The Orchard Partnership

30/04/2026

Exciting news for our Dispensary services! 🌿💊

From 11 May, we are planning to go live with new dispensary software designed to improve and modernise how we process your prescriptions. Our team is working incredibly hard on the technical installation and training to ensure we provide the best possible service for you.

How this helps our patients and the planet: 🌍

🌱 More Sustainable: We are moving away from paper repeat slips. This significantly reduces paper waste and removes the need to securely dispose of paper containing confidential information, which is a great step forward for our environment.
🛡️ Enhanced Safety: Digitalising the process allows for multiple layers of electronic checks. This helps to prevent errors and ensures a much more secure medications service.
⚡ Streamlined Service: The new system is designed to be more efficient and secure, providing a more modern experience for everyone.

What you need to know: ✅

📱 Order as normal: Please continue using the NHS App or SystmOnline for your repeat prescriptions. There is no need for you to change your current ordering habits.
📦 Carry on as usual: Please do not submit additional or early requests. These extra requests create a surge in workload and can cause further delays for all patients.
🖋️ Digital Pickups: When you collect your medication, you will now tick a box and sign on a digital device rather than using a paper slip.
📅 Launch Date: We hope to launch on 11 May, though this may adjust slightly as we finalise the setup.

Please bear with us 🏥

As our staff get used to these technical changes behind the scenes, there may be some unanticipated delays in the first few days and weeks. We are planning as best we can to minimise any impact on you, and we appreciate your patience while we transition to this improved system.

We will share more information as we have it, and we look forward to the many benefits this new technology will bring to our community!

29/04/2026

Get ready for a wonderful afternoon of music, dancing, and tea! 🎶🍰

We are delighted to share details of a Free Summer Social taking place at Dinton Village Hall. This event is open to all ages and promises to be a fantastic way to catch up with friends and neighbours in the local community.

Here is what you can look forward to:

🎺 Live entertainment from the Salisbury Big Band, playing great music to dance to or just tap your toes!
☕ Delicious homemade afternoon tea served by our wonderful local volunteers
🕒 3.30 pm: Afternoon tea is served
🎷 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm: Enjoy the Big Band concert
🗣️ 5.00 pm to 5.30 pm: More time to socialise and drink tea!

Event Details:

📅 Date: Saturday 30 May
📍 Location: Dinton Village Hall

This is a completely free event, but spaces do need to be booked in advance. Please secure your spot by calling Val O'Keefe on 07719 419232.

This lovely afternoon is part of the Celebrating Age Wiltshire initiative, supported by multiple local partners including Age UK Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council. You can find out more about their wonderful work at www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk/CAW.

27/04/2026

Last minute vaccine availability for next week! 💉✨

Hello to all our patients across Wilton, Shrewton, Fovant, and Codford. We have some extra, last-minute appointments available for COVID-19 vaccinations next week, and we would love to see these slots filled to ensure our community stays protected.

You are eligible for this extra protection if you fall into one of the following groups:
🛡️ You have a weakened immune system
🎂 You are aged 75 or over

If this applies to you, please contact your usual reception team as soon as possible to enquire about our latest availability. Because these appointments are for next week, we encourage you to book ASAP to avoid missing out.

Why is this important?
For those in higher-risk groups, COVID-19 still poses a real risk of serious illness or hospitalisation. As time passes, the protection from previous doses naturally begins to fade. Getting this booster helps to top up your immunity, significantly reducing the chance of becoming severely unwell and helping to keep you safe and out of hospital this season.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our clinics soon! 👋🏥

27/04/2026

Do you know the signs of Type 1 Diabetes? 🔍🩹

It is so important to recognise the early warning signs of Type 1 Diabetes, as they can often develop quickly, especially in children and young people. At The Orchard Partnership, we want to ensure all our patients feel confident in spotting these symptoms.

The 4Ts are a simple and effective way to remember what to look out for:

🚽 Toilet: Are you or your child needing to pass urine more often?
🚰 Thirsty: Are you constantly thirsty and unable to quench your thirst?
💤 Tired: Are you feeling much more tired than usual for no clear reason?
📉 Thinner: Have you or your child lost weight unexpectedly?

If you or your child are experiencing any of these 4Ts, please do not wait. Contact our reception team to arrange a test immediately. Early diagnosis is vital and can be life-saving.

For more trusted information, support, and detailed resources, you can visit the Diabetes UK website:
🌐 www.diabetes.org.uk/the4Ts

24/04/2026

New Memory Support Group in Mere:
Come and join the Castle Lodge team for a free afternoon of entertainment, hospitality, and helpful information! 🎶🍰

We are delighted to invite all our patients and the wider community to experience the friendly atmosphere at Castle Lodge Care Home in Mere. This special event is a wonderful opportunity to meet the team and learn more about a brand new memory support initiative that will be starting in Mere this autumn.

Here is what you can look forward to during the afternoon:

🎤 2.00 pm: Enjoy a free concert with popular local singer, Frankie Simpkins.
☕ 3.00 pm: Tea and cake will be served, offering a perfect chance to socialise and find out more about the upcoming memory support group.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Thursday 11 June 2026
⏰ Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
📍 Location: Castle Lodge, Norwood Park, Castle Street, Mere, BA12 6LA

To register your interest in attending, please call the team at Castle Lodge on 01985 440321.

If you require transport to get to the event, you can contact Wiltshire Connect on 01225 712900 to see how they can assist you.

This event is part of the Celebrating Age Wiltshire programme and is supported by several local partners, including Age UK Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council. 🌟

22/04/2026

Exciting news for our local Wiltshire community groups, clubs, and organisations! 🌟

Are you looking for new and effective ways to raise money for your cause? 💰

Wiltshire Council is launching the brand-new Wiltshire Community Lottery this summer, and your organisation is invited to get involved! This is a fantastic opportunity to fundraise through an online weekly draw where your group receives funding directly from every ticket sold.

You are invited to attend a launch event to find out everything you need to know about joining in. 📋

📅 In-person Launch: Tuesday 28 April 2026
⏰ Time: 10.30 am for an 11.00 am start
📍 Location: Conference Suite, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN

💻 Virtual Launch: Wednesday 29 April 2026
⏰ Time: 5.30 pm
🌐 Hosted via Microsoft Teams (joining link sent upon registration)

You do not have to attend to be part of the lottery once it launches, but it is a great chance to ask questions! If you cannot make either session, a recording of the virtual event will be made available afterwards.🎥

Please complete the registration form to confirm your attendance at either event.
Wiltshire Community Lottery Good Causes events registration form:

https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/Interview/f7debca7-d6ba-4595-9c77-f28ea448c3bd

20/04/2026

Help keep your little ones protected this spring! 🌻🧸

If your child is eligible for a seasonal COVID-19 vaccination, getting them vaccinated is the best way to keep their immunity topped up and protect them from serious illness.

We are currently booking appointments for eligible children, so please get in touch with us to secure their spot. 📞 Call your usual surgery branch to book an appointment

Our friendly nursing team is here to make the experience as quick, easy, and stress-free as possible for you and your child. 👋🏥

17/04/2026

Step into spring with the Mere-athon Walking Weekend! 🥾🌿

We are excited to share this fantastic local event happening from the 23rd to the 25th of May. The Mere-athon is a wonderful opportunity to discover the charm of Mere on a relaxed walking weekend. Walking is a brilliant way to boost your physical and mental wellbeing while connecting with the local community.

Here is what you can look forward to:

🚶 Enjoy six enticing walks in and around this beautiful historic town
🌳 Take in peaceful countryside, hidden paths, and wonderful views
👟 A perfect chance to stretch your legs, explore somewhere special, and enjoy great company along the way
🏅 Fancy a challenge? Complete all of the walks, which is about 18 miles, and earn a medal!

This brilliant community event is being organised by Mere Town Council with support from the Mere Footpath group and the Wiltshire Towns Fund.

For more information and to book your place on one or all of the walks, please scan the QR code found on the attached poster.

15/04/2026

March was an incredibly busy month at The Orchard Partnership, and we want to share a huge thank you to our hardworking reception team who have been supporting our community!

Our latest management report for March 2026 shows just how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep our patients connected:

📞 Our team answered 6,281 inbound calls from our patients.
💬 We also made 5,366 outbound calls to follow up on your care and provide updates.
✅ We successfully answered 90.9% of all calls that entered our phone queue (the remaining 10% were those we called back but couldn't reach).
⏲️ The average wait time for those who queued was only 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
📱 Our team completed 417 successful callbacks, helping you avoid a long wait on the line.

Mondays continue to be our busiest day, particularly during the 8:00 am peak. As a reminder, calling slightly later in the morning or using our online services like SystmConnect can often help you save time!

We are so proud of our team's dedication to providing a high-quality service. Thank you for your continued patience and support!

13/04/2026

Working together to make every appointment count 💙

We know that finding the right appointment can sometimes feel like a challenge. Across primary care, we are balancing ever-increasing demands, complex challenges in the wider healthcare system, and seasonal pressures, especially around busy holiday periods.

We really do want to help as many of our patients as possible, which is why making every single appointment count matters for us all more than ever.

When you call us, our reception team will usually ask you a little bit about your clinical need. This is simply to make sure we are navigating you to the right healthcare professional and the right type of appointment as quickly as possible.

To put the current demand into context, we want to share some figures from the first quarter of this year (January to March 2026). During this time, we lost 6,573 minutes of clinical time to missed appointments.

📉 That equates to 377 wasted appointments.

You might think that a missed appointment gives our busy clinicians a welcome break to catch up. In reality, it actually generates more work for our teams. When someone does not turn up, our staff often need to try and contact them to establish why, ensure there are no welfare concerns, and spend time re-booking any necessary follow-ups.

We understand that life happens and plans change. If you cannot make your appointment, please just let us know as soon as you can. Even a little notice allows us to offer that valuable time to another patient who really needs it.

Thank you so much for your continued support and understanding as we work together to care for our community.

10/04/2026

Following on from our post about the wonderful Talk and Play initiative, we want to share some fantastic local sessions where you and your little ones can put those communication skills into practice! 🎶🧸

Wiltshire Libraries run free Rhyme Time sessions that are perfect for babies and toddlers. They are a brilliant way to support early language development through fun songs, rhymes, and movement. Plus, they offer a lovely chance for parents and carers to meet other local families.

Here are the regular Rhyme Time details for the libraries closest to our surgery branches:

Wilton Library (Great for our Wilton and Fovant families)
🎵 Fridays: 9.30 am to 10.00 am

Amesbury Library (Closest for our Shrewton families)
🎵 Tuesdays and Fridays: 11.00 am to 11.30 am

Warminster Library (Closest for our Codford families)
🎵 Wednesdays: 3.15 pm to 3.45 pm

Salisbury Library
🎵 Mondays: 9.30 am to 10.00 am
🎵 Wednesdays (term time): 9.45 am to 10.15 am

Booking is often advised for these popular sessions, so please check with your local library directly or visit the Wiltshire Council Libraries website to secure your spot.



This video gives you a lovely preview of what a weekly Rhyme Time session looks like at Amesbury Library, so you know exactly what fun to expect before you go.

Join Ina from Amesbury Library for our weekly rhyme time for babies and toddlers.

08/04/2026

Spring is finally here, and it is time to top up your protection! 🌱💉

If you have a weakened immune system, you can get extra protection against COVID-19 this spring. Viruses can change, and your immunity naturally fades over time, so getting your spring booster is the best way to keep yourself safe.

You are eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccination if you are:
🛡️ Someone with a weakened immune system
👵 Aged 75 or over
🏠 A resident in a care home for older adults

📞 If you fall into any of these categories, please get in touch with our reception team to arrange your appointment.

Let us enjoy a healthy and happy spring together! 🌼