The Deepings Practice

13/04/2026

Please see the results of the audit reviewing the uptake of Faecal Immunochemical Kits conducted by the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BSCP) in the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust for the Calendar year ending 2025.

07/04/2026

Please find below the latest appointment data for March 2026.

07/04/2026

Thankyou to all those who completed the Friends and Family feedback in March. 1281 patients replied to the questionnaire and we are grateful for your responses.

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

Please find below the opening hours for pharmacies in the local area over the Easter holidays.

01/04/2026

Updates to the NHS App…

The NHS App has had an update and the “services” button has been removed (where you would access the accurx triage/contact us form.) This can now be found via…
Appointments
Book an appointment
Ask about a health problem

01/04/2026

We are currently experiencing delays in dispensing medication.

If you need your prescription before the Easter Weekend, please contact our administration team, and we will do our best to have it ready.

If we are unable to prepare it in time, we will return your prescription to the spine and provide you with the barcode so you can collect it from another pharmacy.

Please only contact us if you need your medical before Tuesday 7th April.

Thank you for your understanding.

26/03/2026

Triage System Update – Week 4

We are now into week 4 of our new Total Triage system. Thank you to everyone who has been using the system so far.

We are aware that there have been some recent availability issues. Our practice team is closely monitoring how the system is working and reviewing appointment capacity on a weekly basis, so that adjustments can be made where needed.

The Total Triage system is designed to ensure that all patients receive care appropriate to their clinical needs, in a timely and safe manner. Appointments are allocated by a GP using a priority system:

🔴 Red appointments – Urgent medical issues requiring same-day assessment. Patients are usually contacted directly by phone.
🟠 Amber appointments – Conditions requiring prompt attention but not immediate emergency care.
🟢 Green appointments – Routine or non-urgent matters that can safely be managed at a later date.

If you are sent a booking link for an amber or green appointment and no slots are available at that time, please try again later. Appointment availability can change throughout the day. We are continuing to review demand and adjust capacity to better meet patient needs.

A quick reminder to help us support everyone fairly:

Please only submit one request per health concern. Sending multiple forms for the same issue or requesting several appointments for the same condition within a short period can reduce availability for others.

Unless you have been advised by a clinician, there is usually no need for more than one appointment for the same problem in the same week.

By avoiding duplicate requests, you are helping us ensure that appointments remain available for patients who need urgent care. Thank you for your understanding.

Respect for our team
We have sadly experienced instances of poor behaviour towards staff, including shouting and swearing. This will not be tolerated. Our team is here to help and deserves to be treated with courtesy and respect at all times.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to improve our service.

20/03/2026

📢 Urgent Notice –

24/7 Medication Collection Machine

Please be aware that due to on‑site maintenance tomorrow, the 24/7 medication collection machine will be unavailable between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and greatly appreciate your understanding while this essential work is carried out.

Thank you.

The Deepings Practice

20/03/2026

Meningitis B Vaccine

Dear patient,

The meningitis B vaccine was brought into routine childhood vaccines from 1st September 2015 onwards. For children born prior to this date they will not have received meningitis B as part of their schedule. There are no current changes to the vaccine schedule advised by public health.

If and when that changes, eligible patients will be contacted.

Prophylactic antibiotics are currently being offered to:

Students at Canterbury campus,
All staff who live in the affected halls of residence,
Anyone who attended Club Chemistry on 5th, 6th and 7th March

Those who have been in close contact of any of the above people.
Please contact UKHSA immediately on the number below, or let us know, if you feel you are a close contact and have not been treated.

If you are a close contact please be alert to symptoms of meningococcal disease and septicaemia (including fever, headache, rash, vomiting, limb pain, cold hands/feet, drowsiness or rapid deterioration) and call 999 or attend A&E immediately.

We are unable to provide vaccination for meningitis B at this time to those not due this as part of their immunisation schedule.

If you have further questions call the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) on 03442252861 and select option 5 (option dedicated to meningitis queries).

Some of the symptoms include:

20/03/2026

If you live with a condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychosis, it is important to look after your physical health as well as your mental health. A yearly physical health check can help find problems early and get you the right support.

During your check, you may be offered simple checks like height, weight, blood pressure, and a blood test. You can also talk about things like smoking, being active, eating well, and how your medicine affects you. You do not have to have any checks you do not want to have.

The appointment is friendly, private, and focused on you. If you are eligible and have not had your physical health check this year, contact the practice to book one. To learn more, visit www.lpft.nhs.uk/smi-annual-health-check

19/03/2026

⚠️ Meningitis: Know the Signs

Watch for symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea or vomiting, confusion, extreme drowsiness, or a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed. If several symptoms appear together, seek urgent medical advice. Early action can save lives.