News

SURGERY & DISPENSARY CLOSURES

Patient Contact Details

Have you changed your landline, mobile or email address recently?

Please help us by making sure we have your most up-to-date contact details. Letting us know when your details change helps us take better care of you. We’ll be sending a text message to all patients shortly to check that our records are up to date.

Dorchester Carers Nook - A Space for Those Who Care

Are you a carer in Dorchester? The Dorchester Carers Nook is here to support you. Created with carers, for carers, this monthly drop-in offers a warm welcome, practical advice, and the chance to connect with others who understand the challenges and rewards of caring.

The Carers Nook is relaunching from 14th January 2026. Some months will feature a themed session, offering helpful ideas and gentle activities focused on carers' wellbeing. February will be getting outdoors and May will be fitness at home.

When and where?

• Every 2nd Wednesday of the month
• 10:00am – 12:00pm
• Dorchester Connect Day Centre

👉 For more information, please visit: https://mid-dorsetpcn.co.uk/dorchester-carers-nook 

Kooth

Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online wellbeing service for children and young people. On Kooth, young people can access:

• One-to-one professional help - Young people can chat with trained counsellors and mental health practitioners about anything on their minds.
• Self-guided learning - Youth-focused, clinically validated and moderated content. Young people can join communities of like-minded people to 
  share feelings and offer support.
• Magazine - The Kooth magazine brings together personal stories, tips, and relevant news from young people and the Kooth team.
• A safe space - Young people can explore feelings through journaling, set personal goals, track progress, and try therapeutic mini-activities whenever needed.

No waiting lists or referral needed. Sign up for free at www.kooth.com 

London Marathon 2026

Increase in Flu Cases

Due to an increase in flu cases, we would encourage mask wearing for flu-like symptoms to protect our staff and vulnerable patients. Please also use the hand sanitizer on arrival. Thank you for your co-operation.

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If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help you to get better more quickly.

Look after yourself: Rest and sleep. Keep warm. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature, and treat aches and pains. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Reduce the spread: Wash your hands often with warm water and soap. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or if you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.

Ask for help: A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies. If you are worried about your symptoms, or you are not getting better, call 111 or get help from 111 online.

For more details go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu

Urgent Dental Treatment

Contact Us Online

We’ve changed from eConsult to SystmConnect.

For queries or help regarding an existing medical condition or admin requests, please can we ask that you complete a SystmConnect form online as the GP’s do not take questions via our surgery email address. This would also include requests for sick notes.

To access the service, please click on the button on the front page of our website called "Contact Us Online". It works the same way as before – just fill in the form as you used to.

You don’t need online access to use it; we’ll match your form to your medical records. However, you can access the form through SystmOnline or the NHS app if you would prefer. We aim to reply within 2 working days.

Please note: This service is not for urgent issues or new medical problems. If you think you need a face-to-face appointment, the fastest way is to call the surgery.

DNA (Did Not Attend) Appointments

Between May 2025 and August 2025, 195 patients did not attend their appointments, equalling a total of 50 hours of clinical time wasted.

• NURSE time wasted: 23 hours 30 minutes = Equivalent of 141 blood tests; or 47 asthma/COPD reviews; or 47 baby immunisations; or 71 cervical smear tests lost
• GP time wasted: 18 hours 15 minutes = 73 GP appointments lost
• HCA time wasted: 5 hours 15 minutes = Equivalent of 32 blood test appointments lost
• PHYSIO time wasted: 3 hours = 9 Physio appointments lost

Some of these appointments are up to 40 minutes long, so missing your appointment or forgetting to cancel means we waste valuable clinic time. For ONE missed Long Term Condition Review appointment, THREE people could have had blood test appointments, so it's important not to waste these slots.

If you can’t attend an appointment, please can we ask that you cancel it at least an hour before so someone else can receive the care they need. This can be done either over the phone or by replying CANCEL to your text reminder.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter - It could make a huge difference to another patient.

Surgery Facebook Page

Our surgery Facebook page (@miltonabbassurgery) is a great way to stay up to date with surgery news, closures, and helpful information to support you and your family’s health and wellbeing.

If you'd like to learn more about using it, why not book a session with one of the Digital Champions sessions run by Dorset Council? 

Digital Champions at Dorset Council are a group of friendly and patient volunteers who are good at explaining computers, without using jargon. They can help you to:

• set up and using devices including mobile phones, tablets and computers
• get online and show you how to do home shopping
• access digital NHS services like the NHS app or SystmOnline to be able to book appointments, view test results and consultation notes

Dorset Council run Digital Champion sessions in Blandford Library on Tuesdays from 10am till 12.25pm, and every other Friday 10.30am till 12noon. To book a session please call 01305 221048.