Tisbury Surgery

22/09/2025

Cervical screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free health test on the NHS to help prevent cervical cancer.

It checks for a virus called high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV). If high-risk HPV is present, then the sample will be checked for cervical cell changes. It is not a test to diagnose cervical cancer.

During cervical screening, a healthcare professional will collect a sample of cells from the cervix. They will insert a lubricated speculum into the va**na. This will open up the va**nal walls. They then take a sample of cells by sweeping the cervix with a soft plastic brush. The sample will be sent off to a laboratory for testing.

The sample will be tested for high-risk HPV. This is the common virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers. If high-risk HPV is found, the sample will be checked for any changes to the cells. These cells aren’t cancer. These changes could lead to cervical cancer in the future if they are not monitored or treated.

High-risk HPV is passed on through skin-to-skin sexual contact. 8 in 10 of us will come into contact with HPV during our lives. The immune system usually clears HPV within two years before it causes any problems. If HPV doesn’t clear, it can cause changes in the cervical cells and increase the risk of cancer.

If HPV doesn’t clear and it causes changes in the cervical cells, they will be graded. They will be graded into either cervical intraepithelial neoplasia low grade (called CIN1), medium grade (CIN2) or high grade (CIN3).

Cervical screening starts at the age of 25 in the UK. Anyone with a cervix is eligible. This can include cis women, trans men, non-binary, and intersex people.

In England, Scotland and Wales you will be invited every five years. In Northern Ireland, you will be invited every three years until the age of 50 (depending on where you live in the UK). Then the letters will be sent every five years until the age of 64. If you have high-risk HPV or any cervical cell changes, you will be checked more often.

You can find out more about cervical screening, including answers to your frequently asked questions on our website:

https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/preventing-cancer/facts-and-tips-for-cervical-screening

You can also speak to our Ask Eve Nurses for free and confidential information and support by emailing nurse@eveappeal.org.uk or calling 0808 802 0019.

12/09/2025

**** Flu and Covid Vaccinations ****

Clinics are now open to book for both Covid and/or Flu vaccinations

The eligibility criteria for Covid has changed this year to only include:

*Those over 75 years of age
*Those with medical conditions or taking medications that cause a weakened immune system

The eligibility criteria for Flu remains the same as previous years:

*Children aged 2-3 and those in clinical risk groups
*Those over 65 years of age
*Those with certain long term health conditions
*Pregnancy
*Care home residents
*Carers for an older person or disabled person or in receipt of carers allowance
*Those who live with someone with a weakened immune system
*Fronine healthcare workers who do not have access to occupational health services

We are sending out booking links to all those eligible but please feel free to phone to book in for your vaccine(s) if you are in one of the eligible categories listed above.

Vaccinations cannot start until the 1st of October due to updated UKHSA guidance which recognised the optimal protection being provided when vaccinated closer to the time of flu circulation. Pregnant patients are exempt from this rule and can be vaccinated from 1st of September due to the benefit of the vaccination for the baby in its first few months of life.

02/09/2025

**** Flu and Covid Vaccination Clinics ****

We will soon be sending out SMS invites for those eigible for flu and/or Covid vaccinations. Please ensure your mobile number is up to date with the Surgery.

We will be holding a large Saturday clinic as usual and also weekday/evening clinics throughout October.

We recommend having your vaccinations at the Surgery so we can enter them directly into your medical records and also check your eligibility for other vaccines too.

12/08/2025

**** Computer system update ****

Our clinical IT system is back up and running this morning. Thank you all for your patience throughout a challenging day yesterday.

If your appointment was cancelled yesterday, we will be in touch to reschedule it.

11/08/2025

**** Computer system issues ****

Whilst the issue with our clinical computer system was not fixed before the end of the working day, we have been told we should hopefully have it up and running by tomorrow.

We appreciate your ongoing patience during this time and we will update you all in the morning.

11/08/2025

**** Online Medical System Disruption ****

Unfortunately we are experiencing an issue with our computer systems which means we cannot access any medical records.

We have been told there are 4 technicians looking at getting us back online but currently without internet access we will be unable to answer most phone requests and appointments for today mostly will be cancelled.

We will update on here as soon as we are back online and anyone whose appointment has been affected will be contacted to reschedule.

If you feel your problem needs action today, then please still attend the surgery- if your problem is routine or ongoing we would ask for you to not attend and await for us to contact you for a new appointment.

03/07/2025

30/06/2025

**** Update to the child Immunisation Schedule ****

From 1 July 2025, changes are being made to the infant schedule at 8, 12
and 16 weeks of age:

• the meningococcal B vaccine, previously offered at 8 and 16 weeks will
be offered at 8 and 12 weeks of age

• the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) previously offered at 12
weeks of age will be offered at 16 weeks of age

For babies born after the 1st of July 2024, the 12-month immunisations will now only have 3 injections: the MMR, Men B and Pneumococcal.

This is due to the removal of the Men C vaccination due to a significant reduction in the number of cases of invasive meningococcal C disease following the introduction of a Men C vaccination programme in 1999. There will be a Men C containing vaccine given at age 14.

A new 18-month vaccination appointment will be introduced to children born from 1st of July 2024, to include a booster of the DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB vaccine and an MMR booster

The vaccination appointment at 3 year 4 months will now only contain 1 vaccination for a DtaP/IPV booster.

The Surgery will continue to contact you to book your child’s vaccinations when they are due.

20/06/2025

**** Update to the Cervical Screening Programme ****

From July, younger women (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3, in line with major clinical evidence.
Those whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed.
The move follows a recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee, and is the approach already used for women aged 50 to 64 in England.

**** New electronic Cervical Screening invites to be sent via the NHS App ****

The NHS has this week rolled-out digital invitations and reminders for cervical screening via the NHS App, as part of a new ‘ping and book’ service to boost uptake and help save thousands of lives.
Eligible women will first receive a notification through the app to alert them to book a screening appointment, followed by a text message if the app notification isn’t opened. Letters will remain in place for those who need them.
Please could we encourage all patients to download the NHS App and ensure notifications are turned on to receive screening invitations going forward.

**** Transgender and Non-Binary people eligible for Cervical Screening ****

If you are aged 25 to 64 and registered with a GP as male, you will not be automatically invited for cervical screening. However, if you have not had a total hysterectomy and still have a cervix, you should still consider having cervical screening.

This is especially important if you have had any abnormal cervical screening results in the past. If you want to ‘opt in’ to receive routine cervical screening invitations, you can contact a local cervical screening provider, for example your GP or practice nurse, sexual health clinic or transgender health clinic.

09/05/2025

****Ear Syringing****

The local NHS commissioning team have agreed to fund ear irrigation for a set criteria of people who they feel are less able to manage their own wax build up, resulting in a reduced quality of life and therefore increased risk of deteriorating overall health. The way in which those patients are identified are by using a scale of frailty. The funding will be available for those classed as having symptoms that limit activity and/or need support with activities of daily life.

For those who feel they meet the criteria and are suffering from wax build up, please phone to book an initial consultation with the nurse who will look in your ears, assess your suitability and book you for ear irrigation if required.

We will recommend the use of Olive Oil drops for 7-10 days prior to ear irrigation.

01/05/2025

**** Job Vacancy ****

Tisbury G.P. Surgery wishes to recruit a receptionist/administrator, ideally experienced (but not essential) in the SystmOne clinical system, to work 22 hours per week.

This will include working all day on Tuesday – other hours to be agreed by mutual consent.

An ability to work until 7 p.m. some weekday evenings and to provide additional cover for colleagues is essential.

If you are interested in this role please send your C.V. in the first instance to reception.tisbury@nhs.net

31/03/2025

*** Salaried GP position at Tisbury Surgery ***

Current Vacancies Back to all vacancies Salaried GP 6-8 sessions per week - Tisbury Surgery We are a rapidly growing, innovative non dispensing G.P practice based in South West rural Wiltshire, in the lovely village of Tisbury. Our list size is around 4300. We pride ourselves on our patient care and...