Merepark Medical Centre

21/08/2026

✨ A very proud moment for Merepark
Medical Centre ✨

Today we were incredibly proud to receive the
NHS Prevention Pledge Award for NHS
Cheshire and Merseyside (Primary Care) and to be the first Primary Care General Practice to receive this recognition.

This award means so much because prevention isn't something one person delivers. It's about a whole team sharing a commitment to improving health, reducing inequalities, creating social value and supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff, patients and wider community.

A huge thank you to my amazing team and to Charlotte Jones who leads on the project, for the passion, commitment and hard work you put into making prevention pledge part of what we do everyday.

A special thank you to Matthew Philpott for presenting us with the plaque and recognising the work we have been doing.
It's a wonderful reminder that when we work together, small changes can create meaningful impact.

Prevention matters.
Partnership matters.
And people matter.

20/08/2026

Polite Reminder - Water Safety

03/08/2026

Every August, Psoriasis Awareness Month aims to raise understanding about this common but often misunderstood skin condition — affecting over 2 million people in the UK.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the skin to become red, flaky, and scaly. It can appear anywhere on the body and varies widely from person to person — from small patches to more widespread symptoms. While it isn’t contagious, it can significantly affect confidence, comfort, and mental wellbeing.

What Are the Symptoms?
* Raised, inflamed patches of skin (often with silver scales)
* Itching, burning, or soreness in affected areas
* Commonly appears on the elbows, knees, scalp, or lower back
* In some cases, joint pain (linked to psoriatic arthritis)

If you’re struggling with flare-ups or feel your current treatment isn’t working, please speak to a GP or nurse.

01/08/2026

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1st to 7th August, and this year's theme is “Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works."
The campaign focuses on evaluating proven support systems, tracking infant nutrition progress, and reducing poverty
Why Breastfeeding Matters:
* Provides ideal nutrition and antibodies to support a baby’s development
* Lowers the risk of infections, asthma, obesity, and certain illnesses
* Supports bonding between parent and baby
* Reduces risk of breast and ovarian cancers in mothers

For breastfeeding support, you can utilize local NHS resources and charities like the NCT (National Childbirth Trust).
The National Breastfeeding Helpline (0300 100 0212) offers 24/7 support.
You can also find local breastfeeding groups through the NHS website's service search

14/07/2026

Alsager Health and Wellbeing Event

14/07/2026

08/07/2026

Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programme

Access it here:
https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/Meningococcal%20B%20(MenB)%20vaccination%20programme/1334DEN001

06/07/2026

Alcohol Awareness Week is a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more.
The next Alcohol Awareness Week takes place from 6-12 July 2026 on the theme of 'Alcohol and me'.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular support groups.

Speak to your doctor about your worries, and your plan to address your drinking.
Tell supportive family and friends. If they know that you're trying to change your drinking habits, they will be more likely to encourage and support you.

06/07/2026

Group B Strep Support Awareness Month

Group B Strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK. It causes sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia. In the UK:
* 2 babies a day develop group B Strep infection
* 1 baby a week dies from group B Strep infection
* 1 baby a week recovers from group B Strep infection with disability
Despite this, we know many new and expectant parents struggle to find the information they want on group B Strep. Here we give a brief overview of group B Strep, what it can mean in pregnancy and after a baby is born.

What is group B Strep?
Group B Strep is a bacterium which lives normally and naturally in and on humans without causing harm or symptoms. This is often described as ‘carrying’ or ‘being colonised’ with group B Strep.
About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry group B Strep bacteria without any symptoms. This is perfectly normal: carrying group B Strep isn’t a sign of poor hygiene and it is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Carrying group B Strep isn’t harmful to an adult, but it can affect newborn babies around labour and birth. It’s possible for group B Strep to affect the baby during pregnancy, but this is very rare.

If you have questions about Group B Strep (GBS), your midwife, GP (general practitioner), or obstetrician are your primary points of contact. They can discuss your risk factors, explain testing options, and outline a plan for antibiotics during labor if necessary.

Leaflets available at reception

01/07/2026

This month is ‘Hyperpigmentation/Melasma Awareness’.

Melasma, also called ‘chloasma’ and ‘pregnancy mask’, is a common skin condition of adults in which brown or greyish patches of pigmentation (colour) develop, usually on the face.

Melasma usually becomes more noticeable in the summer and improves during the winter months. It is not an infection; therefore, it is not contagious, and it is not due to an allergy. It is not cancerous and will not develop into skin cancer.

If you’re concerned about what you think could be melasma, you should seek advice from a GP