Marton Medical Practice

10/02/2026

Public advised to stop using some non-sterile alcohol-free wipes

UKHSA and MHRA are urging the public not to use 4 specified non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products due to the risk of infection associated with their use.

From:
UK Health Security Agency and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Published
4 August 2025
Last updated
5 February 2026 — See all updates

Latest
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are reminding the public not to use 4 specified non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products under any circumstances due to an ongoing risk of infection associated with their use.

Additionally, UKHSA and MHRA would like to remind people that non-sterile alcohol-free wipes, of any type or brand, should not be used for first aid, applied on broken or damaged skin and should never be used for cleaning intravenous lines.

There have been 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis associated with some non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products - identified in an outbreak in the United Kingdom from January 2018 to 3 February 2026. A small number of cases continue to be detected. These have included some serious infections which have required hospital treatment and 1 death has been attributed to Burkholderia stabilis infection.

Burkholderia stabilis is a bacteria found in natural environments, rarely causing infection in healthy individuals. The risk to the general population is very low. However, immunocompromised individuals, those with other risk factors such as cystic fibrosis and patients at home with intravenous lines, are at higher risk of developing infection. No person-to-person transmission has been identified.

During outbreak investigations in 2025, the following products were found to be contaminated with Burkholderia. These four products should not be used under any circumstances:

ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free
Steroplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes (testing revealed contamination with a Burkholderia strain not related to the outbreak cases)
The MHRA issued notices to the sellers of these products in July, resulting in their withdrawal from sale. However, some of these products may still remain in some first aid kits and in people’s homes. Members of the public should check for these wipes in their home including in first aid kits. Anyone who still has any of the identified affected products should stop using them immediately and dispose of them in standard household waste.

13/01/2026

ℹ️ For anyone needing to access our Emergency Department

If you need to travel to the Emergency Department today please know you may experience a long wait. Our teams are doing everything they can to see and treat patients as quickly and safely as possible. Please treat us with respect.

Please bring medications (including inhalers), and any items that can make your wait more comfortable. Avoid bringing more than one person with you so we can keep the area for those unwell.

‼️ If you aren't sure if you need emergency treatment please first consider alternative health services like NHS 111 online or over the phone.

💙 We'd like to say a big thank you to those who continue to use health services wisely and to everyone who is being patient with us while they wait💙

07/01/2026

Nestlé recalls several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula as a precaution because of the possible presence of cereulide (toxin)
Whilst we do not prescribe this, please tell your relatives and neighbours who have infants may be using this about this alert.

Nestlé has taken the precautionary step of recalling several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula because they may contain cereulide toxin.

07/01/2026

08/12/2025

Self Care – Prescribing of Over the Counter Medicines

Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns. Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community.
The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need.
Please help the NHS to use resources sensibly.

The following information leaflet to view or download tells you everything you need to know and the treatment and conditions this applies to:

10/11/2025

Warning of new variant of dangerous baby self-feeding products

Baby self-feeding products present a risk of serious harm or death.

A new variant of dangerous baby self-feeding products has appeared where the pillow part takes the form of an animal head shape.

Baby self-feeding products are designed to enable babies to bottle feed with little or no assistance from a caregiver. This creates a risk of serious harm or death from choking on the feed or aspiration pneumonia.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has identified that all baby self-feeding products are dangerous due to their design and intended use and can never be made safe, regardless of any changes to their appearance. It issued a Product Safety Alert concerning them in December 2022. The public was urged to stop using them immediately and dispose of them safely. Businesses and local authority trading standards services were also asked to take specific actions to remove them from the market.

https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-safety-alert-baby-self-feeding-products-psa4

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/urgent-safety-alert-issued-for-baby-self-feeding-products

https://www.nhs.uk/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/advice/

Handy tips for bottle feeding your baby, including hygiene, being prepared, how to wind your baby and how to keep them safe.

09/09/2025

https://www.martonmedicalpractice.co.uk/2025/09/09/new-appointments-booking-from-1st-october-2025-important-information/
New Appointments booking from 1st October 2025 – Important Information

Clarification regarding the current process for booking GP appointments. See practice Website for more details

A new appointments system is being introduced starting on 1st October 2025 following the Government directive that online access systems are live in all Practices from that date. In preparation for this we need to clear the backlog of patients requesting appointments v appointments available for booking. To do this, from 15th to 30th September we will book patients on the day only and online booking will be switched off. We appreciate this week (8-12 September) is difficult for our patients, and for our staff, in booking you in to suitable slots. PLEASE BARE WITH US, it will get much better.

Clarification regarding the current process for booking GP appointments. A new appointments system is being introduced starting on 1st October 2025 following the Government directive that online…

10/02/2025

📢 We need you! This survey is aimed at all women in Lancashire and South Cumbria and is intended to gather women’s views on support for women’s health issues, where women’s health hubs should be located, how they could be accessed, and any barriers.

Fill out the survey here: https://orlo.uk/d6i5J

30/01/2025

Upcoming changes to the NHS app for Android and IOS
Posted on:30th January 2025

Apologies for this being technical but I wanted all our patients to be aware of the upcoming changes to the NHS app, especially if you have an older model mobile phone.

If you have older friends and relatives who may not be as tech savvy as younger people, please do assist them to check if their phone has a front facing camera and is on at least Android version 8 or above, or IOS version15 or above
If older friends and relatives are more tech savvy than you, please ask them for help!

If the phone is not on the the minimum version of Android or IOS and can’t be upgraded then users will need to access their NHS App services via their NHS Account using a web browser

Full details are on the Practice website news item:

Apologies for this being technical but I wanted all our patients to be aware of the upcoming changes to the NHS app, especially if you have an older model mobile phone. If you have older friends and…

20/01/2025

Please be aware that our reception desk will be closed for staff training on Wednesday 12th February between 13:00 and 16:30.