a single week in the calendar but woven into the very fabric of our society, present in our schools, workplaces, health and care services, and communities every day of the year.

True inclusion means listening to neurodivergent voices, valuing lived experience, and ensuring that systems are designed with people, not for them, recognising difference not as something to be fixed, but as something to be understood, respected and supported.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on learning disability and autism is a legal requirement, and was developed and delivered by autistic people and people with learning disabilities themselves. That is what meaningful inclusion looks like and our teams at Longton Health Centre have taken part in understanding Oliver's campaign and undertaking their training.

Let’s continue to build a society where neurodivergent people are understood, valued and supported every day

https://www.olivermcgowan.org/

This is the home page for the Oliver Mcgowan campaign. Since the untimely death of Oliver in 2016, his parent's Paula & Tom Mcgowan have been campaigning for mandatory autism training for all health care professionals.

16/03/2026

16/03/2026

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.

The NHS website has all the information you need, including what to look out for and when to get medical help.

➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/

Get in touch if you need to get vaccinated

16/03/2026

Reminder that we are running a Cake Bake on Thursday 26th March to raise donations for Marie Curie 🌾💛

The Cake stand will be in the waiting room all day (08:00 - 18:00) - or until we run out - we will keep Facebook updated throughout the day. 🍰🍪🧁

Please feel free to come along for a baked treat in lieu of a small donation towards Marie Curie.

There will also be a Children's table with some easter colouring activities 😀

These have been really successful in the past - we raised £256 as a practice last year which is an amazing contribution towards the expert care that Marie Curie provides to those end of life. Hopefully we can raise even more this year 🤞

Thank you

March is the month of the Great Daffodil Appeal 2026. 🌾💛🎗️

Marie Curie nurses and healthcare professionals provide expert hospice care, whatever the illness, in the comfort of home and hospice. Whether you have months, weeks or days left to live, Marie Curie help provide the individual with clinical care and emotional support, assisting them so they can live the best life they can to the end.

Longton Health Centre will be taking part by running a cake bake on Thursday 26th March. 🍰🧁🍪

All donations received in lieu of a baked treat will go directly to Marie Curie so more people can access the high-quality care and support when and where they need it most.

These have been really successful in the past so hopefully we as a practice can raise lots of donations again 😊

Any baked treats would be much appreciated for the stall 💛

Thank you

16/03/2026

Behind the Scenes at Longton Health Centre 🌟

Ever wondered what your GP is up to when you see empty chairs in the reception area?
Here's a glimpse into the extensive work our dedicated GPs and extended healthcare team do when they’re not in direct consultation with our patients:

📋 Administrative Tasks:
Clinicians spend a significant amount of time handling important paperwork, including referrals, patient notes, test results and prescriptions. These tasks are crucial for ensuring you receive the best possible and safest care.

📞 Phone Consultations:
Many consultations and contact follow-ups are conducted over the phone, providing quick and convenient care for patients where appropriate

💻 Reviewing Test Results & Reports:
GPs carefully review lab results, image results and specialist feedback to make informed decisions about your health.

🤝 Collaborating with Healthcare Teams:
GPs regularly coordinate with nurses, specialists and other healthcare providers to create comprehensive care plans for you, their patients.

📚 Continuous Learning:
Medicine is always evolving. Clinicians stay up-to-date with the latest medical research and guidelines through ongoing education and training.

📝 Preparing for Appointments:
Each patient’s visit requires preparation. GPs review medical histories and plan the best course of action for your appointment.

When you see those empty chairs, rest assured, our GPs and healthcare teams are hard at work behind the scenes to ensure every patient receives the highest standard of care.

Your health and well-being are their top priorities.

Thank you for your understanding and support! 💙

16/03/2026

If you have struggled this weekend and need some support you are not alone - please contact the practice or fill in our online triage form - Michelle is our Mental Health Practitioner and holds clinics across all our network practices

16/03/2026

If you’re one of the eight million people in England who has high blood pressure, it’s important to get your blood pressure tested regularly.

High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke and heart attacks but is preventable and can be managed.

You can get your blood pressure checked at:
▶️ Here at the surgery
▶️ Your local community pharmacy
▶️ At home using your own personal device

Top tip: The best way to understand your blood pressure is to check it regularly.

Have a look at the NHS blood pressure tool which will help you understand what your numbers mean and give you tips on how to manage your blood pressure.

➡️ http://nhs.uk/blood-pressure-tool

16/03/2026

If you pop out, even to grab a towel, and your child goes under the water, you won’t hear it. Drowning is silent. And can happen very quickly.

Sadly, one child a month drowns at home. Usually in the bath.

You can stop this happening by staying with your baby or young child all the time they’re in the bath.

Keep them within arm’s reach to keep them safe. And if you need to go anywhere, take them out of the bath and with you.

For more bath time safety tips visit: https://capt.org.uk/safe-baby-bath-time/

12/03/2026

More urgent appointments are now available at lots of local NHS dental practices.

You do not need to be a regular attendee at the dental practice to access these services.

For urgent dental problems:

💙 Try calling a local NHS dental practice near you. A full list of participating dentists can be found at the link below.

If you cannot get an urgent appointment at a local dental practice:

💙 Call the Lancashire and South Cumbria dental helpline on 0300 1234010, or
💙 Call NHS 111

12/03/2026