Whalley Surgery

18/11/2025

Why should you download the NHS App?

◾️Convenient access to healthcare services
- Book GP appointments, request repeat prescriptions directly from your smartphone.
- No need to wait on hold or visit the practice for routine tasks - everything is available at your fingertips.

◾️Improved communication with your practice
- Receive instant notifications about your appointment confirmations, changes or cancellations.
- Get important health updates and reminders without relying on letters or phone calls.

◾️Stay organised and reduce missed appointments
- Automatic reminders help you to keep track of upcoming appointments.
- Easily reschedule if something changes, reducing missed visits and improving continuity of care.

◾️Secure access to your health information
- View your test results, medical records and care plans safely and quickly.
- Make informed decisions about health without waiting for paperwork.

◾️24/7 availability and peace of mind
- Access your healthcare information anytime, anywhere - even outside practice hours.
- Perfect for busy schedules or those who prefer managing their health digitally.

◾️Safe and easy to use
- The uses NHS approved security standards to protect your personal information.
- Simple design makes it easy for everyone to navigate, even if your not tech-savvy.

17/11/2025

‼️SCAM ALERT ‼️

We have recently been warned about a scam in which fraudsters are targeting patients by impersonating the NHS automated phone calls. The calls, which appear to come from a UK mobile number, claim that patients must update their GP records, over the phone or risk being removed from the Practice list.
Please note that these calls are NOT genuine and your GP Practice or the NHS would never contact patients by phone to demand updates to their records, threaten removal from a GP list, or request personal or financial information.

14/11/2025

14/11/2025

October missed appointments

Whilst we understand that there may be some instances where you are no longer able to attend your appointment, we ask that you inform the practice as soon as possible, by either telephoning our reception team or via the NHS App.

By cancelling or rearranging your appointment, it means that we can offer your appointment to another patient.

12/11/2025

Please note that both surgeries will be closed tomorrow afternoon, for essential staff training.

If you require medical assistance, please contact 111. In the event of a life-threatening or urgent medical emergency, please contact 999.

11/11/2025

Remembering Armistice Day

Today marks 107 years since the end of World War 1 on the 11th November 1918.

Like many others we pause to honour the brave men and women who have served - and those who continue to serve!

10/11/2025

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a long-term condition where part of your gut becomes inflamed. It cannot currently be cured, but there are treatments that can help prevent or manage the symptoms.

Symptoms:
▪️Diarrhoea
▪️Blood or mucus in your poo
▪️Stomach pain
▪️Pain in your bottom (a**s)
▪️Feeling very tired or generally unwell
▪️Loss of appetite and loosing weight
▪️In children, not growing as expected, or delayed puberty.
The symptoms can be mild or severe. They usually come and go over time, called flare-ups and remissions.

Getting a diagnosis:
If a GP thinks you could have Crohn's disease, they may arrange blood tests and tests on a sample of your poo. You will need to be referred to a specialist in Hospital for more tests to confirm the diagnosis and to start treatment.
Hospital tests you may have include:
▪️Colonoscopy
▪️Endoscopy
▪️Gastroscopy
▪️Taking a small sample of tissue from your gut (biopsy)
▪️Scans such as: MRI, CT or Ultrasound.

Medicines for Crohn's disease:
Treatments to prevent or treat flare-ups include:
▪️Medicines to reduce inflammation in your guy, such as steroids, mesalazine or sulfasalazine.
▪️Medicines to reduce the activity of your immune system (immunosuppressants), such as azathioprine or metcaptopurine.
▪️Medicines that target your immune system (biological therapy) such as, adalimumab or infliximab.
▪️Medicines to help with symptoms, such as painkillers, laxatives or medicines to stop diarrhoea.

07/11/2025

Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet

As we head into winter, people become more likely to pick up common illnesses such as colds and flu and therefore it is important to be prepared.
There are several items that you can stock up on to help you be prepared this winter such as:
💊Paracetamol
💊Ibuprofen
💊Cold remedies and cough syrups
💊First aid kit
💊Indigestion and diarrhoea treatments

If you are unsure on what medication to include within your medicine cabinet, you can speak to your local pharmacy who will help you pick the most appropriate medication.

05/11/2025

🫁Lung Cancer awareness month 🫁

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer and more than 43,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year!

There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer, but many people with the condition eventually develop symptoms including:
▪️A persistent cough
▪️Coughing up blood
▪️Persistent breathlessness
▪️Unexpected tiredness and weight loss
▪️An ache or pain when breathing or coughing

Who's effected?
Lung cancer mainly affects older people. It is rare in people younger than 40. More than 4 out of 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK are aged 75 and older.
Although people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer, smoking is the most common cause (accounting to more than 70 out of 100 cases). This is because smoking involves regularly inhaling a number of different toxic substances.

Prevention
▪️If you smoke, the best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking as soon as possible. However long you have been smoking, it is always worth quitting. Every year you do not smoke decreases your risk of getting serious illnesses such as lung cancer.

▪️Research suggests that eating a low-fat, high fibre diet, including at least 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetable and plenty of wholegrains, can reduce your risk of lung cancer, as well as other types of cancer and heart disease.

▪️There is some evidence to show that regular exercise may lower the risk of getting lung cancer, particularly in people who smoke or used to smoke. It is recommended that most adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.

04/11/2025

We are delighted to share that our autumn raffle winner was pleased to receive our lovely hamper!

We would also like to that this opportunity to thank everyone who has very kindly donated to our raffle! Your donations are essential for helping the East Lancashire Hospice fund the amazing work that they do, to support patients nearing the end of their life and their families, through what is a very difficult and challenging time.

03/11/2025

💥Staying safe this bonfire night💥

As we approach bonfire night, we thought we should share some usual tips and trick for staying safe and treating burns.

Bonfire safety:
🔥Where possible, attend organised events rather than having your own bonfire or firework displays. Organised displays are preformed by experienced professionals - resulting in less home injuries and burns.
🔥Instructions matters - read the firework instructions carefully and stick to the advice given.
🔥Once the firework is lit, don't return to it. Prioritise safety over spectacle.
🔥Stay sober - Alcohol and fireworks are a risky mix. Keep drinks on hold until after the sparks settle.
🔥Child friendly zones - For younger children, consider watching the fireworks indoors, where they're safe and comfortable.

Burn basics: Act fast with 'cool, call and cover'
Despite the best intentions, accidents can happen. Knowing how to respond to burns or scalds makes a massive difference. Here's a quick guide:

Cool - Run cool tap water over the burn for at least 20 minutes, removing clothes or jewellery (unless stuck to the skin).
Call - Reach out to NHS 111 or your GP for initial guidance. In severe cases call 999 immediately.
Cover - Cover the burn loosely with cling film or a sterile, non fluffy dressing.

31/10/2025

🎅🎄Its never to early to mention Christmas, right?🎅🎄

Our wonderful receptionist Diane has been getting creative and has made a Christmas advent calendar from recycled boxes and filled them with lots of sweet treats (Haribo packs, fruit moams and chocolate lollies) for our next raffle prize.

Ticket prices
50p per ticket or £2 a strip!

How to get involved?
Call into the surgery and make your donation via cash or alternatively you can gift your donation through our Just giving page, using the below link:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sabdenandwhalleymedicalgroup?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

All donations will gifted in full to the East Lancashire Hospice