Dean Cross Surgery, Plymstock

10/08/2026

Have you shared your feedback with the Friends and Family Test? 💙

The NHS Friends and Family Test is a quick and anonymous way to tell us about your experience 👍

Your feedback helps us understand what we're doing well and where we can improve 💬

Every response helps us improve services and provide the best possible care for our patients 🏥

If you've recently used our service, we'd love to hear from you 💙

Search: NHS Friends and Family Test 🔍

07/08/2026

Ever wondered how many calories your body uses just to keep you alive? 💙

Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body needs each day to carry out basic functions such as breathing, circulating blood, regulating temperature and supporting your organs 🫀🫁

Knowing your BMR can help you better understand your energy needs and can be useful if you're looking to manage your weight, improve your fitness or make healthier lifestyle choices 👍

Your BMR is influenced by factors such as:
• age
• s*x
• height and weight
• muscle mass
• overall health 🏃

While BMR is only one part of the picture, understanding it can help you make more informed decisions about your nutrition and activity levels 💪🥗

Use the Patient Info BMR Calculator to find out more about your body's energy needs 💫

Find out your BMR here:
https://patient.info/healthy-living/basal-metabolic-rate-calculator

06/08/2026

05/08/2026

August is National Immunisation Awareness Month, a great opportunity to learn more about the vaccines that help protect children from serious illnesses 💉💙

Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect against infectious diseases and help keep our communities healthy 👍

The MMRV vaccine protects children against four illnesses:
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Varicella (chickenpox) 👶

These illnesses can sometimes lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, meningitis and other health problems ⚠️

The MMRV vaccine is offered as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme and helps provide important protection during early childhood 💙

Making sure your child receives their vaccinations on time helps protect them and those around them 🛡️

If you're unsure whether your child is up to date with their vaccinations, speak to your GP practice for advice 👍

Find out more:
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/mmrv-vaccine/

04/08/2026

Living with Crohn’s or Colitis can affect much more than just your gut 💜

These lifelong conditions can impact work, education, relationships, and mental wellbeing – even when symptoms aren’t visible 💬

Around 1 in 120 people in the UK are living with Crohn’s or Colitis, yet many people still don’t fully understand the reality of these conditions 🤝

By raising awareness, we can help reduce stigma and support those living with invisible illnesses

Find trusted information and support here:
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk

03/08/2026

Think you might have a urinary tract infection (UTI)? Your local pharmacy may be able to help 💊💙

UTIs are common infections that can affect the bladder, urethra or kidneys. Symptoms can include:
• pain or a burning sensation when p*eing
• needing to p*e more often or urgently
• cloudy or strong-smelling urine
• pain in your lower tummy ⚠️

Through the NHS Pharmacy First service, eligible women aged 16 to 64 with uncomplicated UTI symptoms may be able to receive advice and treatment directly from a pharmacist without needing a GP appointment 👍

Getting treatment quickly can help relieve symptoms and prevent the infection from becoming more serious 💙

If symptoms are severe, you have a high temperature, back pain, are pregnant, or symptoms do not improve, you should seek further medical advice 🩺

Your pharmacist is highly trained and can advise on the most appropriate treatment for you 🤝

Find out more:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/
https://patient.info/kidney-urinary-tract/urinary-tract-infections

31/07/2026

Do you know your heart age? ❤️

Your heart age may be older than your actual age depending on factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, weight and lifestyle ⚠️

The NHS Heart Age Tool is a quick way to learn more about your heart health and understand your future risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke 💙

Small healthy changes can make a big difference over time 🚶‍♀️🥗💧

Take a few minutes to check your heart age today 👍

Search: NHS Heart Age Calculator 🔍

31/07/2026

Patient Notice: Delay Processing Test Results

We would like to make patients aware of an issue currently affecting test results received from University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP).

UHP has experienced a significant technical issue when implementing a new patient record system, which has resulted in general practices receiving large numbers of duplicate test results. This has created a substantial increase in administrative and clinical workload across GP practices.

Patient safety remains our priority and we are focusing on reviewing and actioning any abnormal or urgent results as quickly as possible. However, this additional workload may lead to delays in the processing of routine test results and other non-urgent administrative tasks.

Please be reassured that:
✅ Urgent and clinically significant results will continue to be prioritised.
✅ Urgent appointments and essential patient care services will continue as normal.
✅ UHP are working on identifying a solution that minimises any further impact on practices.

We kindly ask patients not to contact the practice solely to check whether a routine test result has been received, please use the NHS App.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while this issue is resolved. We will provide further updates if the situation changes.

🦆🦆

29/07/2026

Pregnancy screening tests are offered during pregnancy to help check the health of you and your baby 💙👶

These tests can help identify the chance of certain conditions early on, allowing you to access the right care, support and information throughout your pregnancy 👍

Screening tests offered during pregnancy may include checks for:
• Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome
• sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
• infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis
• physical conditions identified during ultrasound scans 🩺

You’ll also be offered ultrasound scans during pregnancy, including the dating scan and the 20-week screening scan 👶

It’s important to remember that screening tests are your choice. Your midwife or healthcare team will explain each test, what it looks for and what the results may mean so you can decide what feels right for you 💫

If you have any questions or concerns, speak to your midwife or maternity team for advice and support 💙

Find out more:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-tests/

28/07/2026

Friday dates at Plymstock Library.

We’re at your local libraries!

Next date: 29th July at Devonport Library 10 - 2pm.

Do you know your health numbers? We’ll be out and about across Plymouth libraries offering free blood pressure checks and Know Your Measurements sessions
Our advanced scales do more than just measure weight – they give insight into:
✅ Body fat
✅ Key health indicators
✅ What’s happening inside your body
This helps you better understand your health and make small, positive changes towards a healthier lifestyle.
Knowing your numbers can help reduce the risk of diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks – small steps today really can make a big difference tomorrow.
We’ll be visiting libraries across the city – check out our flyer for dates and locations and pop in to see us!



Livewell Southwest Plymouth Wellbeing Hub Network St Budeaux and Barne Barton Wellbeing Hub The Rees Centre Family and Wellbeing Hub Four Greens Community Trust St Budeaux and Barne Barton Wellbeing Hub Plymouth Libraries
Community Builder - Stonehouse Wolseley Trust Plymouth Public Health