Balmoral Surgery

22/04/2026

We are currently experiencing significant IT issues, which are now also affecting our phone lines. If you require urgent medical assistance, please call 111 or visit your local Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC).

We apologise for the inconvenience.

This is a Kent-wide issue, and teams are working hard to resolve it as quickly as possible.

21/04/2026

We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the current IT issues. This is an issue affecting practices across Kent and Medway and beyond over which we have no control.

We know this may be frustrating for you and thank you for your patience.

Resolving this issue is out of our hands and our staff are working under significant extra pressure, so we would ask patients to continue to treat all of our staff with courtesy – abusive behaviour will not be tolerated

20/04/2026

⚠️ We are currently experiencing computer/IT issues at the practice. We are still here to help but waiting times may be longer than usual.

We are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the problem.

This is a national issue and is being investigated.

16/04/2026

⚠️ We are currently experiencing computer/IT issues at the practice. Waiting times may be longer

We are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the problem.

This is a national issue and is being investigated.

15/04/2026

⚠️ We are currently experiencing computer/IT issues at the practice. Waiting times may be longer than usual.

Telephone lines are also affected.

We are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the problem.

This is a national issue and is being investigated.

07/04/2026

⚠️ We are currently experiencing computer/IT issues at the practice. Waiting times may be longer than usual

We are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we work to resolve the problem.

01/04/2026

Good morning,

When you next submit an online consultation request, you may notice that the provider that we are using has changed. We have decided to move from Anima back to eConsult as we believe this is better for our patients and our clinicians.

To submit a request, you need to go to same place on our website as before. The only difference is that in the "contact you doctor online" box it now says eConsult rather than Anima.

We hope that this change is as seamless as possible for our patients, but if you do have any problems you can phone 01304 373444 and speak to one of our Care Navigators who will be happy to help you.

Many thanks

26/03/2026

Cervical screening invitations are now being sent through the NHS App for women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64.

1. Download the NHS App.
2. Turn on notifications.
3. Book and attend your appointment, when invited.

More info ➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cervical-screening/

17/03/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear about the recent deaths from meningitis and the patients who are in hospital.

What are the symptoms to look out for?

symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can include:

 a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
 sudden onset of high fever
 severe and worsening headache
 stiff neck
 vomiting and diarrhoea
 joint and muscle pain
 dislike of bright lights
 very cold hands and feet
 seizures
 confusion or delirium
 extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking.

If you or someone you know develops symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, seek medical help urgently by going to the nearest Accident and Emergency department or calling 999.

⚠️ Meningitis can develop quickly and is a medical emergency. Early treatment is vital.

Our practice remains open as normal. If you have concerns or need advice, please contact the surgery.

We will continue to share updates in line with guidance from local NHS and public health teams.

In response to the meningitis outbreak locally, emergency antibiotics are available for eligible people at NHS centres. Antibiotic tablets can be offered to people who do not have symptoms, as a precautionary measure. To check whether you are eligible and how to get the precautionary treatment please visit the website:

The latest information and updates from NHS Kent and Medway.

23/02/2026

Are your child's vaccinations up-to-date? If they are not, and you would like your child to have them, please contact us to book.

20/01/2026

We are hopeful that the IT issues that started yesterday morning have now been resolved, and therefore our service will begin to return to normal.

Thank you for your patience during this time. We are in touch with our local ICB to find out the cause of this issue, and to find out what will be done to prevent this happening again.