Bearsted Medical Practice

24/08/2026

17/08/2026

❌ IMPORTANT NOTICE ❌

Today, we will be experiencing a planned IT outage between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

During this time, we will not have access to our usual computer systems. We therefore kindly ask that you contact the surgery outside of these hours wherever possible.

Our triage system will also be temporarily suspended between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to restore the system as soon as possible.

If you have an appointment scheduled today, please still attend as planned. Appointments will be going ahead, although there may be some delays and they may take a little longer than usual. We kindly ask for your patience during this time.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your continued support, patience and understanding.

10/08/2026

💙 Helping to Reduce Pressure on the NHS

The NHS is currently under increasing pressure, with GP surgeries and other healthcare services seeing a growing number of patients seeking help for minor health concerns.

We understand that when you are unwell, it can be difficult to know where to turn. However, not every health concern requires an appointment with your GP, and choosing the right service can help ensure that those who need urgent or specialist care are seen as quickly as possible.

💊 Have you spoken to your pharmacist?

For many common and minor health problems, your local pharmacist can provide expert advice, recommend suitable treatments and, where appropriate, refer you to another healthcare professional.

Pharmacists are highly trained healthcare professionals and can offer advice on conditions such as coughs, colds, sore throats, minor skin conditions, allergies, headaches and many other common illnesses.

Before contacting your GP, please consider speaking to your pharmacist first. You may be able to receive the advice or treatment you need without needing a GP appointment.

💷 The increasing cost of healthcare

The NHS is also facing significant financial pressures. Every appointment, investigation, prescription and treatment comes at a cost. By using the most appropriate healthcare service for your needs, you can help the NHS use its resources where they are needed most.

This isn’t about preventing people from accessing healthcare — if you are concerned about your health, we want you to seek advice. It is about making sure you receive that advice from the right healthcare professional.

🤝 Together, we can help

Before contacting your GP, ask yourself:

“Is my concern something my pharmacist could help me with?”

Using your local pharmacy for minor illnesses and health advice can help reduce pressure on GP surgeries, free up appointments for patients who need them and support the NHS during an increasingly challenging time.

Thank you for helping us to protect NHS services and ensure appointments are available for those who need them most. 💙

23/07/2026

📢 Help Us Reduce Missed Appointments (DNAs)

We kindly ask all patients who have booked appointments with the practice to ensure that notifications are switched on for your NHS App, text messages, and emails, so you don’t miss important appointment reminders.

The NHS has recently changed the way appointment reminders are sent. Appointment reminders are now sent to your NHS App first, so it’s important to make sure notifications are enabled. If you don’t have the NHS App or notifications are turned off, please also keep an eye on your text messages and emails, as reminders may also be sent through these methods.

Unfortunately, we have seen a significant increase in Did Not Attend (DNA) appointments. Today alone, we have already had 18 missed appointments.

If you are no longer able to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible by:
📞 Calling the surgery
📧 Emailing the practice
💻 Contacting us via our online triage service

If you simply need to cancel your appointment, you can:
✔️ Reply “CANCEL” to your appointment reminder text, or
📞 Call the surgery and select Option 1 to cancel your appointment.

By informing us that you are unable to attend, we can offer your appointment to another patient who may urgently need to be seen.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us make the best use of our appointments for everyone in our community.

22/07/2026

Important Notice

Our external letterbox has been removed after becoming damaged and will not be replaced.

We kindly ask that all requests are handed in at the surgery during our normal opening hours.

If you are unable to attend the surgery in person, please email your request to [email protected], including your full name, date of birth, and details of your request.

Please do not send any medical queries or information via email. For medical matters, we would advise that a triage request is submitted instead.

https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/g82074

Your email will be reviewed, and responded to on the next working day.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Contact us about your request

20/07/2026

* Update *

The practice has now reopened following our closure on Friday 17th July, which was necessary due to a gas leak. The building has now been inspected and deemed safe, and we have resumed normal operations.

We kindly ask for your patience and understanding while our team works through the backlog of appointments, enquiries, and administrative tasks resulting from the temporary closure. We are doing everything we can to return to normal service as quickly as possible.

17/07/2026

🚨 Urgent Practice Update 🚨

Due to an emergency involving a possible gas leak, the surgery is currently closed while the situation is being assessed.

If you have an appointment this afternoon, please do not come to the surgery until we have issued a further update.

We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

We will provide an update as soon as we have more information. Thank you.