Highparks Medical Practice

12/08/2025

From September 2025 and in addition to the support already available, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, starting from the term after their child turns 9 months old. This is all part of the government’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life by making high-quality early years education and childcare more affordable and accessible for families.

We'd recommend encouraging all parents to find out what they might be eligible for and apply ahead of the 31st August deadline (to start using their hours from 1st September) by visiting:

Information targeted at Parents

31/07/2025

25/07/2025

Unfortunately our phone provider has confirmed there are issues with the call back function which is being looked into. If you need to contact us today, please remain in the queue and do not request a call back.

Apologies for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

24/07/2025

We are currently experiencing issues with our phone system, specifically with making outbound calls. Our phone provider has confirmed that this appears to be a wider issue affecting multiple customers and they are currently looking into this.

Inbound calls are still working, so patients are able to call the practice as usual through to reception.

However, if you have requested a call back, please be aware that it may not take place, as it requires an outbound call. We kindly ask that you do not request a call back today, as there is a possibility you may not receive one.

If you have a scheduled phone appointment with a clinician this afternoon, please be assured that should still go ahead. The call may appear as ‘No Caller ID’, so please be prepared to answer.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

23/07/2025

As part of the Integrated Sexual Health Service ongoing efforts to improve their services, they are planning to introduce a community-based Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) service. This service is intended to complement the care you are currently provide within general practice.

Before launching this initiative, they would greatly appreciate support in gathering feedback from women who may potentially use the service.

They have kindly asked our patients to complete the attached questionnaire using the QR code.

23/07/2025

This summer, Joe Wicks has released a new animated physical activity series, Activate, which aims to get children moving and having fun.

Co-created by Joe Wicks and Studio AKA (the makers of ‘Hey Duggee’), Activate is backed by the government as part of a new partnership to reach families and schools across the country.

Physical activity is essential for growing bodies and minds. Activate aims to make fitness fun and spark a love of movement in children, by bringing together bright and energetic new characters, alongside well-known upbeat music from exclusive music partner Universal Music UK.

At a time when many parents are concerned about keeping their kids active over the holidays, Activate aims to turn screen time into active time and boost their physical and mental health – over the summer holidays and beyond.

The first episode is out now on The Body Coach YouTube channel, with new episodes out weekly over the summer.

Welcome to the Body Coach TV where I post weekly home workouts to help you get, stronger, healthier and happier.

22/07/2025

📢 Important Notice: Impact of Resident Doctors’ Strike on GP Services 📢

Resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) will be taking industrial action from 7am Friday, 25 July to 7am Wednesday, 30 July. This strike is expected to impact ALL NHS services, including GP practices.

To help manage demand during this period and prioritise care for those who need it most, our eConsult service will be CLOSED from Friday, 25 July and will reopen on Wednesday, 30 July.

During this time:
✅ Please think carefully about which NHS service you use
✅contact your GP surgery, where our team will triage your call appropriately or use 111.nhs.uk for urgent health concerns or
🚨 Call 999 only in life-threatening emergencies
🧠 Mental health crisis services remain available through usual routes
💊 Many issues can be managed at your local pharmacy or urgent treatment centre

16/07/2025

Update from Highparks Medical Practice – Higham Site Closure
Despite discussions and strong campaigning by some local campaigners and political representatives to keep the Higham site open, no viable alternative solution has been offered by them or the Integrated Care Board (ICB) at this point.

We are concerned that some incomplete or out-of-context information is circulating across social media, which changes the reality of the situation.

We have submitted a formal application to close Higham because running four sites so close together is not financially or operationally sustainable under current NHS funding.

This decision impacts everyone — if the closure is not approved, the future of Highparks Medical Practice as a whole will be at serious risk.

We have created a document with further information, which can be found https://highparksmedicalpractice.nhs.uk/important-update-from-highparks-medical-practice-higham-site-closure/
We re-iterate this is the most difficult decision we have ever faced as a partnership. This is a difficult step but necessary to safeguard safe, sustainable care for all 15,000 patients.

07/07/2025

Following today’s media coverage about the future of Higham surgery, we are sharing our full statement below. We appreciate this is a difficult time for patients and want to reassure you that this has also been a difficult decision for us as a practice. We will continue to provide updates as and when we are able.

‘Highparks Medical Practice operates four sites within four miles of each other in a rural or semi-rural area. This close proximity of multiple sites is unusual and unsupported by current UK primary care funding.
All four sites work together as a single practice serving over 15,000 patients, who can be seen at any location regardless of which site is nearest their home. Most patients use multiple sites based on convenience and availability. Importantly, all patients will remain registered with Highparks Medical Practice.
Both this government and the previous one have prioritised general practice at scale. The latest plans focus on large health hubs like the Healthy Living Centres in Medway but do not address how to sustain small rural surgeries like ours.
As a partnership, we have struggled with these challenges for years and are saddened by the need to close one site. Despite extensive discussions with the local Integrated Care Board and political representatives, no alternative has been found.
Unless the government addresses rural primary care challenges, practices like ours will continue to face difficult decisions. This decision safeguards the future of the practice and the care of over 15,000 patients.’

The surgery, one of four run by the same group, faces closure over being financially unsustainable.

02/07/2025

Appointment Activity for June 2025.

In total there were 114 missed face to face appointments- this includes appointments booked on the day. Please see below for a breakdown:

Blood Tests- 84
Nurse- 9
Mental Health Practitioner- 7
ECG- 6
GP- 3
Child Immunisations- 2
Other- 3

A reminder to patients that if you are unable to attend an appointment that you contact the practice so we are able to offer this to another patient.

30/06/2025

Start for Life is here to answer all your breastfeeding questions and support you when you need it – you're not alone.

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/

25/06/2025

DNA (did not attend) appointment Activity for May 2025.

In total there were 126 missed face to face appointments- this includes appointments booked on the day. Please see below for a breakdown:

Blood Tests: 86
Mental Health Practitioner: 14
Nurse- 9
GP: 6
Child Immunisations- 6
ECG- 4
Physio- 1

A reminder to patients that if you are unable to attend an appointment that you contact the practice so we are able to offer this to another patient.