!!Important Update!!
Our Surgery will be switching to a new online consultation tool called Systmconnect on 30th September 2025. SystmConnect works directly with our clinical system, helping us manage your online requests more efficiently and safely. SystmConnect is easy to use and guides you through a few simple questions to help us direct your request to the right person.
The Online Consultation banner will update when we move to SystmConnect. The old eConsult link will no longer work from that point.
!!Important Update!!
The new weight management ‘Tirzepatide’ medication (brand name Mounjaro®) will be available on the NHS nationally from 23rd June. Although approximately 1000 people in Dorset meet the strict national eligibility criteria, the medication will not be available locally until later this year (expected in Autumn 2025).
✅ Only around 1,000 people in Dorset will qualify under strict national criteria
✅ NHS Dorset are currently building a community-based weight management service to help roll this out based on patient feedback
✅ Please do not contact your GP or local NHS service about this yet, as they are unable to offer access or support for this treatment in Dorset.
More info is available at nhsdorset.nhs.uk/mounjaro
Pharmacy First
- 🤔 Need healthcare advice? Access support and NHS medicines for seven common health conditions directly from your local pharmacy through the Pharmacy First service.
- 💊🤒Your local pharmacist is an expert in medicines and managing minor illnesses. Where additional support is needed, you’ll be directed to your GP or A&E.
- 🔍 Find which of your local pharmacies are offering the new Pharmacy First service on the NHS website: click the link below:
Help Your NHS
In line with NHS England recommendations, NHS Dorset has asked GP teams to stop prescribing medicine and treatment for 35 minor conditions. This allows GPs to focus on caring for people who have more complex needs.
NHS Dorset wants people to have the confidence to look after themselves where they can. This gives people greater control of their health without the need to visit their GP for minor conditions.
Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor health concerns, even if you qualify for free prescriptions. Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community.
The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need.
Click the link below to watch a short video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uH7Ie_hIRuA
The NHS is in Crisis
Help patients access the ‘Right Care, First Time’ This video explains why you don’t always need to see the GP. General practice is facing unprecedented pressure. Demand is exceeding capacity, patients are facing longer delays and abuse in practice is rising as a result.
Littledown Surgery have been awarded “Highly Commended” in the Best GP practice team category.
We are absolutely delighted and extremely proud to receive this award from the Daffodil Standards – partnered with The Royal College of General Practitioners & Marie Curie. GPs and general practice teams from around the UK have been awarded for their contributions to providing excellent end of life care services to their local communities in the first ever Daffodil Standards Awards.
Launched by the UK’s leading end of life charity Marie Curie and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the awards aim to identify and celebrate the best end of life care practice by GPs and practice teams. Nominees were chosen for their hard work and collaboration in implementing The Daffodil Standards, a set of voluntary standards developed by Marie Curie and RCGP to help practices assess and improve the end of life care they provide.
🚭 When you quit smoking, good things start to happen — you can begin to see almost immediate improvements to your health.
It’s much easier to quit when you get the right support and there are lots of options to choose from.
Check out the free tools and tips to help you stay on track from BetterHealthNHS
Diarrhoea and vomiting bugs are unpleasant and short-lived for most, but for some it can have more of an impact. If you have symptoms, stay at home for 48 hours after your symptoms clear & protect those around you. Click below to find out more:
Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the government and NHS England on 31 January 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services.
Across England, 95% of pharmacies have signed up to offer the expanded service which includes treatment for:
- sinusitis
- sore throat
- earache
- infected insect bite
- impetigo
- shingles
- UTI? uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women: if needed, your Pharmacist can now provide some prescription medicine without seeing a GP.
Click below for more information on Pharmacy First:
Pregnancy Vaccines
Get Vaccinated | Get Winter Strong
If you are pregnant, you are eligible for the following vaccinations:Flu
RSV
Whooping Cough
COVID-19 Vaccinations.
Check your eligibility and book now at: nhs.uk/pregnancy-vaccination
University Hospitals Dorset
In recent weeks we have been experiencing a greater demand in our services, which has exceeded our capacity. All our team are doing the best they can under the extreme pressure. We are using additional services to help ease the pressure, and you may be signposted to another service like an Advance Nurse Practitioner, Musculoskeletal Specialist, Health Coach, or a local Pharmacy.
We ask for your continued support and understanding and we are striving to improve our service at every opportunity with the resources we have.
If you have an appointment for a blood test
Please ensure you stay well hydrated before your blood test. Drink plenty of water to keep your veins plumper, more visible and easier to draw blood. This applies to both fasting and non-fasting tests. Thank you
Appointment Information
If you think you need medical help right now, 111 online can tell you what to do next:
Call 111 to speak to someone if you need to:
- discuss complex medical problems
- discuss worries about a long-term condition
- get end-of-life care, or report a death
- report child protection or vulnerable adult concerns
Other ways to contact 111 if you have a hearing problem or need help in other languages
If you need urgent dental care and do not have a dentist, you can use the NHS 111 Service.
Either by phone, calling 111 or online via: https://111.nhs.uk
Cervical Screening
Find more information here: nhs.uk/cervicalscreening/
Please also download the leaflet below:
Care Quality Commission
We are registered with the Care Quality Commission. Click the link below to view our recent inspection: