Priory Gardens Surgery

Priory Gardens Surgery NHS GP Practice for Dunstable, Houghton Regis & Luton providing compassionate care. Comment REGISTER to join us.

Flu & COVID Vaccination Clinics – Starting 3rd OctoberProtect yourself this winter. Our seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccin...
08/09/2026

Flu & COVID Vaccination Clinics – Starting 3rd October

Protect yourself this winter. Our seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Priory Gardens Surgery start from 3rd October for eligible patients.

Flu vaccine – available to eligible patients COVID-19 vaccine – available to those who meet the NHS seasonal eligibility criteria

Vaccination remains one of the best ways to reduce your risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu and COVID-19, particularly if you’re older, pregnant, immunosuppressed or living with certain long-term health conditions.

Call Priory Gardens Surgery to book your appointment.

Can’t make 3rd October? Don’t worry, more vaccination clinics will be available throughout October, and we’ll let patients know when additional dates are released.

Please share this with eligible family members and friends who may need a reminder.

📍 Priory Gardens Surgery
Grove View Integrated Health Hub, Dunstable

Do you always need a GP appointment? Maybe not.Getting the right appointment with the right healthcare professional can ...
25/08/2026

Do you always need a GP appointment? Maybe not.

Getting the right appointment with the right healthcare professional can mean getting the help you need sooner.

General Practice has changed. Your GP is now supported by a wider team of healthcare professionals, each with different skills and expertise.

Depending on what you need help with, you may be offered an appointment with one of our:

• GPs – complex or ongoing medical concerns
• Paramedics – same-day and acute illness
• Nursing Team – vaccinations, wound care, cervical screening and long-term condition care
• Pharmacists – medication reviews and long-term condition management
• Care Co-ordinators – health reviews, care assessments, social prescribing and additional support

So why does our team ask what you need help with?

It’s not to stop you seeing a GP.

Understanding your main symptoms helps us direct you to the most appropriate person or service for your needs and could help you access care sooner.

Patient tip: When requesting an appointment, tell us your main symptoms and provide as much relevant information as you can. You can also complete our online consultation form to send your request directly to the practice.

The right appointment isn’t always a GP appointment.

It’s about getting you to the right person, for the right care, at the right time.

Summer can change your routine more than you realise… and your mental health can feel it too. Longer days, school holida...
20/08/2026

Summer can change your routine more than you realise… and your mental health can feel it too.

Longer days, school holidays, travelling, childcare changes and time away from work can all disrupt the routines that normally keep us grounded.

While summer can be an enjoyable time, a change in routine can sometimes leave you feeling:
• Anxious or overwhelmed
• Tired or struggling with sleep
• Low in mood
• Stressed or unsettled
• Lonely or isolated
• Out of your usual routine

A few simple things can help protect your mental wellbeing:

• Try to keep regular sleeping and eating patterns
• Make time to get outside and stay active
• Stay connected with friends and family
• Limit alcohol and prioritise hydration
• Give yourself some structure, even on days off
• Don’t put pressure on yourself to have the “perfect summer”

Most importantly, ask for help if you’re struggling.

At Priory Gardens Surgery, we’re here to listen and support you. We can discuss how you’re feeling, explore the support available and help you access the most appropriate mental health services where needed.

Your mental health doesn’t take a summer holiday, looking after it is just as important as looking after your physical health.

When did you last check your moles?Summer often means spending more time outdoors, making it a good time to get familiar...
17/08/2026

When did you last check your moles?

Summer often means spending more time outdoors, making it a good time to get familiar with your skin and know what is normal for you.

Most moles are harmless, but a new mole or a change to an existing mole can sometimes be a sign of melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Remember the ABCDE check:

A – Asymmetry: Does one half look different from the other?
B – Border: Are the edges irregular, blurred or uneven?
C – Colour: Has the colour changed or are there several colours?
D – Diameter: Is it getting bigger?
E – Evolving: Has it changed in size, shape, colour or behaviour?

You should also seek advice about a mole or skin lesion that is itchy, painful, bleeding, crusting or noticeably changing.

How can Priory Gardens Surgery help?

If you’ve noticed a new or changing mole, contact us. A clinician can assess your concern and, if needed, arrange an appropriate referral for specialist assessment.

Patient tip: Taking occasional photographs can help you notice changes over time, particularly with moles in areas that are difficult to see.

And remember, prevention matters too. Protect your skin from strong sunlight with shade, suitable clothing and sunscreen, and avoid getting sunburnt.

Know your skin. Know what’s normal for you. And if something changes, get it checked.

14/08/2026

A Day in the Life at a GP Practice Episode 5
Meet our Pharmacists

Think the pharmacist at your GP surgery just sorts out prescriptions? Not even close.

Our clinical pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and an important part of our clinical team.

Every day they can be:
• Reviewing medications to make sure they remain safe and effective
• Carrying out medication reviews
• Supporting patients with high blood pressure
• Reviewing long-term conditions such as asthma
• Supporting diabetes and other long-term condition reviews
• Reviewing blood results and monitoring linked to certain medicines
• Reviewing medication changes following hospital discharge or specialist letters
• Working alongside our GPs when patients have complex medication needs

Patient tip

If you’re offered an appointment with one of our pharmacists instead of a GP, don’t think you’ve been sent to the wrong person.

For medication and many long-term condition concerns, they may actually be the most appropriate clinician to see you.

Our multidisciplinary team means you don’t always need a GP to receive the care you need.

Right patient. Right clinician. Right care.

Follow our A Day in the Life at a GP Practice series as we introduce you to the teams working behind the scenes at Priory Gardens Surgery.

You might see a different face at the surgery… and here’s why. Just like everyone else, our doctors, nurses and other he...
13/08/2026

You might see a different face at the surgery… and here’s why.

Just like everyone else, our doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals need annual leave, time for training and occasional time away from work.

To help us maintain our services while permanent team members are away, we may use locum clinicians to provide additional cover.

Locums are qualified healthcare professionals who temporarily work within the practice and are required to meet the appropriate professional and regulatory standards for their role.

Before your appointment, they have access to the relevant information in your medical record to help them understand your history, medications and ongoing care.

So, if you see a clinician you haven’t met before, they may be helping us cover a member of our regular team while they’re away.

Using locum cover helps us:
• Keep appointments available
• Maintain continuity of essential services
• Support our permanent team to take their annual leave
• Continue providing safe patient care

Please give our locum team members the same warm welcome you give our regular team, they’re here to support you and our practice.

12/08/2026

A Day in the Life at a GP Practice Episode 4
Front Desk Assistants

Think our Front Desk Assistants just check patients in? There’s a LOT more happening behind that desk than you might realise.

They’re helping patients face-to-face, dealing with appointment queries, supporting urgent requests, registrations, sample and testing, passing important information to our clinical teams and helping people navigate the different services available out side of the GP practice.

And sometimes, the person standing in front of them may be worried, unwell or going through something incredibly difficult, so every conversation matters.

Patient tip: Need to discuss something personal at reception? You can ask to speak more privately. You don’t have to explain sensitive information in front of a busy waiting room.

We’re taking you behind the scenes of a UK GP surgery to show you what REALLY happens during a day in General Practice.

Follow for the next episode!

11/08/2026

A Day in the Life at a GP Practice Episode 3
Meet our Paramedics

Did you know paramedics work in GP surgeries too?

Our paramedics are an important part of the clinical team, working alongside our GPs to assess and treat patients, support urgent same-day care and carry out home visits where appropriate.

So, if you contact your GP practice and you’re offered an appointment with a paramedic instead of a GP, don’t worry, you’ve been directed to a skilled healthcare professional who may be exactly the right clinician for your problem.

We’re taking you behind the scenes of a UK GP practice to show you what our teams REALLY do.

One of the simplest ways to improve your health? Walk more.You don’t need an expensive gym membership or complicated fit...
10/08/2026

One of the simplest ways to improve your health? Walk more.

You don’t need an expensive gym membership or complicated fitness routine to start looking after your health.

A daily walk can help:
• Improve heart health
• Lower your risk of type 2 diabetes
• Support your mental health and reduce stress
• Improve sleep
• Strengthen muscles and bones
• Support a healthy weight
• Help manage blood pressure
• Get you outside and moving

The NHS recommends adults aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity each week and a brisk walk counts.

Start where you are. Even a short walk is better than none, and you can gradually build up your time and distance.

Try walking to the shops, taking a lunchtime walk, getting off the bus one stop earlier or simply spending 10 minutes walking around your local area.

Small steps, done regularly, can make a big difference to your long-term health.

How many steps will you get in today?

Need to see a GP today? Our Sit & Wait Clinic may be able to help.Our Sit & Wait Clinic is designed for patients who nee...
06/08/2026

Need to see a GP today?
Our Sit & Wait Clinic may be able to help.

Our Sit & Wait Clinic is designed for patients who need same-day medical care for an urgent health concern.

Here’s how it works:
✔️ Check in at Front Desk Reception to be put on the list to be seen

One of the benefits of our Sit & Wait Clinic is that, where clinically appropriate, you may be able to have everything done in one visit, including:
• A GP consultation
• A nursing appointment
• A blood test

This helps reduce the need for multiple visits to the surgery and ensures you receive the care you need as quickly as possible.

Please be aware:
• Waiting times can vary depending on demand and it a first come first seen basis.

Priory Gardens Surgery
Grove View Integrated Health Hub, Dunstable

Address

Grove View Integrated Health Hub, Court Drive
Dunstable
LU54JD

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6:30pm
Friday 8am - 6:30pm

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