Handbridge Medical Centre

21/04/2026

📢 Important Notice
The surgery will be closed today from 13:00 for staff training.
We will reopen tomorrow at 08:00 as usual.

If you need medical advice or assistance while we’re closed, please contact NHS 111 by:
📞 Calling 111 📱Using the NHS App
🚨 As always, dial 999 in an emergency.

Thank you for your understanding!

Services the NHS provides if you need urgent or emergency medical help

20/04/2026

🌟 April is IBS Awareness Month 🌟

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects millions of people and can significantly impact day‑to‑day life — but with the right support, symptoms can often be managed effectively.
IBS Awareness Month is a chance to increase understanding of this common digestive condition, encourage people to seek help, and reduce stigma.

👉 What is IBS?
IBS is a long‑term condition affecting the digestive system. Symptoms vary but commonly include:
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Bloating
• Diarrhoea and/or constipation
• Changes in bowel habits

👉 What can help?
There’s no single cause of IBS, but symptoms may improve with:
• Diet and lifestyle changes
• Symptom‑specific medication
• Identifying triggers (e.g., stress, certain foods)
• Support from your GP or specialist services

💙 If you’re struggling with ongoing digestive symptoms, you don’t need to try to manage them alone — we’re here to help. Book an appointment to discuss your symptoms and support options.

Support Bowel Research UK in funding vital research into bowel diseases & bowel cancer lead by medical experts. Donate today & together, we can improve lives & find cures.

13/04/2026

🌟 Microscopic Colitis Awareness Week (13–19 April 2026) 🌟

Microscopic colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the colon. It often causes ongoing watery diarrhoea, tummy pain, cramps, bloating, and fatigue. Despite being relatively common — especially in people aged 50+ — it is frequently missed or misdiagnosed, meaning many people struggle without answers.

👉 What is Microscopic Colitis?
It is diagnosed via biopsies during a colonoscopy, as the bowel often looks normal to the naked eye.
Symptoms can be severe, affecting quality of life and making people reluctant to leave home.
There are effective treatments, and many people improve with medication and lifestyle support.

✅ Find trusted UK information & support:
• Crohn’s & Colitis UK: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/info-support/information-about-crohns-and-colitis/all-information-about-crohns-and-colitis/understanding-crohns-and-colitis/microscopic-colitis
• Guts UK (Symptoms, treatment, support): https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/microscopic-colitis/
• Bowel Research UK: https://bowelresearchuk.org/about-bowels/inflammatory-bowel-disease/microscopic-colitis/

💙 If you're experiencing persistent watery diarrhoea, talk to us. Early assessment can help you get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Microscopic Colitis is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that affects the large bowel - the colon and re**um.

10/04/2026

🩺 Bowel Cancer Awareness Quiz 🩺

In conjunction with the Cancer Alliance, there is a bowel cancer awareness quiz available in our surgery waiting areas.

Simply complete the multiple-choice questions and return your quiz to the Practice for a chance to WIN an Easter-themed prize! 🐣

Take part, test your knowledge, and help raise awareness 💙

08/04/2026

🌟 SIBO Awareness Day 🌟

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) happens when too many bacteria grow in the small intestine, leading to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, excess wind, pale or greasy stools, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies.

👉 What causes SIBO?
SIBO can develop due to:
• Previous surgery affecting the stomach or bowel
• Slow gut motility
• Conditions such as diabetes, coeliac disease, scleroderma, Crohn’s disease
• Long‑term use of PPIs (proton‑pump inhibitors)

👉 How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis may involve breath testing or clinical assessment of symptoms, history, and risk factors by NHS gastro teams. Breath testing measures hydrogen or methane levels after drinking a sugar solution and is one of the main diagnostic tools used.

✅ Find reliable UK information & patient resources:
• Guts UK – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment:
https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/conditions/small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-sibo/
• Royal Marsden NHS Patient Information Leaflet:
https://patientinfolibrary.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/document/download/1166
• NHS Tayside guidance (useful for understanding management):
https://www.nhstaysideadtc.scot.nhs.uk/Antibiotic%20site/pdf%20docs/SIBO.pdf

💙 If you’re experiencing persistent bloating, diarrhoea, or digestive discomfort, please get in touch — early assessment can help guide the right testing and support.

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer.

03/04/2026

Earache? Your pharmacist can now provide treatment or some prescription medicine, if needed, for seven common conditions, without you seeing a GP.

Think pharmacy first.

www.nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst

01/04/2026

🌟 April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 🌟

Early detection saves lives — and one of the most effective ways to spot bowel cancer early is through the NHS bowel screening programme.

✅ If you're aged 60–74, you’ll receive a free bowel screening kit through the post.
✅ The test is quick, simple, and can be done at home.
✅ Completing and returning your kit could help detect signs of cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

🔵 If you’ve received your kit, please make time to complete it — it could save your life.
🔵 Want to learn more about how the test works and why it matters? Visit Cancer Research UK’s helpful guide below:

👉 Find out more:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening?gclid=717d064c49931e3cc25f6ffef6f41cb2&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=717d064c49931e3cc25f6ffef6f41cb2

Let’s work together to raise awareness and encourage everyone who’s eligible to take part. 💙

Bowel cancer screening aims to check for bowel cancer or abnormalities that could lead to bowel cancer. There are separate bowel screening programmes for the different countries in the UK.

26/03/2026

🌿 Today is National Social Prescribing Day 🌿

The Social Prescribing service is available at our Surgery.

If you are over 18, finding life’s challenges difficult, or would benefit from being connected with services that can support you, please contact the Surgery to request a referral to our Social Prescribing team.

Our Social Prescribers, Philippa and Fern, can help link you with local services, provide information and guidance, and support you with:
• Caring responsibilities
• Debt or financial worries
• Loneliness or social isolation
• Health and wellbeing concerns
• Many other life stressors

Philippa and Fern are here to listen and empower you to make positive changes.

🎥 Find out more about Social Prescribing:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EX9-CVmo7o

Many things that affect our health can’t be treated by doctors or medicine alone. Like loneliness, debt, or stress due to financial pressures or poor housing...

23/03/2026

Cervical screening checks for high-risk types of the HPV virus and is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing the cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer.
Find out more: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cervical-screening/

19/03/2026

19/03/2026

Don't wait for the post, get your test results easily wherever you are.

You can do more with the NHS App than you realise. Discover what else you can do today.

Tap the NHS App📱