April Newsletter 2026

This newsletter is here to keep you informed about what is happening at the practice – from health tips and service updates, changes at the surgery or ways to get involved.

This newsletter is designed to highlight matters of interest to our patients, including seasonal health advice, new services and opportunities to give feedback or join our patient participation group. We hope you find it useful and enjoy reading it!

Flourish Open day 2026

Flourish is a gardening project for those who are struggling with their mental health and are feeling lonely or socially isolated as a result. It’s a hands-on project, producing mainly fruit and vegetables. Many of the gardeners who attend value the project as a place where they can just come and sit to enjoy being outside in a beautiful natural environment.

Sue, a member of our PPG, visited the Flourish open day and wrote about her experience:

“We visited Flourish in Southwood Road, Rusthall, for their Annual Open Day. We arrived in the early afternoon, spying a laden cake table which looked inviting, but first we had a tour of the grounds given by two students who attend the garden on 1 or 2 days per week. Whilst a GP referral would usually be for a short time, one student had been there for over a year or more, and one of them had encouragingly found part-time employment. Usually, there is a daily team of 8 people at the centre, but each day you will see a different set of people who benefit from learning to garden.

We met team leader Keith, whose passion for the project shone throughout, making this a thriving community that supports and helps to improve mental well-being, allowing the students to gain a sense of achievement and purpose.

Heatwave: How to cope in hot weather

The main risks posed by a heatwave are:

• Not drinking enough water
• Overheating, which particularly affects those with a heart or breathing problem
• Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Tips for coping the with hot weather;

• Keep out the heat if you can. Particularly between 11am and 3pm
• Wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes
• Cool yourself down with cold food and drinks. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks. Take cool showers
• Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside drops. Keep blinds and curtains closed to block sunlight.
• Electric fans or air-conditioning units can be used to cool your living space

If you or someone else feels unwell with a high temperature during hot weather, it may be heat exhaustion or heat stroke

Find out about the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and when to get help.

Vaccinations: Travel and University

Travel

Travel vaccinations protect you from serious illnesses usually found in other countries.

Further information on when and where to get travel vaccinations as well as Free NHS vaccines and vaccines you need to pay for.

University Essential Vaccines:

• MenACWY (Meningococcal ACWY)
  • Protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y.
  • Strongly recommended for first-year students, particularly those living in halls of residence.
  • Eligible individuals up to age 25 who missed the school programme can usually receive it through their GP.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
  • Ensure two documented doses have been received.
  • Important due to periodic outbreaks of measles and mumps in university settings.
• Td/IPV Booster (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio)
  • Most people should have received a total of five doses during childhood.
  • Check immunisation history if uncertain.

Staying Healthy in Older Age

At a recent PPG meeting, we welcomed Sarah, a fitness specialist who works with older adults and community groups.

Her top tips for staying healthy:

• Have a healthy diet.
• Stay active and take exercise regularly - For example:
  • Walking
  • Home workouts
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
  • Joining a fitness group
• Keep up with hobbies and interests
• Stay socially active by meeting up with friends and joining group activities
• Good sleep patterns are also important for physical and mental well-being
• Have regular health checks, including for hearing and vision.

We hope to share some of Sarah’s exercise videos on our website and social media soon.

Green Impact for Health Toolkit

We are always looking for way to make the practice more sustainable. We are proud to be a part of the Green Impact for Health Toolkit, actively working to reduce our carbon footprint.

Healthcare in the UK accounts for 4–5% of national carbon emissions—and the climate emergency is a health emergency. We are committed to delivering excellent care today without compromising the health of future generations.

We have already taken measure to reduce our carbon footprint such as getting solar panels installed on the building, optimising greenspaces and focusing on education for staff.

Parking Reminder

Our carpark is for the use of patient’s only and only if you have an appointment. The carpark is first come, first served and is shared with the other clinics in the building; therefore, we cannot guarantee there will be space. You should arrive at the surgery in good time to allow time for parking and checking in prior to your appointment. Once your appointment is finished, please remove your car promptly to make space for others

Other parking options are nearby side roads and the main carparks in town. Please consider walking and taking public transport if possible.

Join the PPG

Would you like to have a say in how the practice runs and help shape future services? Join our Patient Participation Group (PPG)!

The PPG is a group of patients who meet regularly with practice staff to share feedback, suggest improvements, and support patient involvement.

You don’t need any special experience—just an interest in helping your local surgery and being a voice for fellow patients.

Sign Up Now

Published: Jul 1, 2026