Atkinson Health Centre GP Surgery

13/10/2025

Due to an IT fault we are currently having issues accessing our computer systems and those that are working, are running extremely slowly. Our staff are working as fast as they can to answer any incoming calls, please bear with us. We are hoping this issue is fixed ASAP. Thank you for your patience 🙏

25/09/2025

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists issues advice for pregnant people on the use of paracetamol to manage fever and pain.

23 Sept 2025 -
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published a clear statement on the safety of paracetamol use in pregnancy, stating that there is no confirmed link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism in children.

Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed.

Professor Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said:
“Managing pain and fever during and after pregnancy is really important for the wellbeing of women and their babies. Pain can impact a woman’s physical and psychological health, while unmanaged fevers can pose risks for both the mother and unborn baby. The MHRA statement is clear that Paracetamol remains the recommended pain relief option for pregnant women when used as directed. It is vital that women have access to accurate, evidence-based information. If you are concerned or have questions about the use of paracetamol, please speak to your pharmacist or maternity team as soon as possible.”

Notes to editors:
Paracetamol is recommended as the first-choice painkiller for pregnant women, used at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration.

Women with unresolved pain or fever, or those with concerns about the use of paracetamol, are urged to speak to a pharmacist, GP or midwifery team as soon as possible.

22/09/2025

⭐️ WE ARE HIRING ⭐️

We are seeking an enthusiastic and well-organised General Practice Assistant to join our busy practice.

This exciting role has lots of scope for development, so we are looking for someone who can adapt as the role evolves to support our practice. The General Practice Assistant role is varied, with a mix of patient-facing clinical work and administrative work.

Whilst experience is desirable, any training required will be provided.

For further information or to apply, please visit the link below on indeed 😊

Atkinson Health Centre Practice

22/09/2025

Covid vaccination eligibility will be different to last year and diverge from this year’s flu eligibility. Flu vaccination eligibility has stayed the same so if you were eligible last year, you will be eligible again this year however covid vaccination criteria has changed and is now for patients aged 75+ or patients who are immunosuppressed either through a medical condition or medication.

This means that while you might have had the covid vaccine last autumn you may no longer be eligible for it this year. This is National guidance from the Department of health and social Care. Full eligibility criteria below:

From 1st October 2025

Flu vaccination eligibility:

Adults aged 65+
Adults aged 18 to 64 in clinical risk groups, e.g. chronic conditions like respiratory, heart, liver, kidney, and neurological diseases, diabetes, and weakened immune systems
Residents in long-stay care homes
Carers (in receipt of allowance or main carer for elderly/disabled)
Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
Frontline social care workers without employer-led occupational health


From 1st October 2025

Covid vaccination eligibility:

Adults aged 75 +
Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed.
Residents in a care home for older adults


The practice will be inviting all patient eligible for vaccination so please make sure we have up-to-date contact details.

19/06/2025

02/06/2025

🌟 Increasing urgent care capacity – Urgent care service 🌟

We are introducing an urgent care service to help increase capacity within the surgery to see patients. This currently operates Tuesday- Friday during normal surgery hours. The appointments will be available face to face with a GP and are booked the same way as regular appointments via our surgery reception team.

Currently the location the service operates from is Norwood Medical Centre – 99 abbey Road, Barrow-in-Furness LA14 1LF

Once you have been given an appointment, attend Norwood Medical Centre and check in at their front desk as you enter the building.

The GP will have access to your normal GP notes and consultations will be documented in your normal GP Record.

Atkinson Health Centre Practice 🌟

13/05/2025

We are currently experiencing some issues with our Internet meaning we are unable to access our clinical system or log into our phone system to answer incoming calls.
This has been reported with our IT service and they are working on fixing the issue ASAP. We apologise for any inconvenience and ask you please bear with us whilst this gets fixed 🤞

23/04/2025

Please find below an update regarding the public car park at the health centre 🚗 🅿️

'The new system will provide free parking for all patients, during the health centre’s opening hours, for up to 90 minutes and there will be a tablet provided, prior to the cameras going live, for those patients who might end up being at the health centre for over that time, to enable them to input their vehicle registration details and avoid any penalty.

There will be no free parking at all between 20:00 to 07:00 Monday to Saturday, and from 17:00 Saturday until 07:00 Monday. Anyone who parks in the patient car park during the no parking hours will receive a fine. There will be numerous signs installed regarding the new parking restrictions.

The tablet, for those patients who have to park for more than 90 minutes, will be situated at the Information Desk on the ground floor. The staff there will provide the tablet to the patient to enable them to input their own registration number (it is advised that the patient does this themselves in case of any errors).'

10/03/2025

Edited at 9.15am - this issue seems to have resolved and calls are now coming through to reception. We are working to catch up with all calls. Thank you for your patience 😊

Due to a phone line issue we are currently unable to take or make any phone calls. We apologise for the inconvenience and we are working on fixing this matter urgently!

21/02/2025

Please note! Path lab (pathology) at FGH are currently operating on reduced hours. If you need to attend for a blood test please refer to the photo below to see when they are closing 💉

07/01/2025

WE ARE HIRING

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our busy reception team at the practice. Hours are 30 hours per week over 5 days, Monday- Friday.
For further information or to apply please visit the link below or send your CV via email to chloe.lowe@nhs.net

Atkinson Health Centre Practice

05/11/2024