Autumn 2026 Newsletter

Home blood pressure monitoring

If our records show that your blood pressure is raised, you may be asked to provide the surgery with a week’s worth of home blood pressure readings. We request these readings so we can get a more accurate representation of how elevated your blood pressure may be, and they can help us to decide if we need to increase, alter or start you on some medication to help you manage better.

If you are aged 79 or under, the target for home blood pressure readings is generally below 135/85. This target rises to below 145/85 when you reach the age of 80.

When asked to complete a 7 day diary, please be aware you must fully complete the form and ensure you include the systolic, diastolic and pulse readings to allow our clinical team to review your readings accurately.

In the event of the surgery requesting some readings but you not having a machine at home, please be advised that we have some monitors at our Easton Surgery which you may borrow for a £20 cash refundable deposit.

If you ever feel concerned about your blood pressure and would like to check it but do not have a monitor at home, we have a machine available at the Easton Surgery. If you are not nearby, then please be advised that most pharmacies offer this service too.

Although there are no definite symptoms of high blood pressure and the only way to know is by getting it checked, some symptoms to be aware of are persistent headaches, blurred vision and chest pain.

Practice closure notice - Wednesday 9 September 2026

Please be advised that the practice will be closed on Wednesday 9 September until approximately 11am.

This is due to an essential power outage while electrical works are carried out. The electricity supply to the building will be unavailable for up to two hours, and we are unable to open the practice until it is safe to do so. We expect to reopen at around 11am, although this may be subject to the completion of the works and restoration of the power supply.

If you require urgent medical assistance while the practice is closed, please contact NHS 111. In a medical emergency, where there is an immediate threat to life, please call 999.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding and patience while these essential works are completed.

Fit notes explained

Fit notes (also known as sick notes or Med 3 certificates) are issued to you for your employer by a healthcare professional who has assessed you and determined that you are not fit for work. The NHS states that you might need a fit note if you're unwell and cannot work for more than 7 days, including weekends and bank holidays.

To obtain a fit note, you must self-certify for the first 7 days of your illness. If, after completing your self-certification, you still do not feel well enough to return to work, you can request a fit note by phoning the surgery, submitting a request via our website, or visiting the surgery and making a request in person.

Please be aware that we can only issue fit notes from the date they are due to start. We require up to 72 hours to process your request and once your request has been actioned, you should receive your fit note by text message or email.

If you require a paper copy, please only request this once you have received your fit note online, to ensure that it has been completed. Please also note that the maximum period for which we can issue a fit note is 3 months. If you require a fit note for longer than this, this will need to be covered by several separate fit notes.

If you feel well enough to return to work before your fit note expires, we ask that you please contact the surgery so we can get the end date changed accordingly.

Book your flu and COVID-19 vaccination this autumn

Our autumn vaccination clinics are now open, and we'll be inviting eligible patients to protect themselves against flu and COVID-19 ahead of the winter season.

Clinic dates

• Wednesday 16 September
  • Children aged 2 and 3 years.
  • Please note your child must have turned 2 before 1 September to be eligible, unless they are in an at-risk group.
• Saturday 3 October
• Saturday 17 October
  • Patients eligible for the autumn flu and / or COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Invitations will be sent directly to everyone who is eligible within these groups. Please keep an eye on your text messages, emails, or letters and book your appointment as soon as you receive your invitation.

Important: new consent requirements

There are new national requirements for this year's vaccination programme.

Before your vaccination can be given, consent must be completed in advance. Once you have your appointment booked, we will contact you to gain your consent. Completing your vaccine consent form before attending your clinic will help to ensure your appointment runs smoothly and will reduce waiting times for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our autumn vaccination clinics and helping to keep you protected this winter.

World Mental Health Day

As autumn approaches and the days become shorter, it's important to look after your mental wellbeing. Staying active, keeping connected with friends and family, getting outside during daylight hours and maintaining a regular sleep routine can all help.

If you feel you are struggling, please contact the surgery and we can get you in contact with mental health professionals.

If you feel you need urgent support, please contact one of the following:

• The Samaritans 24/7: 116 123
• Connection 24/7: call 111 and select "mental health" or call 0800 652 0190
• Shout: text the word SHOUT to 85258
   

Published: Sep 1, 2026