Fairford Patients Participation Group

24/11/2025

29/10/2025

A message from Hilary Cottage Surgery - Are you a carer?

Carers Rights Day 2025 takes place on Thursday 20th November, and this year’s theme is “Caring for Your Future.” Led nationally by Carers UK, the campaign focuses on empowering unpaid Carers to plan ahead, whether that’s understanding financial entitlements, accessing support services, or making decisions about work, education, and personal wellbeing.
It’s also a time for professionals, organisations, and communities to come together to recognise the vital role Carers play and to advocate for better support.
NHS Bus Tour – Supporting Carers Across Gloucestershire
In the lead-up to Carers Rights Day, the NHS Bus will be touring Gloucestershire, offering Carers the chance to drop in, speak with professionals, and access information and support.
Tour Dates and Locations:
3rd November – Tewkesbury Morrisons 7th November – Coleford Clocktower
14th November – Cheltenham Tesco 18th November – Gloucester Cross 20th November – Cirencester Livestock Market

These sessions are open to all and provide a valuable opportunity for Carers to ask questions, collect resources, and find out more about local services available to them.

Carers Rights Day Event – Dowty’s Sports and Social Club
To mark the day, a special event will be held at Dowty’s Sports and Social Club, bringing together organisations from across the county.
Event Highlights:
Meet local service providers and support organisations – including The Care Advice Line, Healthwatch Gloucestershire, and Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum
Access practical advice and resources
Connect with other Carers in a welcoming environment
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Coproduction Activity Workshop
As part of the event, you’re invited to take part in a coproduction workshop.
We’re hosting a carousel-style workshop to explore and build on our ongoing work around hospitalisation experiences and to look at new areas, including the evaluation of the co-production project, engagement approaches, and the identification and characterisation of carers.
Participants will move through a series of hands-on sessions, each designed to spark conversation, reflection, and collaboration around these different areas. It’s a chance to share your insights, help shape next steps, and connect with others working across different parts of the project.
🍽️ A free lunch will be provided for all workshop attendees. 📌 Booking is essential, and Carers are asked to share any dietary requirements when registering.
📞 To book, call: 0300 111 9000 📧 Or register online:

27/10/2025

Further to the message from the surgery earlier today, 27th October, the surgery website is back up and running.

Thank you for your patience.

------8< --------
The website for the surgery is currently off-line due to a technical issue. The provider is looking into the problem.
You can still use the Patient Access Portal link at:

Contact us about your request

30/09/2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqje8dljz7eo

04/08/2025

Book your smear test today!

For more information check out the easy read leaflet at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-easy-read-guide

24/07/2025

Please watch this video and consider the challenges the reception team at Hilary Cottage Surgery faces before your call reaches them.

Receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the clinical team, and without them, there is no access. But constant rudeness and abuse is pushing them to breaking point. Burnout is rising across all teams in the NHS, and we are losing skilled staff who can no longer absorb the emotional toll.

This video is part of a campaign calling for compassion, because protecting our reception teams protects access to care. You don't know what happened on the call they just took.

Thank you

Receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the cli...

24/07/2025

Mounjaro® on the NHS – managing weight loss with tirzepatide

There has been a lot of media attention given to the weight loss drug being available on the NHS.

In order to qualify, a patients must have:
• A BMI of 40 or more, and
Four of the following:
• Type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Dyslipidaemia

Also, a patient must agree to NHS Gloucestershire’s weight loss support and wrap-around care programme which includes a diet and exercise programme to help improve health. NHS Gloucester is developing these support services.

We recognise it can be difficult for some people living with obesity to access the support they feel they need and that those most likely to benefit from this medication may wish to access it as soon as possible.

We are committed to updating the public on related service developments as they occur.

In the meantime, we ask that you don’t, yet, contact your GP to ask for tirzepitide (Mounjaro®) while treatment arrangements are being finalised.
You can visit the NHS Gloucestershire website for further information about tirzepatide: https://www.nhsglos.nhs.uk/your-health-services/healthy-communities/weight-loss-medication/

What support is currently available?
Live Well advice is available on the NHS Gloucestershire website.
If your GP identifies you as being at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, they may offer you the opportunity of taking part in the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

We also know that there will be people who do not qualify for weight loss medication, which may cause disappointment and/or exacerbate new and existing mental health and wellbeing issues. In these cases you may find NHS Talking Therapies helpful.