The Cranborne Practice

08/05/2026

🪳🌱 Found a tick? No need for a GP appointment! 🔍
​With the weather warming up, we’ve noticed a few more ticks hitching rides on local walkers! We’ve had a few residents asking for nurse appointments to remove them, but did you know the official NHS guidance is to remove them yourself as soon as possible?
​Why do it yourself?
Speed is key! The sooner a tick is removed, the lower the risk of any infection. Waiting for an appointment actually keeps the tick attached longer than necessary.
​How to manage it at home:
​Don't panic: Removing a tick is simple and safe with the right tool.
​Use the right kit: Use a tick removal tool (available at most pharmacies/pet shops) or fine-tipped tweezers.
​The technique: Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards steadily. Avoid "home remedies" like burning or using oil.
​Clean up: Wash the area with antiseptic or soap and water.
​Being "tick aware" is all about self-management so you can get back to enjoying our beautiful local trails! 🌿
​For a brilliant step-by-step guide on how to remove a tick safely, check out this Lyme Disease UK info page:
⬇️ https://lymediseaseuk.com/prevention/

🌿 Time to enjoy the great outdoors! 🌿
May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and our GP Practices want to help you feel confident and prepared when exploring the countryside. Being "tick aware" is a simple self-care routine that lets you and your family enjoy nature safely.
Make these easy steps part of your outdoor prep:
👕 Dress smart: Wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to spot and brush off.
🧦 Cover up: Tuck your trousers into your socks if you're in grassy or wooded areas.
🥾 Stay clear: Stick to pathways and avoid wading through long, overgrown grass.
🦟 Protect: Apply a suitable insect repellent before you head out.
🛠️ Be prepared: Pop a tick removal tool in your bag or pocket, just in case.
🔍 Check: Make it a habit to do a quick "tick check" on yourself, children, and pets when you get home.
Taking charge of your outdoor health is easy! Knowing what to do puts you in control. For fantastic guides on how to prevent bites and safely remove a tick yourself, check out these resources from Lyme Disease UK:
🔗 Prevention tips: https://lymediseaseuk.com/prevention/
🔗 Patient guides: https://lymediseaseuk.com/patient-information-guides/

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and our GP Practices want to help you feel confident and prepared as you explore the countryside. Being "tick aware" is a simple self-care routine that lets you and your family enjoy nature safely.

06/05/2026

Webinar tomorrow afternoon. Details in the post below.
👇🏻

Supporting a younger child with anxiety can be challenging — especially when worries show up in different ways.
Dorset MHST is running a free webinar for parents and carers of children in Year 6 and under, designed to help you understand anxiety in younger children and feel more confident supporting them at home.

The session will explore:

• What anxiety can look like in children
• Common triggers and what can keep worries going
• Practical strategies to help children manage worries
• The importance of parental wellbeing and looking after yourself too

📅 Thursday 7 May
⏰ 2pm

This webinar will be recorded and the recording available to watch if you are unable to attend live.

🔗 Sign up here:

https://tinyurl.com/44xj5rnh

📧 Enquiries: dhc.mhsteam.northandeastdorset@nhs.net

29/04/2026

A reminder to our patients that the Practice will be closed on the following bank holidays:
🔹Monday 4th May (Early May Bank Holiday)
🔹Monday 25th May (Spring Bank Holiday)
We will reopen as normal on the Tuesday following each holiday.
Visit our website to find out what to do when we are closed:
https://www.thecranbornepractice.co.uk/opening-hours

May Day Bank Holiday Closure
Heads up, everyone! Just a quick reminder that all GP surgeries within our network will be closed on Monday, 4th May, and will reopen as usual on Tuesday, 5th May.

💊 Need medical help while your Practice is closed?
If you require medical assistance during the long weekend, please use the following services:

For non-emergencies: Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111. They can direct you to the best place for care, including out-of-hours appointments.

For minor ailments: Check with your local pharmacy, as many remain open on bank holidays to help with allergies, bites, or minor aches.

For emergencies: If you experience a life-threatening emergency, please call 999 immediately.

📝 A quick tip:
Please make sure to order your repeat prescriptions by ASAP, to ensure you have everything you need before the weekend! The quickest way to do this is online!

Stay safe and enjoy the break! ☀️

25/04/2026

Spaces are limited. So book early to secure your place. Details in the post from Crane Valley Primary Care Network
👇

Supporting an autistic child is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. This online course is designed to help you regain your balance.

Hope For The Community CIC and Help & Care are hosting the Hope Programme specifically for parents, carers, and guardians of autistic children.

Course Highlights
▪Strengthen Resilience: Learn to manage stress, fatigue, and the emotional "rollercoaster."
▪Practical Skills: Build confidence in goal-setting and managing daily worries.
▪Work Around Your Life: There are no fixed times to be online; you can complete the 6 sessions at your own pace—even in 20-minute bursts.
▪Accessible Anywhere: Use your smartphone, tablet, or PC to access the materials whenever you have a quiet moment.

Spaces are limited so book your slot at the earliest opportunity.

Find out more, including how to book on the website:
👇
https://communityswitch.org/event/hope-programme-for-parents-carers-and-guardians-of-autistic-children/

24/04/2026

As well as community haircuts Citizens Advice in East Dorset & Purbeck will be there offering free energy management advice. Details in the post below.
⬇️

🔔 NEXT COMMUNITY HAIR CUTS IS THIS COMING MONDAY 🔔

Community Haircuts return to us on Monday 27th April. ✂️

This time Citzens Advice bureau will be joining with advice on your energy and bills!

2:30-4:30. See you there 🫶🏼

24/04/2026

Order quickly and easily online using the NHS App or SystmOnline.
https://systmonline.tpp-uk.com/2/Login?Redir=1

😎 Beat the bank holiday rush!
Order your repeat medications today and make sure you've got everything you need before the upcoming bank holiday.

22/04/2026

Attention carers!
Hope For The Community CIC, in partnership with Help & Care, is offering a flexible 6-session course specifically for adult carers (18+) in Dorset.
What’s in it for you?
✅ Manage Stress: Learn practical tools for fatigue and emotional resilience.
✅ Build Confidence: Set positive goals and gain control over daily worries.
✅ Total Flexibility: No live sessions! Complete the 2-hour weekly modules in small chunks (even 20 minutes at a time) whenever suits you.
✅Easy Access: Works on any smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection.
Take some time for yourself and learn to cope better with the challenges of caring. Learn more in the post below or visit our Events Diary for more and how to book.

https://communityswitch.org/?p=5862

Free online group facilitated course - 6 sessions - Released weekly - 2 hours learning per session - Meet others, learn at your own time and pace

17/04/2026

To help everyone navigate the changes. more easily, University Hospitals Dorset has shared wayfinding guidance on new for the top 20 locations that patients visit. Read more in the post below:
⬇️

🏥 Visiting Royal Bournemouth Hospital? Things have changed!
If you have an upcoming appointment at RBH, you’ll notice that ward and department names have changed.
To help everyone navigate the changes more easily, University Hospitals Dorset has shared wayfinding guidance on the top 20 locations that patients visit.
Instead of looking for a department name, you will now be looking for an alphanumeric code. For example:
🔸 Blood Tests / Phlebotomy is now A6.
🔹 X-Ray and Ultrasound is now A19.
🔸 Eye Outpatients is now A2.
🔹 Pharmacy Boots is now A14.

Using these new identifiers improves your experience and, most importantly, helps you findyour way to your hospital appointment without stress.
📍 Download the full wayfinding guide and map here:
https://www.cranevalleypcn.org/_common/getdocument?id=392523

🗺️ Download and view the new RBH site map here:
https://www.cranevalleypcn.org/_common/getdocument?id=392524

13/04/2026

🧠 Free Dementia Friends Session
We’re pleased to share a friendly, interactive session taking place locally for anyone wanting to learn more about dementia.
📍 Heathland House Care Home
📅 23rd April 2026
🕚 11:00am
Delivered by a volunteer Dementia Friends Ambassador, this session will help you understand:
• What dementia is and how it affects people
• How you can support those living with dementia in your community
📞 If you would like to attend please book by calling 01202139895

12/04/2026

A message from our Patient Participation Group:

As your Patient Participation Group (PPG), we act as a bridge—not just between you and the practice, but between our community and the wider healthcare landscape.

The world of health and social care is constantly evolving, and we want to make sure you have a seat at the table. So, we’ve launched the PPG Information Hub, a dedicated space where we share direct briefings from local and national healthcare organisations.

Why visit the Hub?
📍 Stay ahead of changes to local clinics and services.
⚖️ Learn about national health campaigns and your rights.
🗣️ Find opportunities to join focus groups and respond to surveys that shape the future of care.

Stay informed, stay involved, and help us build a stronger link to the care we all rely on.

Visit the Information Hub: 👇
https://www.thecranbornepractice.co.uk/ppg-information-hub

Learn more about the PPG: 👇
https://www.thecranbornepractice.co.uk/patient-participation-group