Unity Healthcare - Haverhill, Long Melford, Lavenham & Glemsford.

04/09/2026

🦠 It’s that time of year again!

As the weather gets colder, we tend to spend more time indoors with windows closed — creating the perfect opportunity for bugs and viruses to spread.

Help keep yourself and others well by remembering the basics:

🧼 Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
🤧 Catch it, bin it, kill it — use a tissue when you cough or sneeze
🏠 Let some fresh air in where possible
💙 Stay home and rest if you’re feeling unwell

A few simple habits can make a big difference in helping to stop bugs spreading this season.

Clean hands, healthier communities! 👐

03/09/2026

💙 Meet the Team: What is a Care Navigator?

When you contact our surgery, one of the first people you'll speak to is a Care Navigator.

Care Navigators are much more than reception staff. They are specially trained to help patients access the most appropriate service for their needs. By asking a few simple questions about why you're contacting us, they can ensure you are directed to the right healthcare professional or service as quickly as possible.

A Care Navigator can help with:

📅 Booking, changing and cancelling appointments
📞 Directing you to the most appropriate clinician, such as a GP, Practice Nurse, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Pharmacist or Physiotherapist
💻 Helping you access online services and request repeat prescriptions
📄 Processing prescription requests, fit notes and other administrative queries
🏥 Signposting you to local NHS services, pharmacies, community services and self-care resources when appropriate
📨 Passing urgent information to our clinical team when needed

Why do they ask questions?

We understand it can sometimes feel unusual to be asked why you need an appointment, but our Care Navigators ask everyone the same types of questions. This information is treated confidentially, just like any conversation you have with a healthcare professional.

The questions help us:
✅ Make sure you see the right person first time
✅ Offer the most appropriate appointment or service
✅ Help patients with urgent needs receive care as quickly as possible
✅ Keep GP appointments available for patients who need a doctor's expertise

Care Navigators do not make medical decisions or diagnose illnesses. They follow practice guidance and work closely with our clinical team to ensure every patient is directed safely and appropriately.

Our Care Navigators are an essential part of the practice team, helping patients access the right care, at the right time, from the right professional.

💙 Please be kind to our Care Navigators—they're here to help and play a vital role in supporting both our patients and our clinical teams.

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

👶🎉 Expecting or recently welcomed another baby to your family? You might be expecting some things to be different, and the vaccine schedule for your baby is one thing that will be.

At the start of this year, the routine childhood vaccination schedule changed. Babies are now offered protection against chickenpox alongside measles, mumps and rubella through the introduction of the MMRV vaccine, which is already part of routine childhood vaccination programmes in several countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany.

🧑‍🍼💬 "But why make changes? Isn't chickenpox usually mild?"
While most children experience chickenpox as a mild illness, it can sometimes be more serious and require hospital treatment. In rare cases, it can lead to complications such as chest infections, seizures and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The MMRV vaccine helps protect children against four serious diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, while the introduction of the 18-month appointment will help provide them with protection at a younger age.

01/09/2026

💙 Your feedback matters!

During August, 27 patients shared their feedback about using eConsult, and we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to tell us about their experience.

Here’s what you told us:

⭐ 70% said they were very or fairly satisfied with the service.

📞 89% said they were contacted within the timeframe they were given.

👍 56% said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend the service to friends or family.

We also received some really helpful comments about what works well — including patients telling us that eConsult was quick, easy and helpful, and that it helped them access an appointment or reassurance when they needed it.

We know there are also areas where we can do better, and your feedback helps us understand where improvements are needed.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We really do listen. 💙

01/09/2026

Bank holiday blues? We feel you! 💙🫂

Getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend can be difficult. Be kind to yourself, take things at your own pace, and remember that it’s okay if you don’t feel 100% straight away.

01/09/2026

Flu season is approaching, and some people can already book their free NHS flu vaccine. Here's everything you need to know about who can get vaccinated this year and what's changed since last autumn.

01/09/2026

With children heading back to school this week, it can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child at home if they are feeling unwell.

If you're unsure, see our advice on when a child should be kept at home.

➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

01/09/2026

🍂 Hello September! 🍂

A new month brings a change of season, back-to-school routines and plenty of opportunities to look after your health and wellbeing.

Whether you’re settling back into a routine, preparing for the colder months or simply trying to stay well, we’re here to support you.

Here’s to a happy, healthy September! 💙

Hello September — let’s make it a good one!

31/08/2026