The Swanage Medical Practice

14/07/2025

Are you caring for an adult and don't know where to turn for support? The Focus Centre in Swanage are offering a 10 week course to help you. Please share this information to anyone you know who is a carer.

14/07/2025

Are you a young person who would like to help improve Youth Health Services? Then the following events are for you! Please share amongst your friends.

14/07/2025

Tick bites - do you know what to do?

We have noticed a significant increase in the number of patients coming to us having had a tick bite or concerned they have Lyme Disease. If you don't know ticks are small, spider-like creatures. They feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.

Ticks vary in size and are usually between 1mm to 1cm long. They have either 6 or 8 legs and are most often found in long grass, brushy and wooded areas.

Personal responsibility is a key driver in avoiding exposure to ticks. Understanding where ticks are commonly found & taking sensible precautions when out in nature is crucial for safeguarding your own health and preventing tick-borne diseases. Covering bare skin is an obvious precaution as well as use of insect repellent.

Follow the link below for more information about what to do for yourself if you think you've been bitten, photos of what the skin response to a tick bite might look like and symptoms of possible infection. Do also phone 111, who can offer timely advice and an appointment at Swanage Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.

Please share.

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30/06/2025

Good afternoon,

Someone has dropped a 'vulnerable patient' alarm necklace outside the surgery. If you have lost one please pop into the surgery to collect it. We will hang on to it for 48 hours before handing it into the Tourist Information Office.

Many thanks and please share.

18/06/2025

TELEPHONE SYSTEM DOWN 3.05pm FOR TEN MINUTES

Unfortunately our computer system is being shut down for around 10 minutes at 3.05pm today.

During that time, our telephone system will not work.

Apologies for the short notice and for any inconvenience.

Natasha Ritchie
Practice Manager

09/06/2025

Are you an unpaid carer of a loved one? Connecting with other carers for mutual support and friendship can make a huge difference. The attached poster gives details of a couple of events happening this week that may interest you .......

09/06/2025

The Call I Just Took...... A Campaign in support of our Receptionists

Our receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the clinical team, and without them, there is no access.

But constant abuse is pushing them to breaking point. Burnout is rising, and we are losing skilled staff who can no longer absorb the emotional toll. This campaign is a call for compassion — because protecting our reception teams protects access to care. You don't know what happened on the call they just took.

Thank you.

Receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the cli...

09/06/2025

Men's Health Week falls this month (9th - 15th June)

Do you know that 1 in 5 men in the UK dies before the age of 65. That could be you, your dad, your brother, your son, or your best mate.

Yet even though men are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, and su***de than women, they are far less likely to ask for help, book a check-up, or even talk about what’s going on with their health.

Men so often ignore health niggles or worries, just hoping they will go away. But even small changes should not be ignored. If something doesn’t feel right, it is so important to talk to your doctor. It could be something – or nothing. But it is always better to know.

Our advice to our male patients is to not gamble with your health. If you are not sure where to start follow the link below to the Live Well Dorset website which offers tips and advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you have any current niggles book an appointment to see a clinician at the Surgery.

1 in 5 UK men dies before the age of 65. And while men are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, and su***de, they’re less likely to ask for help. Let's change that...

02/06/2025

Are you interested in getting involved in the Patient Participation Group or find out what they do? Then this week is your chance to do so. Pop into the surgery foyer this week as team members will be hosting an information stand.

22/05/2025

01/05/2025

The practice Spring Newsletter is published!

Packed full of useful information & hot topics to help you manage your own health, we hope you find it useful. Paper copies are available to pick up from Reception.

Please share amongst, local friends, family & community groups.

Wishing you all a sunny Bank Holiday weekend :)

17/04/2025

Easter closing hours .....

We will be closed from Friday 18th April reopening on Tuesday 22nd April.

If you require medical support during this period; please see a pharmacist using the Pharmacy First initiative, call 111 for advice & potential appointment at Swanage Hospital MIU (if appropriate), and phone 999 for genuine emergencies.

Additionally, please don't bring any samples in after 11am today as we can't keep them over the weekend.

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable bank holiday weekend.