Lowther Medical Centre

24/08/2025

One year ago today, CNTW announced that Whitehaven had been chosen as one of six sites around the country to receive funding from NHS England to pilot new ‘neighbourhood mental health centres’.

In just 12 months, so much has happened. Together, we have:

🤝 Brought organisations together to work more closely than ever before – not only the key partners who make up Hope Haven (Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Everyturn Mental Health, Home Group, ICan Wellbeing group CIO, The Well Communities, Cumbria Health, and Whitehaven Community Trust ) but also so many other local organisations and services

💬 Spoken to more than 600 local people (since January 2025) to help shape and develop what Hope Haven will offer - and back in November 2024, 1000+ people voted to help us choose our name!

🚐 Got our 'Wheels of Wellbeing' van out and about, with iCan offering fun ways to get active at events and in local communities

💚 Directly helped more than 200 people through our drop-ins and one-to-one support (since March 2025)

ℹ️ Delivered 40+ drop-in sessions at the Senhouse Centre, helping people with wellbeing, caring responsibilities, housing, benefits and more

🚶 Begun our ‘chatty café’ and wellbeing walks

🧑‍⚕️Linked people up with one-to-one help, such as appointments with clinicians from Cumbria Health and ‘together in a crisis’ 12-week support from Everyturn

📱 Launched our ‘virtual safe haven’ offering same-day online appointments with support workers (go to https://wcmhp.org.uk/hope-haven)

🏠 Opened two short-stay flats where people in a crisis can get more intensive support, with more to come

Our building on King Street is undergoing a huge renovation. It should be open by the end of this year, so people can walk in for support any day of the year. But Hope Haven is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a completely new way of health, care, voluntary services, and the local community truly working together to make sure people in Whitehaven and Copeland can thrive.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us so far.

And remember, no matter what you’re struggling with, we’re here to help 💚 Come along to one of our community drop-ins by checking out the events listed on our page, or go to https://wcmhp.org.uk/hope-haven to book an online appointment.

21/08/2025

20/08/2025

👏👏Congratulations to the team at Hope Haven. There is now a virtual Safe Haven service where you can book an appointment to speak to someone, everyday from 4-12pm. See the link below.

If you’re struggling and need someone to talk to, you don’t have to wait. We've launched a new 'Virtual Safe Haven' – giving people across Whitehaven and Copeland the chance to speak to a trained mental health support worker online, the very same day.

🕓 When? 4pm–midnight, every day of the week.
💻 Where? Online video call (you’ll just need a phone, tablet or computer with internet)
👉 How? Book your appointment in a few clicks using the link on our webpage: https://wcmhp.org.uk/hope-haven/

An Everyturn Mental Health support worker can listen, talk through what’s happening for you, and work with you on a plan for ongoing support if you’d like. You don’t need a referral, and there’s no waiting list.

Hope Haven’s new home on King Street is being refurbished and will open later this year as a welcoming place where anyone can walk in for help. Until then, you’ll also find us out in the community, at weekly drop-ins, wellbeing walks, and our chatty café. (Check out the 'events' section on our Facebook profile for details.)

If you’re finding things tough, don’t wait 💚 Book your 'Virtual Safe Haven' appointment today, and get support when you need it.

📢 Please share to help us spread the word!

The Well Communities Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Cumbria Health Home Group Whitehaven Community Trust ICan Wellbeing group CIO Time To Change West Cumbria Project CIC

20/08/2025

👏Did you know… our local pharmacists are now able to help with minor infections such as sinusitis, sore throat, shingles, and UTIs. If you need to see the GP the pharmacist can refer you in as well. If you can, think Pharmacy First. 🙏

16/08/2025

Feeling lonely or isolated? Just fancy a cuppa and a chat?

We take part in the Chatty Cafe project - here to help people connect, talk and hopefully feel a little bit less alone.

Every Friday from 10am - 12 noon we will be at Time To Change West Cumbria Project CIC The Next Chapter Coffee Bar, Haig Enterprise Park, Kells, Whitehaven, CA28 9AN.

The sessions are open to all, free and there's no need to book - just drop in.

When you come to the cafe, look out for the table with a yellow triangular sign and volunteers wearing a yellow lanyard.

15/08/2025

SAVE THE DATE

COVID and Influenza Vaccinations will be available from Wednesday 1st October 2025.

Our 1st clinic will be Saturday 4th October 2025 at Lowther Medical Centre.

Appointments will be available to book from Monday 1st September 2025.

Children's Nasal Influenza sprays are available for all children that are aged 2 or 3 years old on 31st August 2025.
These will be available to given from the Monday 1st September 2025

12/08/2025

A yellow and amber heat alert has been issued across parts of England today. Remember that vulnerable people are more at risk from higher temperatures.

Keep hydrated, remember your sunscreen, and visit the NHS website for helpful advice.

☀️ https://nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

08/08/2025

WALKING AID SHORTAGE

The NHS is currently suffering a shortage of walking aids, crutches, sticks, zimmer frames, walkers, etc.
If you have any unused walking aids in acceptable condition, instead of throwing them away can you please return them to the surgery and we'll pass them on to the rehab team.

08/08/2025

Important Update: Continued Access to Services at Your GP Practice

You may have seen recent news coverage about changes to some GP surgeries across North and West Cumbria and their decision to step back from providing certain services. This is due to increasing workload pressures and concerns on how this impacts patient access to GP services.

We want to reassure our patients that there will be no current changes to our services for:
• Blood tests
• ECGs
• Physical health monitoring for patients on specialist mental health medication
• Pre- and post-operative blood testing
• Wound care
• Blood monitoring for specialist treatments such as chemotherapy or biological therapies

We are currently working closely with NHS colleagues across the system to ensure that services are delivered in the right setting, at the right time, and in a way that best supports the health and wellbeing of our patients.

If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to a member of your practice team.

Thank you for your continued support.

07/08/2025

After 28 years we would like to wish Dr Fidalgo a very happy retirement.

Thank you so much for all your dedication to the 10,000 patients you know by name (!) and the 4,000 new patients you learned the last 2 years.

Thank you from all of our colleagues and learners whom could always rely on you to help and support them over the years.

We wish you a well earned and very happy retirement!

Lots of love
LMC