Spa Surgery, Boston Spa

14/01/2026

‼️ Staff Update ‼️

We are delighted to introduce our new salaried GP, Dr Emily Williams 🎉. Many of you may already recognise Emily, as she previously worked with us a few years ago during her GP training. We are very pleased to welcome her back to Boston Spa Surgery.

Emily says:

“I am pleased to be back at Boston Spa Surgery after spending a year here as part of my GP training. I also grew up nearby. I enjoy the variety that general practice brings, alongside a second role working one day a week in a Frailty Hub in York. Outside of work, I am currently being kept busy with house renovations 🏠.”

Please join us in giving Dr Williams a warm welcome to the team 👋😊

08/01/2026

💉Children under 6 are now being offered the MMRV vaccine instead of MMR as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme.

This replaces the existing MMR vaccine and adds protection against chickenpox, alongside measles, mumps and rubella.

You don’t need to do anything — your GP will contact you when your child is due.

07/01/2026

💨 **Chest Infections – What You Need to Know**

Chest infections often follow a cold or flu and can leave you feeling tired, achy and short of breath. Most are mild and improve on their own within 7–10 days, although your cough may last up to 3 weeks.

**You can help yourself by:**
✔ Getting plenty of rest
✔ Drinking lots of fluids
✔ Sleeping with your head raised
✔ Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and aches
✔ Using hot lemon and honey for a sore throat
🚭 Avoid smoking – it makes symptoms worse

**Your pharmacist can also advise on suitable cough medicines.**

📞 **Contact your GP if you:**

* Feel very unwell or your symptoms are getting worse
* Are coughing up blood
* Have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
* Are pregnant
* Are over 65
* Have a long-term condition (heart, lung, kidney disease) or a weakened immune system

Severe symptoms could indicate pneumonia and need urgent assessment.

Taking simple steps early can help you recover safely and avoid complications.

07/01/2026

Please be careful in our car park, it is very icy! We have gritted the paths but please take care.

06/01/2026

👶Children under 6 are now being offered the MMRV vaccine instead of MMR as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme.
🦠This replaces the existing MMR vaccine and adds protection against chickenpox, alongside measles, mumps and rubella.
☎️You don’t need to do anything — your GP will contact you when your child is due.
nhs.uk/mmrv

19/12/2025

Spa Surgery would like to wish all our patients a very merry Christmas.🎄🎅
We will be closed on 25th & 26th of December and again on the 1st of January, normal working days all other days.
When we are closed you can contact NHS111 if you need any non urgent help, or call 999 for more serious issues.
There are also walk-in centers available.
There is also a list of pharmacies that are open over the festive period: nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy

12/12/2025

Vaccines are still available at the surgery for all those eligible, that includes nasal too.
Give the reception team a call and book your vaccine today! 💉
Don't let flu spoil your Christmas 🎄🎁

Flu cases are higher than they have ever been at this time of year.

An average of 2,660 patients per day were in a hospital bed with flu last week. That’s enough flu patients each day to fill more than 3 whole hospital trusts.

If you haven’t already, and you’re eligible, get your flu vaccine.

The flu jab reduces your risk of becoming seriously ill this Christmas, and helps protect those around you.

Book via your GP, pharmacy or the NHS App.

➡️ http://nhs.uk/fluvaccine

27/11/2025

📢 Practice Update: Appointment Availability

Due to staff illness, we are currently very limited on GP appointments. We’re doing everything we can to maintain services, and we really appreciate your patience and support during this time.

To help us help you, please consider using other local healthcare services where appropriate:

💊 Pharmacists can treat many common conditions — coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, UTIs in women, sinusitis, impetigo, shingles, and more. No GP appointment needed.

🏥 Minor Injuries/Illness Units are available at Harrogate Hospital and Ripon Hospital for issues such as sprains, minor cuts, burns, suspected fractures, and similar problems.

🆘 Other NHS services — including NHS 111 online or by phone — can also guide you to the best place for care.

Thank you for using services appropriately and for supporting our team during this challenging period. 💙

20/11/2025

19/11/2025

💊World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025💊

The theme for World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”

Antibiotics are life-saving medications but need to be used appropriately if this will continue to be the case. They should only be prescribed by a qualified Healthcare Professional (HCP) if felt to be necessary, and the full course should be taken as prescribed.

Antibiotics do not work against viral infections like colds, flu or Covid, and the majority of coughs are caused by viruses. If one of our clinicians has assessed you and thinks you have a viral infection then they will suggest alternative things you could try and should explain the signs to look out for if a bacterial infection develops.

The pharmacy is a great first place to go to if you have a cough - this will help take the strain off our surgery and get you the best advice and treatment quickly

13/11/2025

Thursday 13th November
We are closed for essential staff training from 12pm today.
If you require emergency advice during this time please contact NHS 111 or 999.
The practice will reopen at 8am on Friday 14th November.

11/11/2025

📢 A message from Spa Surgery

We’d like to remind our patients that our reception team is fully trained to signpost you to the most appropriate service for your needs.

👉 If you are unwell, please book the appointment offered to you — this helps us make sure you get the right care as quickly as possible.
👉 We have limited appointments allocated to each GP, this means we may not be able to book you in with a specific GP.
👉 Even if you're just asking for “a quick word with a GP,” this is still an appointment, as it requires clinical time and documentation.

💙 We have a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of abuse or discrimination, including racism toward any of our doctors or staff.

⏳ When we reach full capacity, our team will guide you to suitable alternative services, such as urgent treatment centers, pharmacies, or NHS 111.

Thank you for your support, kindness, and understanding.
We’re here to help you get the care you need. 💚