Blackburn Road Medical Centre

20/07/2026

New service for people who use British Sign Language (BSL)

We have a new service to help people who use BSL talk to their GP surgery.
How to Use the Service
• Go to our website and click the link on the home page.
• You can use the service from 8:00am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.
• You will be asked a few questions.
• You will be connected to a BSL interpreter.
• Tell the interpreter which GP surgery you want to talk to.
• The interpreter will call your GP surgery and help you talk to them.
BSL Interpreters for Appointments
• We can give you a BSL video interpreter when you come for your appointment. You do not need to book this in advance.
• If you want an interpreter to come in person, please tell us as soon as you can. We usually need 2–3 weeks to book a face-to-face interpreter.
• Sometimes, we cannot get a face-to-face interpreter because there are not enough BSL interpreters. If this happens, we will give you a video interpreter.
Need More Help?
If you need information in a different format or language, or if you have special communication needs, please tell us. We will do our best to help you.

06/07/2026

02/07/2026

23/06/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Pride Month – Supporting LGBTQ+
June marks Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of LGBTQ+ communities and to reaffirm our commitment to equality, inclusion, and respectful care for all.
As a community dermatology service, we recognise that LGBTQ+ individuals can experience health inequalities, including barriers to accessing care and higher rates of certain skin conditions linked to stress, stigma, or specific health needs.
We are committed to:
• Providing safe, inclusive, and respectful care to all patients
• Ensuring our services are accessible and welcoming, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
• Supporting awareness of health inequalities and promoting equitable outcomes
🌿 Dermatology and LGBTQ+ Health
Skin health can be influenced by a range of factors including mental wellbeing, hormone treatments, and lifestyle. It is important that all patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns openly with healthcare professionals.
🔗 Further Information and Support
For more information on LGBTQ+ health and support services, please visit:
• NHS – LGBTQ+ Health Hub
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/
• NHS England – Equality and Health Inequalities
https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/
• Stonewall (UK LGBTQ+ charity)
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
💬 Our Commitment
We are proud to support Pride Month and remain committed to delivering inclusive, patient-centred dermatology care for everyone in our community.

Stonewall is part of a vibrant, growing and global movement advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Over the last 35+ years, we have helped create transformative…

11/06/2026

🟡 MMR Vaccination – Please check if you are protected
We are encouraging all patients to check that they are fully protected with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
There have been recent increases in measles cases locally, and all confirmed cases have been linked to individuals who are not vaccinated. Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect yourself, your family, and the wider community.
Who should contact us?
Please get in touch with the surgery if:
• You are not sure if you have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine
• Your child may have missed any routine vaccinations, these are routinely given after the child has reached 1 year old
• You are newly registered with the practice
• You have moved to the UK and are unsure of your vaccination history
• You would like to check your family is fully up to date
It’s never too late
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective, and there is no upper age limit for catch-up vaccination.
How to book
If you think you or your child may need the MMR vaccine, please contact the surgery to book an appointment. Our team can check your records and arrange vaccination if required.

11/06/2026

This Diabetes Week, let's change how we talk about diabetes.

8 out of 10 people living with diabetes say they’ve faced negative attitudes because of their diabetes - people passing judgement, making sweeping statements, or blaming and shaming people living with diabetes.

This is diabetes stigma. And it causes real harm to millions.

That’s why we’re on a mission to ‘Strike Out Stigma’.

To show people that nobody chooses diabetes. That it isn’t anyone’s fault. And that by changing the way we talk about diabetes, together we can create a world where diabetes does no harm.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/diabetes-week

05/06/2026

URGENT - We apologise for the delay in answering your calls this morning. This was due to technical difficulties which were out of our control. We are hopeful this has now been rectified. We thank you for your patience and kindness whilst our team work hard to help you.

03/06/2026

📊 Practice Update – May 2026

During May, our team answered calls in an average of just 2 minutes. Even during our busiest periods, the longest wait experienced was 17 minutes.

Unfortunately, we also saw a number of appointments that were not attended:

🔹 56 GP appointments were missed, resulting in 9 hours of wasted clinical time.

🔹 132 Nursing and Healthcare Assistant appointments were missed, resulting in 25 hours of wasted clinical time.

That's a total of 34 hours of clinical time that could have been used to help other patients.

If you can no longer attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer it to someone else who may be waiting for care.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

06/05/2026

Dementia Action Week and the Forget Me Not appeal

During Dementia Action Week (18 – 24 May) and throughout the Forget Me Not Appeal in June, Alzheimer’s Society are aiming to inspire thousands more people to learn about dementia and take small actions that make a big difference.

You can help spread the word by encouraging your family, friends, or colleagues to attend a Dementia Friends Session or watch our short online video. Together, we can reach thousands more people to build understanding and support for those affected by dementia, helping to create a kinder, more compassionate community.

Looking for more ways to get involved this May and June? Download the Bingo Card packed with simple, meaningful actions you can take.