31/12/2025
Stow Surgery: Our Activity During 2025
During 2025, the team at Stow Surgery worked hard to provide safe, timely, and effective care for our patients. Below is a snapshot of the activity delivered by the practice over the year:
1. We provided 21,564 appointments, with three-quarters (75%) taking place face to face, ensuring patients could be seen in person when needed.
2. We issued 28,200 prescriptions, supporting patients with both short-term treatments and long-term conditions.
3. We completed 240 Fit Notes (previously known as sick notes) to support patients with work-related health needs.
4. We made 2,040 referrals for specialist treatment or further investigations, helping patients access the right care beyond general practice.
5. We processed 14,988 incoming clinical letters from hospitals and other healthcare providers, ensuring patient records were kept up to date and actions were taken promptly.
6. We reviewed and acted on 26,500 test results, following up patients where needed.
7. We delivered 2,574 vaccinations (excluding COVID-19 vaccinations), helping to protect our community against preventable illness.
This activity reflects the commitment of our clinical, administrative, and support teams, who continue to work under significant pressure to meet patient needs. We remain focused on improving access, maintaining high standards of care, and supporting the health and wellbeing of our local community.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we move into 2026, we are focusing on areas where we know we can make further improvements for our patients.
1. Reducing missed appointments
In 2025, 708 appointments were missed. Missed appointments reduce availability for other patients and increase pressure on services. During 2026, we will continue to promote timely cancellation, make better use of reminders and review our booking processes to help ensure appointments are used effectively.
2. Increasing cervical screening uptake
We want to improve participation in cervical screening, which plays a vital role in preventing cervical cancer. We will focus on clearer communication, flexible appointment options and targeted invitations to encourage more eligible patients to attend.
3. Improving care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)
In 2026, we will continue to improve identification, monitoring, and treatment for patients with CKD
4. Encouraging earlier presentation for suspected cancer
Early detection saves lives. We will continue to encourage patients to contact us promptly if they notice concerning or persistent symptoms, so that appropriate assessments and referrals can be made as early as possible.
5. Improving the balance between urgent and routine appointments
We aim to improve how appointments are used, ensuring urgent problems are dealt with quickly while routine care is planned and delivered more efficiently. This will help improve access, continuity, and fairness for all patients.
6. Improving signposting to the right healthcare professional
Our local healthcare team includes a range of healthcare professionals with different skills, experience, training, and qualifications. During 2026, we will continue to improve how patients are directed to the most appropriate member of the team for their needs, helping them receive the right care, at the right time, from the right professional.
We are grateful for the ongoing support, understanding, and feedback from our patients as we continue to adapt and improve our services in response to changing demand and healthcare pressures.
