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

31/08/2026

29/08/2026

🌞 August Bank Holiday is here! 🌞

Whether you’re enjoying a staycation, heading away for the weekend or spending time with family and friends, we hope you have a safe and happy bank holiday! 💙

If you do need healthcare advice while we’re closed, remember:

💊 Pharmacy – for advice and treatment for many common conditions
📞 NHS 111 – if you’re unsure which service you need or need urgent medical advice
🚑 999 – for life-threatening emergencies

Before you head off, make sure you have enough of your regular medication and know where to go if you need help.

Enjoy the long weekend! 🌿☀️

28/08/2026

🌞No one wants to be hunting for an open pharmacy over the bank holiday weekend!

💊Make sure your medicine cabinet is well stocked with basic essentials, so you’re prepared if you need them.

And remember — always keep medicines safely out of the reach of children. 🚸

28/08/2026

🩺 Meet the Team: What is a Healthcare Assistant (HCA)?

When you visit your GP practice, you may be offered an appointment with one of our Healthcare Assistants (HCAs).

Healthcare Assistants are an important part of the practice team. They work alongside GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide a wide range of clinical services, helping patients stay healthy and supporting the diagnosis and management of long-term conditions.

A Healthcare Assistant can:

💉 Carry out blood tests (phlebotomy)
🩸 Check your blood pressure, pulse, height and weight
🩺 Perform NHS Health Checks and other routine health assessments
💊 Carry out ECGs (heart tracing tests) where available
🧪 Take urine samples and other routine observations
🩹 Change simple dressings and remove stitches or clips (where appropriately trained)
💉 Administer some vaccinations and injections under the supervision of a registered clinician
❤️ Support patients with long-term condition monitoring and healthy lifestyle advice

What can't a Healthcare Assistant do?

Healthcare Assistants are not registered nurses or doctors, so they do not diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication or make complex clinical decisions. If your appointment highlights a concern that needs further assessment, they will arrange for you to be seen by the most appropriate clinician, such as a Practice Nurse, Advanced Nurse Practitioner or GP.

Our HCAs play a vital role in keeping our surgeries running smoothly. By carrying out many routine clinical procedures, they help free up nurses and GPs to care for patients with more complex health needs.

💙 Every member of our team has an important role in helping you receive the right care, from the right person, at the right time.

28/08/2026

Did you know that you can borrow a blood pressure monitor from Suffolk Community Libraries to pick up here at Long Melford Library or any of our 45 libraries? You can even pick one up from the mobile libraries. You can borrow a blood pressure monitor for free, for three weeks (longer if it's available to renew). Place a reservation through our website or in person at the library. We don't stock them here at Long Melford but they will usually come within a week.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes, despite being a preventable condition. Taking blood pressure measurements over a few days, when people are more relaxed in their own homes, can give more accurate results than a test in a clinic where patients may feel more stressed. That's why Suffolk Community Libraries has partnered with NHS Suffolk and North East Essex to make blood pressure monitors available for people to borrow from our libraries.

https://suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk/wellbeing/health/blood-pressure-monitor/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT6rWhwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5GDlZtKvZNHeLI96UA0XJ1tLHgAnL5YCQlg9Qcis9JhIG3o9VauFGx3Yn1gA_aem_e8KVUB2g4P_lSs4liFk7-A

27/08/2026

Thunderstorms can trigger symptoms for those with lung conditions, like asthma.

If the weather makes your symptoms worse and you need to use your inhaler more, talk to your pharmacist, contact your GP or NHS 111.

27/08/2026

🌞 Visiting Suffolk this bank holiday weekend or travelling further afield?

Whether you’re staying close to home or exploring somewhere new, make sure you know where to turn if you need healthcare support.

From local pharmacies and your GP to NHS 111 and 999, choosing the right service can help you get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

📍 Know before you go — and enjoy your bank holiday weekend! 💙

26/08/2026

26/08/2026

Tap it. Type it. We’ll take care of it. 📱

Need to contact your GP surgery? Our online service makes it quick and easy to get in touch.

Simply tap, type and submit your request — we’ll review it and make sure it reaches the right member of our team.

An easy way to contact your GP surgery, without needing to call.