Friendly Family Surgery

30/03/2026

We will close for Easter on Thursday 2nd April at 6.30pm. We will reopen on Tuesday 7th April at 8.00am.

🐣 Please ensure you have enough medication to last while we are closed. https://friendlyfamilysurgery.co.uk/prescriptions/

🐣If you need medical help while we are closed please call 111 or use 👉 https://111.nhs.uk/
There is also useful wellbeing tips on our website 👉 https://friendlyfamilysurgery.co.uk/wellbeing/

‼️ Always call 999 in an emergency ‼️

We would like to wish all our patients a Happy Easter 🐰 🐣 😊

30/03/2026

1 in 3 adults in the UK are at risk of Type 2 diabetes - many don’t know it.

Take a few minutes to complete the free Know Your Risk tool and see where you stand. If your score is high, speak to your GP about whether you’re eligible for the NHS-backed Healthier You programme in your area.

One simple check could be the first step towards protecting your health 💙

Find out your risk here: https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/know-your-risk/

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

📢 Important Update: Medicine Order Line (MOL) Service

Please be advised that the provider for the Medicine Order Line (MOL) telephone service will be changing on Wednesday 25th March.

To support this transition, a temporary call divert will be in place while the number transfer is completed. During this time, there may be fewer spaces available in the call queue. Normal capacity will resume once the transfer has been finalised.

📞 Patients can continue to use the usual MOL telephone numbers to access the service.

They aim to begin using the new telephone system from Wednesday 25th March and appreciate your patience while these changes are taking place.

💻 In the meantime, we encourage patients who are able to order prescriptions online (including on behalf of relatives) to do so via:

The NHS App - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/
Our website: https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/C81655/flow/repeat-prescription
MOL online ordering form: www.derbyshiremol.nhs.uk

Thank you for your understanding.

forms4health – Smart digital forms for healthcare

25/03/2026

♿ Reasonable Adjustments for Neurodivergent Patients

Healthcare environments can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially for neurodivergent people. Therefore, we want our appointments to feel accessible, predictable and supportive.

You can request reasonable adjustments, such as:
- A quieter space to wait
- Clear, direct communication
- Written follow-up information
- Extra processing time
- Booking the first or last appointment of the day (where possible)
- Bringing a supporter with you

See below a helpful checklist for preparing for health appointments:
�https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/application/files/2517/3288/6318/Health_appointment_checklist_-_Nov_2024.pdf

If adjustments would help you, please let our reception team know - we are happy to note this on your record.

🌟 Neurodiversity is something to understand, support and value.

We remain committed to reducing barriers and making our services as inclusive as possible for all our patients.

Together, we can help create a more inclusive healthcare experience for everyone☀️

25/03/2026

🌸 Easter Colouring Competition 🌸
We’re excited to announce our Easter colouring competition at the surgery! 🐣

Pop in to collect your colouring sheet, and don’t forget to write your name and contact number on the back before handing it in.

Good luck to everyone taking part! 🎨✨

Final day to enter Friday 10th April 🐣

25/03/2026

Did you know that most primary school-aged children should still be in a car seat or high back booster? Sadly, children aged 4 to 10 (primary school age) are among the most vulnerable to injury in road traffic collisions, often due to improper or lack of car seat use. Data shows 39% of children killed or seriously injured fall into this age group, as they are often moved too soon to adult seatbelts, which do not fit properly.

It is strongly recommended to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible - ideally up to 125cm (within child car seat limits). For many children, this can be up to around age 7 or school Year 2-3, depending on their growth centile.

Once your child has outgrown their rear-facing seat, the next step is a high back booster. This is essential, as car safety systems (e.g. seatbelts and airbags) are designed for adults. A high back booster is safer for a child, offering vital head and side protection and positioning their body to benefit from the car safety features.

The legal minimum to move out of a child car seat is 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first, however safety advice shows using an appropriate booster seat until they pass the 5 step test, offers much greater protection.

Only once your child passes the 5-step test (in each car they might travel in) is it safe for them to travel without a booster seat:

- The child's back is against the vehicle seat back?
- Do their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat and their feet resting on the floor?
- Does the lap belt sit across their thighs/hips not on their stomach?
- Does the shoulder belt sit between their neck and shoulder, not touching their neck or face?
- Do they sit sensibly with no leaning or slouching, even if they fall asleep?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," the child still requires a booster seat to ensure the seatbelt is positioned correctly for maximum safety.

You can read more about the 5 step test here: https://bit.ly/4sEvbl1

[Image description: Infographic with 5 illustrated steps on checking safe seatbelt fit for a child, using text and diagrams for back, lap belt, and shoulder belt positioning.]

23/03/2026

❄️Appointments ❄️

We would like to make patients aware that routine appointments can be anything up to 2 weeks

This is due to a combination of factors but the most impact has arisen from a huge surge in demand for appointments due to circulating winter viruses. 🦠

Our reception staff will endeavour to offer an appointment, however for routine issues this could be now be slightly longer than usual

We ask that patients use our services responsibly. Please do not ask for an urgent appointment if your issue is not truly urgent.
Urgent appointments have to be protected for those with highest clinical need and not for patient convenience. If you aren't sure if you need an urgent appointment please use https://111.nhs.uk/ or call 111 for an assessment.

What can you do to help 🙏🏼

▫️Self care for mild or self limiting illness.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/

▫️Use your local pharmacist or 111.
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
https://111.nhs.uk/

▫️Self refer to physio for muscular problems.
https://friendlyfamilysurgery.co.uk/services/referrals/physiotherapy/

▫️Eye problems are best seen by your optician.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/

▫️If you already have an appointment booked with us please wait for that appointment to discuss ongoing issues.

▫️Use consultation time efficiently. Don’t waste time discussing problems you encounter in the NHS unless they are clinically relevant. We sympathise but often our hands are tied.
https://patient.info/features/general-health/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-your-gp-appointment

▫️Please phone hospitals directly about hospital appointments/issues. GPs have no control or influence on hospital waiting times. It's much more powerful for the patient to phone and explain any change in circumstance and saves GP time for primary care problems. A list of current waiting times can be found here:
https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/mids/

▫️If patients are under the Community Mental Health Team and have ongoing concerns or crisis's about mental health, please contact the CMHT duty worker.
https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-and-emotional-wellbeing/community-mental-health-teams/cmht-adults-working-age/killamarsh-and-chesterfield-north-neighbourhood-team

We also have a list of mental health services on our website https://friendlyfamilysurgery.co.uk/wellbeing/mental-health/

If you are in a mental health crisis you can call 111 option 4 24 hours a day 7 days a week or if urgent call 999. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-and-wellbeing/support-in-a-crisis/mental-health-support-in-a-crisis.aspx

▫️Please try and use the service appropriately and equitably. Those taking up multiple appointments reduce access to others in need.

▫️Be polite to our team. Our team work hard with the resources given to us by the government. We recognise that sometimes capacity does not meet demand, and there is a limit to how many patients can be safely seen each day. Please be kind.

We would politely ask that patients respect the systems in place that allow safe and efficient care for ALL patients. Rude, aggressive behaviour, and threats will not be tolerated and are not acceptable for our receptionists to deal with on a daily basis.

Primary care is underfunded in the NHS and we are providing the best service possible with the resources given to us.

Please be kind

23/03/2026

Treating common conditions at home.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing information on how you can treat common conditions at home and when to contact your GP practice. These will also be added to our website.



https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mw120Bq-RP8&list=PLnhASgDToTksfhf1GPYdTn1HX8Z_3E2fW&index=6&pp=iAQB

23/03/2026

Confirm your organ donation decision on the NHS App to potentially save up to 9 lives in the future.

Alternatively, click this link https://orlo.uk/NrvYS

Share this post to encourage your friends and family to take action when it comes to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

22/03/2026

How can you check your blood pressure at home?

Watch this video that shows you how, what machines to use and what a normal BP is.

Watch:

How can you check your own blood pressure? Find out in this video and use these validated machines to check: https://bit.ly/UKBPmachine🔴 Subscribe: https://...