The Lakes Medical Practice Penrith

21/02/2026

💙💚 SICK NOTES / FIT NOTES 💚💙

Did you know? If you’re absent from work, you do NOT need a sick note (now called a fit note) for 7 days or less!

Here’s a quick guide:

✅ Over 7 days → a fit note is free.
❌ Under 7 days → your GP should not be asked to provide a fit note.
💷 If your employer requests evidence for

20/02/2026

🌻 A Safe Space for Families 🌻

Running every Monday at our Penrith Family Hub is a new wonderful drop in for families to come and speak alongside a therapist-in-training, where you can speak about any topic that is important to you, including (but not limited to!) worries around school, behavioural concerns, etc.

Sessions last up to an hour, for groups of up to four people. Everyone is welcome; children, parents, carers, grandparents & stepparents!

To book your appointment, you can:
📧 Email us at edenfamilyhubs@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
☎ Phone us at 01768 899 901
💬 Drop us a message on Facebook
📍Or just pop into our Penrith Family Hub!

20/02/2026

💚 Repeat Prescriptions 💙
Did you know? You can order your repeat prescriptions 24/7 using your NHS App or NHS Login account.

If you’re unable to order online, it may be for one of the following reasons:

- A medicine review is due with your GP practice.
- It’s too early to order your next supply.
- The item is an acute (short-term) or one-off prescription.
- You’ve already requested it.
- You have a repeat dispensing prescription in place.

Please remember: the online system is for repeat prescriptions only - you cannot reorder new or short-term medications this way.

19/02/2026

19/02/2026

Are you living with a long‑term health condition and looking for a safe, supportive way to get active? Our Supervised Gym Sessions are designed to help you build confidence, improve your wellbeing, and enjoy moving at your own pace.

What we offer:

😊 Support from qualified staff who understand your condition
👋 A relaxed, welcoming environment
📑 Personalised exercise plans to help you reach your goals
🦴 Opportunities to improve strength, balance, and overall health
💬 A chance to meet others on a similar journey

Whether you’re managing arthritis, diabetes, respiratory conditions, heart disease, or other long‑term health challenges - you’re not alone, and we’re here to help.

📅 Sessions running weekly
📍 Kendal Leisure Centre
Tuesdays 12noon-1pm | Wednesdays 2.30pm-3.30pm | Thursdays 9.30am-10.30am

📍 Penrith Leisure Centre

Tuesdays 11am-12noon | Thursdays 11am-12pm

To book or find out more, contact: BetterHealthKendal@gll.org or BetterHealth.Eden@gll.org 📧

Let’s take positive steps together towards better health and confidence. You’ve got this! 💪

18/02/2026

Like many professions, there’s more going on behind the scenes than people see.

In general practice, what happens at the “front door” of the NHS is only part of the picture.

Beneath the surface, GP teams are managing growing demand, increasingly complex care, safeguarding, coordination, follow-ups, digital triage, and multidisciplinary working.

The workload has not just increased in volume - it has evolved in complexity.

Not for sympathy, but for awareness of the growing complexity and the dedicated teams delivering care behind the scenes.

💚💙

18/02/2026

Everyone has a chance of developing dementia, but simple lifestyle changes could help protect your brain and reduce your risk.

Dr Harry Pritchard, Alzheimer’s Society Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, has dedicated his career to studying the link between cardiovascular health and dementia.

In a recent report, he highlights five key lifestyle steps everyone can take to protect their brain:

1. Keep blood pressure under control - High blood pressure strains your arteries, including those in the brain, increasing the risk of long-term damage.

2. Maintain a healthy weight - Obesity raises the chance of diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation, all linked to dementia.

3. Manage blood sugar levels - Poorly controlled diabetes can damage brain blood vessels, allowing toxins to harm nerve cells.

4. Quit smoking - Smoking damages blood vessels and reduces oxygen to the brain, but stopping can reduce risk to near non-smoker levels.

5. Stay physically active - Regular exercise improves heart and blood vessel health, helping deliver blood to the brain and lowering dementia risk by up to 20%.

Dr Pritchard is also a proud member of our Dementia Run Club, part of our AJ Bell and Great Runs partnership, using running to raise awareness and support brain health.

Great North Run
Great Manchester Run
Great South Run
Great Birmingham Run
Great Scottish Run
Great Bristol 10k & Half Marathon

17/02/2026

We’re working hard to reduce waiting times and help more people get the care they need sooner. Thanks to additional support from NHS England, we’re increasing our outpatient activity and offering more appointments between now and the end of March 2026.

This means some patients may be contacted for appointments at short notice. To make this possible, you might be asked to travel to a different site or out of county if it’s convenient for you. Choosing to do so helps us see more patients, speed up treatment, and improve outcomes. This is a temporary arrangement to reduce our waiting lists.

We’re grateful to our teams for their continued hard work and to our communities for their support as we make the most of this opportunity to deliver faster, safer care.

16/02/2026

It’s been a little while since we shared this - so as we head into a new week, here’s a quick reminder of the Choose Wisely message.

We know most of you use services appropriately, but it’s something worth revisiting. Using the right service helps make sure patients are prioritised based on clinical urgency - and keeps care available for those who need it most.

🏥 Not every health concern needs A&E

When you’re unwell or unsure, knowing where to go can help you get the right treatment faster and protect emergency services for genuine emergencies.

Here’s a quick guide:

🏠 Self-care
Minor cuts, coughs, colds, sore throats, aches and pains can often be managed at home with rest and over-the-counter medicines.

💊 Pharmacy
Expert advice and treatment for common illnesses - no appointment needed.

🩺 Your GP Practice
Persistent, ongoing or complex health concerns, long-term conditions, or symptoms not improving.

📞 NHS 111
If you’re unsure what to do or need urgent advice that isn’t life-threatening. Available 24/7 online or by calling 111.

🏥 Urgent Treatment Centres
For minor injuries such as small fractures, burns, deep cuts and sprains.

🦷 Dental
For urgent dental issues, call 111.

🧠 Mental Health
In crisis? Call NHS 111, Option 2 (24/7).
Immediate danger? Call 999 or go to A&E.
Need emotional support? Samaritans 116 123.

🚨 Call 999 or go to A&E
For serious or life-threatening emergencies such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, major trauma or severe bleeding.

Right care. Right place. Right time.
Let’s help keep services available for those who need them most. 💚💙

15/02/2026

Make sure the kids are alright this February half-term!

We're still in the midst of the colder season. It's important to know how to spot the signs of viral illnesses and how you can ease the symptoms for your child at home.

Symptoms may include:
• Tiredness
• Reduced appetite
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• High Temperature

These viral illnesses may last for a few days you should:
• Keep the child well hydrated, offer lots of drinks
• If appropriate give paracetamol or Ibuprofen

If you would like some more advice use your local pharmacist for quick advice or contact NHS 111 if you're unsure where to go.

You can keep an eye on live A&E and Urgent Treatment Centre waiting times on our website: ncic.nhs.uk/locations/emergency-care-hub

14/02/2026

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Why should your heart age,
Matter to you? ❤️

If your heart age is older than your actual age, you could be at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Check your heart age here.
➡️ https://nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-heart-age

13/02/2026

📸 Calling local farmers!

We’re organising a professional photoshoot on 24th February and are looking for local farmers, especially in the south of the county, who are free and willing to get involved.

Locations will be a farm near Gummer’s How (close to Fell Foot) & and a field in Underbarrow.

We’re looking for a range of ages — young to older — and both men and women to appear in our online content, printed materials, and training footage as part of our su***de prevention work.

Travel expenses will be paid.

If you’re available and happy to be involved (or know someone who might be), please comment below or send a message to info@every-life-matters.org.uk

Please share.
Thank you 💜