October Patient Newsletter

Welcome to our Patient Newsletter

This newsletter is here to keep you informed about what’s 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!

What’s included in this edition

  • Guidance on available vaccinations
  • Child Vaccination Timeline
  • Join our PPG
 

Guidance on vaccinations available

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

Highly contagious respiratory infection. Leads to severe coughing fits that can last for weeks or months. Especially dangerous in infants and young children.

Symptoms

  • Long coughing fits that are hard to stop
  • Whooping sound when breathing in (not always present)
  • Vomiting after coughing
  • Exhaustion and difficulty breathing
  • In babies symptoms can be less obvious but can stop breathing or turn blue

Who is eligible for vaccination?

  • Pregnant women (to protect newborn after birth) – eligible after 16 weeks pregnant
  • Babies and young children – included in primary vaccinations (8, 12 and 16 weeks) and pre-school boosters (3 years and 4 months)
  • Contact of pertussis from 10 years of age if vaccination is recommended by Public Health England

Learn more about Whooping cough on the NHS website

Find advice for whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

Chicken pox (Varicella)

A common childhood illness that causes an itchy, spotty rash.

Symptoms

  • Red, itchy spots that turn into blisters
  • Feeling tired or unless
  • Mild fever

The chicken pox vaccination is not yet part of the routine NHS childhood vaccination schedule. It can be sourced privately or is sometimes offered to people who are a close contact with someone at high risk e.g. family household contact with someone with a weakened immune system.

Learn more about Chicken pox on the NHS website

Meningitis ACWY

Protects against 4 different types of Meningitis causing bacteria, A, C, W and Y. Can cause life-threating illnesses such as Meningitis and sepsis.

Symptoms

  • Sudden high fever
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Cold hands and feet, pale or blotchy skin
  • Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
  • In some cases – rash of purple spots or bruises

Who is eligible for vaccination?

  • Teenagers in school – offered in year 9 and given at school
  • Young people up to the age of 25 if they missed it at school – especially if going to university 
  • Close contact of a confirmed case of Meningitis ACWY who has not received a Meningitis ACWY vaccination within the past 12 months

Learn more about Meningitis ACWY on the NHS website

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

Protects against 3 common but serious illnesses, Measles, Mumps and Rubella.

Symptoms

  • Measles – high fever, cough, runny nose, red eye and red rash that spreads all over the body
  • Mumps – swelling and pain around the jaw and cheeks, heacache
  • Rubella – mild fever, rash and swollen glands

Who is eligible for vaccination?

  • Children as part of the routine NHS vaccination schedule
    • Born before 1st July 2024 – doses at 1 year and 3 years and 4 months
    • Born on or after 1st July 2024  - doses at 1 year and 18 months
  • Anyone who missed their MMR vaccination as a child

Learn more about MMR Vaccine on the NHS website

Your child's vaccine schedule

It's important that vaccines are given on time for the best protection, but if you or your child missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

Learn about the NHS Vaccinations and when to have them

 

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.

If you would like to apply, please complete this form

 

Meet the Team

Meet Louise Simmons - Lead Secretary: “I am a medical secretary and have been here for 8 and a half years now. I started as an apprentice at Rowan Tree Surgery covering for someone who was on maternity leave. I was then offered a permanent position as a medical secretary. We then merged with Clanricarde Medical Centre and I spent some time being an administrator/QOF lead. I am now back to being a full time secretary.

Fun fact: I go to the gym often and love the classes! I have completed 48 parkruns at Dunorlan Park”

Meet Ben Lanzon-Bartolo - Advanced Clinical Practitioner: “Originally from Malta, I relocated to the United Kingdom in 2016, marking a significant step in my nursing career. My journey began with a Diploma in Nursing Studies, which I was thrilled to complete alongside my mother and my husband, Shaun. My first professional role was as a Staff Nurse on an orthopaedic ward in Malta, where I gained two years of foundational experience.

Upon moving to the UK, I immediately began working in acute medicine and a High Dependency Unit, simultaneously undertaking the conversion of my diploma into a BSc (Hons) in Nursing. I’ve always been drawn to autonomous practice and had my sights set on a clinician role—an ambition that felt out of reach in Malta. To build my knowledge, I would actively seek to shadow doctors and Allied Health Professionals during ward rounds, immerse myself in patient notes, research unfamiliar medical conditions, and listen to medical podcasts in my own time.

This dedication led to a bold career transition: taking on a Trainee Nurse Practitioner role in the community. The focus here was preventative care, managing patients outside of the hospital setting, which was a challenging and highly autonomous area of practice. Whilst working full-time, I embarked on the MSc programme for Advanced Clinical Practice. This intensive pathway included a clinical reasoning and examination course, followed by a prescribing course, culminating in the full MSc from Middlesex University.

Eager to further expand my scope of practice, General Practice felt like the natural progression. I initially moved to a GP surgery in London, and following a relocation, I've now been working at The Wells for the last three years. The environment is incredibly supportive, and I benefit from regular clinical supervision every two weeks. I strongly believe in the continuous updating of medical knowledge, research, and clinical experience, hence I regularly attend courses and updates. My most recent course was in frailty management, an area I hold close to my heart due to my previous acute and community work 

Fun Fact: When I am not in surgery, I love being creative in the kitchen. My husband and I enjoy taking long walks with our eight-year-old Italian Greyhound. As a massive foodie, I adore trying new restaurants and cuisines all across the country. I also have a great passion for travelling and exploring new places whenever I get the chance.”

See the rest of the team on our Meet the Team page

Published: Oct 8, 2025