St Fillans Medical Centre

21/03/2026

If you’ve been r***d or sexually assaulted at any point in your life and don’t know where to turn, SARCs are here for you, they provide specialist support where they’ll listen and care for you on a place that is safe. You can call 24/7 to make an appointment. Search ‘NHS SARCs’ or go to NHS.uk/SARCs to find your local service.

20/03/2026

Over the weekend try to not worry if you cannot reach the surgery.
NHS111 is on hand should you have concerns regarding meningitis.

🩺 Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis is vital.
Early response saves lives.

🩺 The most important thing you can do is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

Please watch the video below by Dr Sophie GP for key information on what to look out for 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krBAyNhMBxY

There is also really useful information on NHS website for signs and symptoms for you to click on for a quick read 👇
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/symptoms/

Meningitis symptoms can appear suddenly and recognising the early signs is important. In this video I explain the early meningitis symptoms to look out for, ...

20/03/2026

💉 MenB Vaccine Update

The MenB vaccine is currently being offered only to certain groups who may be at higher risk.

This includes:

• Close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases
• Some university students and staff linked to Canterbury campus accommodation
• Selected sixth form students in Kent schools/colleges
• Anyone who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5–16 March

For more information, follow the link below on the NHS post 👇

Meningitis B vaccination is being offered to those at highest risk from the current outbreak
in Kent.

Check to find out if that includes you.

➡️ https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/20/who-is-eligible-for-the-menb-vaccine-and-do-i-need-it-myself/

20/03/2026

World oral Health Day -20th March

Your oral health is an important part of your overall health. Looking after your teeth and gums can help prevent pain, infection, and other health problems.
Today is a great reminder to keep up healthy habits:
🪥Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
🦷Clean between your teeth daily (floss or interdental brushes)
🍰Limit sugary foods and drinks
😷 Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, swollen gums, or any concerns about your oral health, please contact a dentist for advice.
A healthy mouth helps support a healthy body. 😊

20/03/2026

February missed appointments 🚫

If you can’t make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the slot to someone else.
Missed appointments and late cancellations make it difficult to accommodate everyone. Thank you for your understanding and support! ❤️

We understand our phonelines may be busy BUT you can also use our admin section on the triage forms to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
👇
https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/p81018/flows

19/03/2026

📣 Pharmacy Update

Please note that Penwortham Pharmacy based at St Fillans will be closing at 6pm on Fri 20th March for a systems update.

It will re-open on Sat 21st March as normal.

Thanks for your understanding 💙

19/03/2026

Our teams are navigating increased calls and concerns regarding the Meningitis B outbreak.

🩺 Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis is vital.
Early response saves lives.

🩺 The most important thing you can do is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis.

Please watch the video below by Dr Sophie GP for key information on what to look out for 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krBAyNhMBxY

There is also really useful information on NHS website for signs and symptoms for you to click on for a quick read 👇
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/symptoms/

Meningitis symptoms can appear suddenly and recognising the early signs is important. In this video I explain the early meningitis symptoms to look out for, ...

19/03/2026

Our teams are navigating increased calls and concerns regarding the Meningitis B outbreak.

We understand your concerns and the worries you may be feeling but getting the right information is key 🩺

🚩It’s confusing, because there isn’t just one meningitis vaccine.

MenB is the most common type, but the vaccine is only routinely given to babies (since 2015) and is not available to older children on the NHS.

You can pay privately but there are reports of limited stock.

🚩Teenagers are offered the MenACWY vaccine (usually in Year 9)
This protect against 4 types but not Meningitis B.

Below is a great video from Dr Sophie GP that explains things a little further. Please have a watch!

🩺 Knowing the symptoms is key and acting quickly if you are worried.

19/03/2026

Every year thousands of women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and many cases are found too late. Raising awareness of the symptoms can help women get diagnosed earlier and save lives.
Know the symptoms:

☑️Persistent bloating
☑️Pelvic or abdominal pain
☑️Feeling full quickly or loss of appetite
☑️Needing to p*e more often

If these symptoms are new, persistent, and unusual for you, it’s important to speak to your GP.

You can help raise awareness by sharing this post and starting conversations about ovarian cancer. Together we can help more people recognise the signs and seek help sooner.
Learn more and get involved: https://ovarian.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/raise-awareness/

18/03/2026

🌟 Let’s Move, Lancashire!

More than half of children aged 7–11 aren’t getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, but moving more can be easier (and more fun) than you might think!

The new Let’s Move! campaign is encouraging families to build movement into everyday life. Whether it’s:
🚶 Walking to school
🌳 A trip to the park
💃 A dance in the living room
🚴 Or trying something new locally

Every little bit counts towards healthier bodies and happier minds.

Pennine Lancashire is one of the areas helping to highlight simple ways families can get active together, so keep an eye out for the campaign across local billboards, radio and social media soon.

Looking for ideas? Visit nhs.uk/LetsMove and discover easy ways to get the whole family moving.

16/03/2026

Meningitis can progress within hours, so it’s always safer to get medical help quickly!

Common symptoms that can suddenly appear and get worse quickly are:

🌡️High fever
🤕Servers headache
🧍🏻‍♂️Stiff Neck
🤢Nausea and vomiting
💡Sensitivity to light

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/

12/03/2026

🌸 A little something to brighten up your news feed today! 🌸

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we’ve been celebrating some of our lovely mums at Baby Clinic with Sister Element this week. It’s always a joy to see our community growing and to share these special early moments with families.

Our baby clinics run every week with our nursing team, offering support, advice and quality care for our smallest patients.

We can’t promise flowers every week 😉.… but we can promise a friendly face, a listening ear, and a nursing team dedicated to giving your little ones the best start. 🌷

Wishing all our wonderful mums and mums-to-be a very happy Mother’s Day when it arrives this weekend. 💗