The Lodge Surgery

22/04/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀' 𝗗𝗮𝘆
22 April 2026

Today is National Administrative Professionals' Day and a chance for us to celebrate our small but skilled admin team who work hard behind the scenes to support our patients and doctors.

Responsible for processing hospital correspondence, medical reports, referrals, payments and all manner of forms, their organisation, coordination and attention to detail is vital to the smooth running of the practice.

We are proud of our administrators who play a crucial role at Lodge Surgery and we say a big thank you to them for all that they do and treat them with cake 🧁👏👏👏

20/04/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
17 - 22 April

If you have a toothache, you would visit the dentist, if you had trouble with your vision then you would automatically call on an optician. What about your feet?

Many people ignore common foot complaints or indeed serious pain rather than go to see an expert. Podiatrists are there to help with all manner of foot conditions and can usually help resolve minor issues quickly. Problems with the feet can be an indication of other health issues and so it’s important to take care of our feet as we would our teeth and eyes.

Make National Feet Week a time to have your feet checked or to get that niggling issue sorted and make your feet your priority – after all they take you anywhere you want to go.

When to Contact the NHS:

👣If you have a condition like diabetes that affects your feet.

👣If you experience persistent foot pain, severe hard skin, or problems with your toenails.

Many NHS areas have podiatry hubs that allow for direct self-referral, reducing the need for a GP appointment.

Find a Podiatrist near you by following the NHS link below⬇

www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/podiatrists-and-chiropodists/results?location=SN15

The NHS website can give you further information on many foot issues including:

🦶Flat feet

👣Smelly feet

🦶Swollen ankles, feet and legs (oedema)

👣Athlete's foot

🦶Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy

www.nhs.uk/search/results?q=feet&p=0

16/04/2026

Su***de Bereavement Support Service from Swindon and Gloucester Mind, available to patients across Swindon and Wiltshire.

GPs are often a first point of contact for individuals following a sudden death. Those bereaved by su***de may present with complex grief, trauma or mental health concerns.

Su***de Bereavement Support Service provides free, confidential one-to-one emotional support alongside practical guidance following su***de.

📞01793 547150
📧su***debereavement@sgmind.org.uk

13/04/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵
April

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your to-do list seems endless, deadlines are fast approaching and you find yourself saying ‘Eek! I feel stressed!’?

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘶𝘴?

Stress is primarily a physical response. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion.

The ‘fight or flight’ mode can still help us survive dangerous situations, such as reacting swiftly to a person running in front of our car by slamming on the brakes.

The challenge is when our body goes into a state of stress in inappropriate situations. When blood flow is going only to the most important muscles needed to fight or flee, brain function is minimised. This can lead to an inability to ‘think straight’. If we are kept in a state of stress for long periods, it can be detrimental to our health.

𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
When your body goes into a state of stress, we may feel agitated and aggressive towards others; this can be due to our bodies’ natural reaction being “fight”. This can be a helpful reaction to ward off predators, but in unnecessary situations, it can negatively affect relationships and ruin reputations.

𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
Some of us avoid our stressors, removing ourselves from the situation instead of tackling it. This can be a sign of the “flight” survival instinct; a function that can save our lives if we find ourselves in dangerous surroundings. However, in everyday life, this natural instinct can lead to a stressful situation escalating, and increase our stress levels when we realise that the stressor isn’t going away and we need to face it.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲
Unknown by many, there is a third mode that stress can cause; freeze. For some people, becoming stressed sets the stage for ‘dysregulation’. The energy mobilised by the perceived threat gets “locked” into the nervous system and we ‘freeze’. This response sometimes reveals itself when we breathe. Holding our breath and shallow breathing are both forms of freeze. The occasional deep sigh is the nervous system catching up on its oxygen intake.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁
The stress test is a valuable tool designed to help individuals assess their current levels of stress and understand how it may affect their daily lives. This test consists of a series of questions that explore various aspects of a person’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

The ultimate goal of this stress test is to help people recognise their stress levels and encourage them to take proactive steps towards building resilience. Whether through mindfulness practices, lifestyle adjustments, or professional support, understanding one’s stress levels is the first step toward achieving a healthier, more balanced life.

Once you have completed your Stress Test you will find tools and tips to help you live a more stress-free life.
⬇
www.stress.org.uk/individual-stress-test/

10/04/2026

𝗗𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

🗓Every Tuesday
🕙10:00am - 12:00pm
📍1 Gladstone Parade, Timber Street, Chippenham, SN15 3BS

Living with a life-limiting illness can feel overwhelming – but you don’t have to go through it alone. Coffee Connection sessions offer a relaxed space to meet others, share experiences and simply enjoy a warm drink and good company.

Dorothy House staff and volunteers are on hand if you would like support and advice.

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲?

Anyone affected by a life limiting illness is welcome – whether you’d like to pop in for 10 minutes or stay for the whole session.
Family, friends and carers are also welcome.

07/04/2026

01/04/2026

The surgery will be closed from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th, returning to normal on Tuesday 7th April. From all at The Lodge Surgery, have a Happy Easter! 🐇🌸

31/03/2026

Easter Event at Cepen Lodge Care Home

📍West Cepen Way, Chippenham SN14 6UZ
🗓Saturday 4th April
🕑2-4pm

🐰

30/03/2026

Today is National Doctors' Day and an opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication of our team of GPs, led by Dr O'Driscoll.

The work of a GP requires not only extensive knowledge and skill, but also deep compassion and patience as they support patients, and their families, through illness, recovery, and sometimes difficult diagnoses. Beyond treating illnesses our GPs provide reassurance, guidance and hope during some of the most difficult moments in people’s lives. The work they do behind the scenes, as shown in the picture, is often not seen but is vital to patients even though they may be unaware of it. Their commitment and resilience highlight not only how hard they work, but also how essential they are to the wellbeing of our local community.

We are very proud of all our lovely GPs and celebrate them today with cake as is the tradition at Lodge.

26/03/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻! 📣

Nearly 1 in 4 people say they've missed an NHS appointment in the past. A quick change to your NHS App settings can help.

Follow these quick steps to turn on notifications in your NHS App and stay on top of appointments, messages and reminders from your GP.

23/03/2026

The Friends & Family Test is a great way for patients to tell us if and how their experience at the surgery could have been improved.

Don't forget to respond when you receive your text because we discuss the responses every month to see what patients tell us and we use your feedback to make positive changes where possible.

If you have suggestions, concerns or compliments, please let us know via our website or by speaking to reception. Your feedback helps shape our service.

We also received several compliments this quarter, including positive feedback about reception support, consultation experiences and our Saturday service. Thank you to those who took the time to share their feedback.

Please feel free to share this update with friends or family who use our practice.

Here is what you raised this quarter and how we responded:

20/03/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵

'𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲'

In the UK, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with the risk rising to 1 in 4 for Black men.
With no early warning signs and no national screening programme, too many men find out they have it too late.

March the Month is an accessible step challenge for anyone who wants to keep active and help save men’s lives. You can sign up for free and walk or wheel 11,000 steps a day throughout March for more than 11,000 men who die from prostate cancer every year.

Whether you pound the pavements, tackle the treadmill, wheel on the school-run, walk the dog or dance in the kitchen, however you do it, you’re helping to save men’s lives.

Sign up below⬇
https://marchthemonth.prostatecanceruk.org/take-part