The Old Fire Station Surgery

03/04/2026

The Surgery is now closed for the Easter weekend and will reopen Tuesday 7th April at 8am.

If you need medical attention for a minor injury or ailment, please contact NHS 111 first to be directed to the most appropriate service. In an emergency call 999.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter🐣

02/04/2026

26/03/2026

National Social Prescribing Day Thursday 26th March.

Social prescribers provide support to patients covering various topics. If you would like to know more please ask at the surgery.

22/03/2026

Did your child miss their school vaccination session? 💉

This can happen for many reasons - illness, absence from school or a busy schedule.

The good news is that catch-up clinics are available across the UK, so your child can still receive their DTP/MenACWY vaccine.

If you missed the school session, you can find your nearest clinic and book a convenient appointment ⬇️

https://www.schoolvaccination.uk/catch-up-clinics

19/03/2026

*MENINGITIS B OUTBREAK IN KENT*

Between 13th and 16th March 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 15 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the South East of England. Most cases involve students from the University of Kent and sixth-form students from local secondary schools in the Canterbury area.
A number of cases are linked to attendance at a Canterbury nightclub (Club Chemistry) on 5-7th March. The situation is being actively monitored and guidance may be updated.

This outbreak is centred in Canterbury.
UKHSA and local clinics in Kent are leading the response.

Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).
Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include:

- Fever
- Severe headache
- Rash that does not fade under a glass
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Limb pain
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Rapid deterioration

If you or someone you are with develops these symptoms call 999 immediately. Do not wait. Early treatment saves lives.

Preventive antibiotics are not for the general public. They are for specific close contacts only, as defined by UKHSA.

This includes:

- Students living on Canterbury campus (University of Kent)
- Staff living or working in affected halls of residence
- Anyone who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5th, 6th or 7th March 2026
- Close contacts directly identified by UKHSA

If you fall into one of these groups please contact the UKHSA on 03442253861.
For all other patients, preventive antibiotics are not currently indicated.

There are several meningitis vaccines offered free on the NHS. No single vaccine protects against all strains, which is why awareness of symptoms remains important regardless of vaccination status.

The MenB vaccine is offered to babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year. It was added to the NHS vaccination schedule in 2015 – if you were born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received this as part of the NHS programme. There is currently no NHS catch-up programme for MenB.

The MenACWY vaccine is routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10 (around age 14). This protects against strains A, C, W and Y, but not MenB. If you missed your adolescent dose, you can receive it free on the NHS up to your 25th birthday.

We are aware that patients are getting in touch about their vaccination status in response to this outbreak.
At present, we have not received instruction from NHS England to undertake any additional catch-up vaccination programme in response to this specific outbreak.
If you are under 25 and believe you have missed your routine MenACWY dose, please raise this at your next routine appointment and we will check and update your records at that time.

For general advice and queries, the following resources are available:

➡️ NHS 111 - for urgent health advice
111.nhs.uk

➡️ NHS - meningitis information
nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis

➡️ Meningitis Research Foundation meningitis.org

➡️ Meningitis Now
meningitisnow.org

➡️ The latest updates on the meningitis outbreak in Kent can be found here:
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cases-of-invasive-meningococcal-disease-confirmed-in-kent

18/03/2026

❗The Surgery will be closed this afternoon, Wednesday 18th March from 12 noon for staff training. ❗

If you need medical attention for a minor injury or ailment, please contact NHS 111 first to be directed to the most appropriate service. In an emergency call 999.
We will reopen on Thursday 19th March at 8am but please be aware the phone lines may be busier than normal.

Thank you for your cooperation 😀

16/03/2026

🩺📞 The Surgery will be closed Wednesday 18th March from 12 noon for staff training. 🩺📞

If you need medical attention for a minor injury or ailment, please contact NHS 111 first to be directed to the most appropriate service. In an emergency call 999.
We will reopen on Thursday 19th March at 8am but please be aware the phone lines may be busier than normal.

Thank you for your cooperation 😀

01/03/2026

From 1 April 2026, the RSV vaccination programme will extend eligibility to:

🧓 Adults aged 80 years and over
🏠 All residents in older adult care homes, regardless of age

Read more about RSV and vaccine eligibility ⬇️

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/07/17/what-is-rsv-and-is-there-a-vaccine/

26/02/2026

Are you a woman aged 47–53?

Breast cancer affects one in seven women, yet many don't attend their first screening appointment.

By sharing your views and experiences, you can help improve local breast screening services and outcomes for women like you.

👉 Share your voice today: https://buff.ly/4tMwium

24/02/2026

Self-care starts with choosing well.

Knowing when you can look after yourself, when a pharmacist can help, and when to get advice from your GP makes a real difference.

By choosing the right care for your illness or injury, you’re looking after your health and helping NHS staff care for those who need it most.

Learn more about self-care and getting the right support:

👉

Self-care is about keeping fit and healthy, understanding when you can look after yourself, when a pharmacist can help, and when to get advice from your GP or another health professional. If you have a long-term condition, self-care is about understanding that condition and how to live with it.