Practice and Patient Participation Group Newsletter June 2026

Summer is here and it’s important to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water.

If you do go out in the sun, remember to apply suncream and keep reapplying it.

If you suffer from hay fever and don’t feel that the medication is working, have a chat with your pharmacist about other options to help you. Wear sunglasses and try putting some Vaseline around your nostrils to trap the pollen.

If you are planning to travel abroad, check the Travel Pro website for information about any vaccinations that you might need. The practice has a limited number of travel appointments each month, but we are not always able to meet demand so please consider a local travel clinic such as Day Lewis Pharmacy on Great Western Park if you are looking to travel soon.

Pharmacy First

The government has invested in pharmacy support to reduce pressure on GP Surgeries.

You can now see a pharmacist and have medication prescribed for the following conditions:

• Ear infections in 1 year olds to up to 17 years
• Impetigo in 1 year old and over
• Infected insect bites in 1 year old and over
•  Sore throat in 5 years and over
• Sinusitis in 12 years and over
• Shingles in 18 years and over
• Simple UTI in Women 16-64 years
• Ring Worm

Education at Woodlands

The practice has recently held two very successful education talks at the Civic Hall and it was great to see so many people there.

• Dying Matters with Dr Lucy Wilson covering “Do not resuscitate” plans, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Pre-Diabetes with Dr Ginika Lazz on understanding cholesterol, blood pressure, healthy eating and avoiding Diabetes

We are preparing summaries from each of these presentations which will be available on the Practice website and also to pick up at the Surgery. Please get in touch if you would like one sent to you by email.

If you have any suggestions on future patient education topics, please let us know.

Staffing Update

We have appointed two new doctors at the practice who will start in August. Dr Kajal Dhesi and Dr Sarah Lee both completed their training at Woodlands and it’s great that they have agreed to stay with us. Dr Tamara Cunningham retired at the end of April and Dr Dewhurst will be leaving at the end of September due to relocating with her family. Drs Dhesi and Lee will replace them but also provide some capacity for new registrations for patients moving into the area.

Great Western Park

A new developer has been appointed called Apsley Henley Med Limited. The original design team has come on board with the new developer, so planning is already well advanced and we are moving into the second stage of room planning with more detailed plans being drawn up. The development is currently still on track to start construction on 1st April 2027 and the building should be completed by November 2028. We are feeling optimistic. Dr Alex Hart is leading the work on the new development on behalf of the practice.

Published: Jun 19, 2026