The Lodge Surgery

12/06/2026

𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
8-14 June 2026

Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood glucose (sugar) level to become too high.

There are different types of diabetes but the most common types are:

🔸Type 1 diabetes - Often diagnosed in childhood, but you can get it at any age. Type 1 cannot be prevented.

🔸Type 2 diabetes - Some people are at higher risk due to ethnicity, age, living with obesity or overweight. Type 2 can sometimes be prevented or stopped with lifestyle changes and treatment.

🔸Gestational diabetes - Can happen during pregnancy. You can reduce your risk with lifestyle changes. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after you've given birth.

Find out about other types of diabetes on the Diabetes UK website⬇
www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/types-of-diabetes

𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀
The most common symptoms of diabetes are:

🔹feeling thirsty all the time
🔹peeing more than usual
🔹feeling very tired
🔹losing weight without trying

𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀
Diabetes is caused by your body not making enough or any of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin not working properly (insulin resistance).
Insulin helps your body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Without it, the level of glucose in your blood becomes too high.

It's not possible to prevent type 1 diabetes because it's usually caused by a problem with your immune system (autoimmune condition).

You may be more likely to get type 2 or gestational diabetes because of your weight, age, ethnicity, or if other people in your family have it.

𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀
The treatment you'll have depends on the type of diabetes you have. You'll be treated by a specialist diabetes team in hospital or at your GP surgery.

Complications can develop over time and are linked to high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Managing your blood glucose well and keeping to your agreed target level can lower your chances of getting complications.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/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 this years theme is ‘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.

Whether you want to join the campaign, share your story or looking for support, Diabetes UK has resources and information to help you.
⬇
www.diabetes.org.uk/support-us/diabetes-week
www.facebook.com/diabetesuk

10/06/2026

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
8-14 June

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

www.carersweek.org/about-carers-week/

If you are an unpaid carer, why not take some time for yourself and book a free place where you can enjoy some tea, treats and tunes.

⛪King Alfred Hall, SN15 3JN
🗓14th June
🕝2.30-4pm

08/06/2026

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 🏳‍🌈
June

At The Lodge Surgery we support everyone regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation and strive to ensure all our patients have an empathic and quality experience.

We recognise that many people in the LGBTQ+ community are often reluctant to ask for medical help because of negative experiences they may have had in the past.

All our staff at the practice are working to improve their understanding of the issues facing our LGBTQ+ patients and positively support them in accessing the care they need.

As a reflection of our commitment to LGBTQ+ patients, we are proud to be working towards the Pride in Practice scheme run by The LGBT Foundation.

This scheme identifies GP surgeries that are fully committed to ensuring that their LGBTQ+ patients are treated fairly and are able to discuss their issues openly with their GP or other healthcare clinician.

www.thelodgesurgery.co.uk/patient-support/lgbtq/

🌈

Chippenham Pride are delighted to announce the return of PrideFest, taking place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026.

It is happening throughout Chippenham with events at numerous venues. This will integrate Pride fully into the town.

The event is family-friendly, and encourages people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities to come along and enjoy a weekend of fun, connection, and celebration.

More details about the full programme and participating venues will be announced on their 'Whats On' page.⬇

www.chippenhampride.co.uk/what-s-on/

🌈

05/06/2026

𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
1-7 June 2026

Volunteering is when someone spends unpaid time doing something to benefit others. Volunteering can be formal and organised by organisations, or informal within communities.

Every year, Volunteers’ Week is celebrated across the UK in many different ways. It’s inspiring to see more people, organisations, and groups participate each year and celebrate their amazing volunteers and the volunteering community. Check out some of the highlights from last year below.⬇

www.volunteersweek.org/about

The NHS is supported by around 2 million volunteers every year and most NHS organisations celebrate their contribution during National Volunteers' Week.

There are many reasons why you may decide to volunteer within the NHS.
As an NHS volunteer, you can:

🔸make a positive contribution to the experience of patients and their families.

🔹do something for the benefit of your local community.

🔸get a sense of accomplishment and a positive outlook on life.

🔹do something worthwhile and meaningful to you.

🔸Whether you’re retired, studying, or considering a change in career, volunteering is a great way to learn new skills and discover new possibilities.

Discover how you can make an impact on the experience of patients, their families and the NHS. ⬇
www.volunteering.england.nhs.uk/volunteer

03/06/2026

The Friends & Family Test is a great way for patients to tell us if and how their experience at the surgery could have been improved.

Don't forget to respond when you receive your text because we discuss the responses every month to see what patients tell us and we use your feedback to make positive changes where possible.

We also received several compliments this quarter, including positive feedback that the surgery is “the best around”, that there is “nothing to change”, and that we “can’t improve on perfection”. This is very high praise, and we are grateful to those who took the time to share it.

We also received lots of positive feedback for Amy from our nursing team.

Thank you to all those who took the time to share their feedback.

If you have suggestions, concerns or compliments, please let us know via our website or by speaking to reception.

Your feedback helps shape our service.

Please feel free to share this update with friends or family who use our practice.

Here is what you raised this quarter and how we responded:

01/06/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 / 𝗣𝗣𝗚 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
31 May - 6 June 2026

National Patient Participation Week raises awareness of the value of patients being actively involved and engaged in healthcare decision-making that relates to them.

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of patient’s with an interest in the surgery that volunteer to assist the growth of their GP surgery. This means that they can help form crucial plans, share in decision-making and be an advocate for patients.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?
Our community is diverse and we welcome anyone of any age, background, culture or orientation to get involved. We want our patients to be able to communicate with us openly and constructively. This means we might ask our PPG for their feedback, opinions and ideas – anything that you think can make the Lodge the best surgery it can possibly be.

At The Lodge Surgery we believe in learning from feedback. We investigate and respond to all complaints, record them for inspection, and meet quarterly to review patient suggestions, FFT responses and PPG input so we can continuously improve our service.

Your feedback genuinely shapes how we improve our services. If you have suggestions, concerns or compliments, please share them with us via our website, online form or by speaking to our reception team.

www.thelodgesurgery.co.uk/ppg-form/

29/05/2026

𝗛𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿

Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.

𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿:

🌿Sneezing and coughing

🌿A runny or blocked nose

🌿Itchy, red or watery eyes

🌿Itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears

🌿Loss of smell

🌿Pain around the sides of your head and your forehead

🌿Headache

🌿Feeling tired

Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

These conditions can usually be treated using over-the-counter medicines from your local pharmacy and rarely require a GP appointment.
In the first instance please speak to your local pharmacy regarding your hay fever and seasonal allergies.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳
There's currently no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

🌼Put petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) around your nostrils to trap pollen.

🌼Wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or a wide-brimmed hat to stop pollen getting into your nose and eyes.

🌼Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash pollen off.

🌼Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.

🌼Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth.

🌼Try to use a pollen filter in the air vents of your car, if you have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have hay fever. they can give you advice and suggest the best treatments to help with symptoms, such as:

🍃Antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays

🍃Steroid nasal sprays

Some antihistamines can make you very sleepy, so speak to your pharmacist about non-drowsy antihistamines if you need to.

For more information, please see the following links:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/

www.thelodgesurgery.co.uk/patient-support/minor-injuries-and-illness/hay-fever/

www.allergyuk.org/about-allergy/types-of-allergies/hayfever/

26/05/2026

21/05/2026

𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
18 - 24 May

There are many types of dementia, and everyone is affected differently. You'll find information here on symptoms, stages, treatments and risk factors.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮?
The word 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms that, over time, can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour.

Dementia can be caused by many different diseases. These diseases affect the brain in different ways, resulting in different types of dementia.

It's important to remember that everyone experiences dementia differently.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀
All types of dementia are progressive. This means that the structure and chemistry of the brain become increasingly damaged over time.

How quickly dementia progresses depends on the individual. Each person is unique and experiences dementia in their own way. This can depend on many factors, including physical make-up, emotional resilience and the support available to them.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Signs and symptoms may be relatively mild at first but they get worse with time. Dementia affects everyone differently, however it can be helpful to think of dementia progressing in 'three stages'.

1. Early stage dementia is when a person has symptoms that are interfering with daily life but they can still manage to do many things by themselves, or with a little support.

2. Middle stage dementia is when symptoms become more severe and wide-ranging. The person starts to need help with more basic tasks, such as washing, dressing, and going to the toilet.

3.Late stage dementia is when a person starts to need more constant care, often provided by professional carers. It gets harder to do everyday tasks needed to stay well, such as eating, drinking and moving around.

These are sometimes called mild, moderate and severe, because this describes how much the symptoms affect a person.

These stages can be used to understand how dementia is likely to change over time, and to help people prepare for the future. The stages also act as a guide to when certain treatments, such as medicines for Alzheimer’s disease, are likely to work best.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮?
Read The dementia guide: living well after your diagnosis to get information and advice on living as well as possible.

Read and download the guide:
www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-03/the_dementia_guide_872.pdf

Order a free copy by post:
www.alzheimers.org.uk/form/order-dementia-guide

18/05/2026

𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
12-18 May 2026

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), often called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), is a complex, chronic, and debilitating neurological disease that affects multiple body systems. It is characterized by severe fatigue, cognitive difficulties ("brain fog"), pain, and unrefreshing sleep.

ME often develops after an acute viral or bacterial infection from which people seem unable to fully recover.

It can cause many different symptoms, which can be triggered or worsened by any kind of effort or activity.

Key symptoms that should all be present for a diagnosis of ME/CFS:

🟣Debilitating fatigue
Worsened by activity, is not caused by excessive cognitive, physical, emotional or social exertion, and is not significantly relieved by rest.

🟣Post-exertional malaise
Activity causes worsening of symptoms and is often delayed in onset by hours or days, is disproportionate to the activity and has a prolonged recovery time that may last hours, days, weeks or longer.

🟣Unrefreshing or disturbed sleep
Feeling exhausted, feeling flu-like and stiff on waking with broken or shallow sleep, altered sleep pattern or hypersomnia.

🟣Cognitive difficulties
May include problems finding words or numbers, difficulty in speaking, slowed responsiveness, short-term memory problems, and difficulty concentrating or multitasking (“Brain Fog”).

Furhter information:
www.meassociation.org.uk/information/me-cfs-further-information-2/

Follow the ME Association on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/meassociation