Highfield Surgery Blackpool

17/09/2026

🐜 Let’s Talk About Head Lice and Nits 🐜

With the new school year in full swing, head lice can easily find their way from head to head. We want to help you stay ahead of the itch! Here is our quick guide on how to spot, treat, and prevent head lice.

🔍 How to Spot Them
Head lice are tiny, harmless insects (about the size of a sesame seed) that live in human hair. Nits are the empty egg cases pinned to the hair shafts.
The most common sign is an itchy scalp, but the only way to be sure is to find a live louse.
The Gold Standard: Use a special fine-toothed detection comb (available at pharmacies) on wet hair.
Method: Wash hair, apply lots of conditioner, and brush through with a normal comb to untangle. Then, use the detection comb from the roots to the tips, checking the comb for lice after each stroke.

🧼 How to Treat Head Lice
You do not usually need to see a GP to treat head lice. You can easily treat them at home:
Wet Coming: This should be done on days 1, 5, 9, and 13 to catch any newly hatched lice.
Medicated Treatments: If wet combing doesn't work, your local pharmacist can recommend over-the-counter lotions or sprays that kill the lice.

Remember to check everyone in the household if you find lice on one family member!

🛡️ Can You Prevent Them?
It is very difficult to prevent head lice entirely, but you can lower the risk:
Tie it back: Keep long hair tied back in ponytails or plaits for school or clubs.
Once a week, take a peek: Make wet-combing a regular weekly routine to catch any lice early before they spread.
Avoid sharing: Encourage children not to share hats, hairbrushes, or hair ties.

👩‍⚕️ Need Advice?
Your local community pharmacist is the best person to speak to for quick, professional advice on head lice treatments.

A Leaflet created by the Community Health Services Children and Families

16/09/2026

🍷 Thinking of cutting down on alcohol? Here’s why your body (and mind) will thank you

As we head into September, many of us are looking at ways to reset our habits and boost our health. One of the single best changes you can make for your physical and mental well-being is cutting back on alcohol.

Whether you’re looking to moderate your drinking or go completely dry, the benefits start almost immediately.

✨ What happens when you cut down?
Better Sleep: Alcohol disrupts your REM cycle. Cutting back means deeper, more restorative sleep, leaving you with more energy the next day.
Brighter Mood: Alcohol is a natural depressant. Reducing your intake can significantly lower anxiety levels and improve your overall mental health.
Weight Management & Clearer Skin: Alcoholic drinks are often high in "empty" calories and dehydrate your skin. Cutting down helps with weight loss and gives your skin a healthy glow.
Stronger Immune System & Heart: You’ll lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, and give your liver a much-needed break to regenerate.

🍹The market for 0.0% alcohol alternatives has boomed, and they are better than ever.
No Hangovers: Enjoy your weekend mornings to the fullest.
Safe for Driving: No need to worry about booking taxis or being the designated driver.
Inclusivity: You can still raise a glass and feel part of the celebration without the pressure to drink.
Tastes Great: From alcohol-free craft beers and botanical spirits to zero-percent prosecco, there is something to suit every palate.

💙 We are here to support you
Small changes can make a massive difference to your long-term health. If you feel you need a bit of extra support, advice, or resources to help you reduce your alcohol intake, please reach out to us at Highfield surgery. Our team is here to support you confidentially and without judgment.

Cutting down on alcohol can be a really effective way to improve your health. See our simple tips and practical ideas to help you starting drinking less. Let's do this!

16/09/2026

📱 Have you changed your mobile number, email address, or moved house recently? 🏡

At Highfield Surgery, we want to make sure we can always reach you when it matters most. Keeping your contact details up to date is vital for your ongoing care.

Why is this so important?
📞 Urgent Contact: If our clinical team needs to contact you urgently about test results, we need your correct phone number.
✉️ Referrals & Letters: Hospital appointments and specialist referrals rely on having your current home address on file.
📲 Appointment Reminders: We send convenient SMS reminders to help you keep track of your appointments.
💉 Health Invites: Don't miss out on important invitations for seasonal vaccinations, NHS health checks, or routine screenings.

How can you update your details?
It only takes a couple of minutes. You can update your information in any of the following ways:
Online: Visit our website at highfieldsurgeryblackpool.nhs.uk and use our online contact form.
Email: Send your updated details to us at [email protected] (please include your full name, date of birth, and your old details so we can verify your identity).
Phone: Give our friendly reception team a call on 01253 204672.
In Person: Pop in and speak to us at reception.

Please help us help you by ensuring your records are correct today. Thank you for your continued support

Practice Website for Highfield Surgery

16/09/2026

🌟 Happy World Fitness Day! 🌟

Here at Highfield Surgery, we want to encourage our wonderful Blackpool community to celebrate the power of movement today.

Staying active is one of the single best things you can do for both your physical health and your mental well-being. Regular physical activity can:
✅ Boost your mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
✅ Protect your heart and help manage blood pressure and cholesterol.
✅ Strengthen muscles and joints, keeping you mobile and independent.
✅ Improve sleep quality and boost your daily energy levels.

🏃‍♀️ Fitness Looks Different for Everyone.
You don't need an expensive gym membership or fancy gear to get active. Why not try:
A brisk walk along the beautiful Blackpool seafront or through a local park.
Gentle stretching or chair exercises in the comfort of your own living room.
Active gardening or taking the stairs instead of the lift.
Dancing to your favourite music in the kitchen.
Even just 150 minutes of moderate activity a week (about 20 minutes a day) can make a massive difference to your health. Remember, start small and build up at your own pace.

If you are living with a chronic health condition or have concerns about starting a new exercise routine, our clinical team is here to support and advise you.

16/09/2026

🌟 Discover The Hub on Highfield Road 🌟

We are passionate about supporting our local community's health and wellbeing. We know that staying healthy is about more than just medicine—it is also about keeping active, learning new skills, and sharing a warm cuppa with friendly faces. That is why we want to shine a spotlight on the fantastic Hub on Highfield Road 🏫✨

The Hub is a wonderful, welcoming community space offering a wide range of activities for both adults and children. Whether you want to:
🏃‍♂️ Get active and boost your physical health
🧠 Learn something new and exciting
👋 Meet new people and connect with your neighbours
🧸 Find fun activities for the little ones

There truly is something for everyone! Let’s get involved and support this fantastic local initiative.

📍 Where to find them:
120 Highfield Road, Blackpool, FY4 2JF
📞 Phone: 01253 405490

The Hub South Shore aims to create a safe, welcoming space for anyone affected by social isolation, no matter their age or background. Whether you’re looking to join in on our fantastic timetable of activities or give back by volunteering, The Hub offers countless ways to connect with others and b...

16/09/2026

📢 Prescription Telephone Line Closure - Wednesday 16th September

Due to a severe shortage of staff available to man our prescription telephone line, it will be closed TODAY, Wednesday 16 September.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Patients can still order their repeat prescriptions by:
✅ Visiting our reception desk
✅ Emailing [email protected]
✅ Using the Prescriptions page on our website
✅ Using our AccuRx online triage and selecting "admin request". This is available via our appointments page on our website.

Our prescription telephone line will be open as normal on Friday between 10:00am and 12:00pm.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 💙
Highfield Surgery

15/09/2026

📢 Flu Vaccination Update from Highfield Surgery 📢

Although we are only in September, we are already planning ahead to keep our community safe and healthy this coming winter. We are pleased to announce that our annual Flu Vaccination programme will officially begin in October 2026. 🍂💉

To help protect those most vulnerable, we will be offering the free NHS flu vaccine to eligible patient groups.

❓ Who can have the free NHS flu vaccine?
Are aged 65 or over (or will be by 31 March 2027)
Are pregnant
Have certain long-term clinical health conditions (such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease)
Are a carer in receipt of carer’s allowance, or the main carer for an elderly or disabled person
Live with someone who is immunocompromised
Are a frontline health or social care worker
(Note: Information regarding nasal spray flu vaccines for eligible children will be shared separately soon).

📅 How to book your appointment
We will begin contacting eligible patients directly from September with invitations to book. Please wait to receive your invitation before contacting us, as this helps keep our phone lines free for patients needing urgent medical care.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep Blackpool safe and well this winter.

15/09/2026

📢 Prescription Telephone Line Closure - Wednesday 16 September

Due to a severe shortage of staff available to man our prescription telephone line, it will be closed on Wednesday 16 September.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Patients can still order their repeat prescriptions by:
✅ Visiting our reception desk
✅ Emailing [email protected]
✅ Using the Prescriptions page on our website
✅ Using our AccuRx online triage and selecting "admin request". This is available via our appointments page on our website.

Our prescription telephone line will be open as normal on Monday and Friday between 10:00am and 12:00pm.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 💙
Highfield Surgery

15/09/2026

📢 Have Your Say! Join the Highfield Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG) 🤝

Are you a registered patient at Highfield Surgery? Would you like to play an active role in helping us improve our services and shape the future of healthcare in our community? We are looking for enthusiastic patients to join our Patient Participation Group (PPG)

What is a PPG?
The PPG is a volunteer group of patients who meet regularly (either in person or virtually) with members of our practice team, including our Practice Manager, Heather Wilson. It’s a fantastic platform to:
🗣️ Share constructive feedback and suggestions.
💡 Discuss new ideas and planned changes at the surgery.
🏥 Support health promotion and awareness campaigns.
🌍 Represent the diverse voice of our local Blackpool community.

Who can join?
Anyone registered as a patient here at Highfield Surgery! We want our group to truly reflect our patient population, so we welcome patients of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Whether you are a parent, a carer, a student, retired, or working, your unique perspective is invaluable to us.

How to get involved:
If you would like to join or simply want to find out more, please get in touch with us:
📧 Email: Drop us a line at [email protected] with the subject "PPG Enquiry"
📞 Phone: Call our friendly reception team on 01253 204672
📍 In Person: Speak to a member of our team next time you visit us .

Your voice matters, and by working together with our team, the Blackpool South PCN, and the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, we can continue to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care for everyone.

Thank you for your continued support! 💙

Practice Website for Highfield Surgery

15/09/2026

📢 An update from Highfield Surgery 📢

If you have ever received a text message from us stating that we have reached our safe clinical capacity, we wanted to provide you with some context and guidance on what to do next.

At Highfield Surgery, patient safety is our absolute priority. On an average day, our dedicated team provides around 70 on-the-day appointments in addition to our pre-booked clinics, admin reviews, and long-term condition management.

However, there are days when the demand for appointments significantly exceeds the maximum number of patients our clinicians can safely see. When we reach this limit, we are unable to see any more patients who we feel need to be seen that day.

❓ What should you do if we feel you still need medical help?
You will receive advice from our GPs what service to go to if we are unable to see you. This may be the Walk in Centre, Community Eye care, NHS 111 or A&E.

We understand that not being able to secure an appointment can be frustrating. We would like to thank all of our patients for their continued understanding, patience, and kindness towards our team as we work hard to support our patients.

Best wishes,
The Team at Highfield Surgery