Patient Newsletter Autumn 2026

Autumn has arrived in Cranbrook, and as we head into the busier months of the year, we want to share practice updates, important seasonal reminders, and health information from the team.

Thank you to all our patients for your continued support following the launch of Total Triage. The transition has gone smootly, ensuring that patients are directed to the right clinician, at the right time, in the right way.

Our goal remains to provide safe, fair, and effective care while making the best possible use of our appointments.

Autumn & Winter Vaccinations: Flu and COVID-19

Protecting our community this winter is a top priority.

Our Autumn 2026 vaccination programmes for both Flu and COVID-19 will officially start on 1st October 2026.

Key Information

• Start Date: The main adult NHS flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes begin on 1 October 2026.
• Eligibility: Eligible groups include adults aged 65 and over, those aged 18 to 64 in clinical risk groups, pregnant women, care home residents, and frontline health and social care workers.
• Booking: Eligible patients will have received invitations from the practice. If you think you are eligible but haven't received an invitation, please call the surgery and speak to a member of the team. Housebound
• Patients: We will contact patients who are housebound or living in local care homes directly to arrange their vaccinations - there is no need to call us.

Total Triage System Update

Launched May this year, our Total Triage system has been a huge success.

We continue to process requests directly via clinicians, ensuring safe, appropriate, and timely care.

We currently process approximately 350 requests per week, achieving:

• A 70% reduction in waiting times to see a GP
• A 64% reduction in telephone traffic during peak morning hours (8:30am to 9:30am)
• Improved access for urgent care needs
• Better agility to manage seasonal winter pressures

Following review of an online request, patients may receive a same-day appointment, a routine appointment, a telephone consultation, text advice, or a referral to another service, such as Pharmacy First or the First Contact Physiotherapist.

If you are unable to complete an online request yourself, our reception team are more than happy to submit one on your behalf.

If you have any questions on the Anima system or would like help, please do not hesitate to come into the surgery and a member of the team can help you.

Premises Update

• The Crane: The eagle eyed among you will have spotted a new entrance in our waiting area that links previous Crane premises to ours This is the first big step towards more space that we are taking to help increase our capacity.
• We are working hard behind the scenes with the ICB on getting IT systems up and running as well as working through the appropriate governance to enable us to be using that space hopefully this winter. Please bear with us whilst we undertake this and we hope to have an update for you soon!
• Funding: Our PPG is kindly coordinating fundraising for our new premises and new clinical equipment as this is not funded by the NHS. Please contact Kim Fletcher our chair for more information. Your kindness and generosity is very much appreciated. If you would like to donate Elease emal or speak to Amy our Practice Manager or Kim our PPG lead

Pharmacy First — Minor Illness Support

As we head into the colder months, don't forget that many common conditions can be treated quickly by your local pharmacist without needlng a GP appointment, including:

• Earache and sore throat
• Sinusitis and infected insect bites
• Shingles and impetigo
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UT's) in women using

Pharmacy First helps keep GP appointments avalable for patients with complex or urgent needs.

NHS App & Missed Appointments

• NHS App: Use the app to order repeat prescriptions, view test results, access medical records, and book digible seasonal vaccinations Speak to reception if you need help setting it up.
• Cancelled Appointments: Every missed appointment is wasted clinical time. If you no longer need your dot, cancel it via the NHS App, by phone, or through reminder texts as early as possible.

Your Surgery Needs You!

We are recruiting new members for our Patient Participation Group!

If you are a patient who would like to get more invdved and support us, we would love to get you on board!

We are especially keen to represent patients between 18-65, carers, housebound patients and relatives of care home residents. as well as those with learning difficulties or limited access.

Meetings can be face to face or remote, and we are more than happy to help facilitate any adjustments.

Please come to the surgery and ask for Amy our practice manager or complete our online form

Congratulations and Welcome

• Dr Liu has begun her maternity leave for the next 12 months. We wish her and her family well and safe ddivery of their new arrival!
• Dr Nadiya Hassan will be joining us on Fridays as our new GP. She works locally as a salaried GP at Orchard End and will be a welcome addition to the team.
• Dr Estabrook will be leaving us shortly for her maternity leave and we are hoping to announce her cover shortly. I'm sure you join us in wishing her and her family well at this exciting time!
• Christine Arundell has joined us as our new Advanced Paramedic Practitioner She brings with her a wealth of experience workinng on the frontline in the community and will be leading our care home support at Hartley House, be part of our triage team, and be seeing patients within her scope of practice Please join us in giving her a big welcome to the surgery!
• Julie McCollum our finance manager has retired, and we welcome Julie Swaffer as her replacement. Julie joins us from East Sussex where she has been an experienced Practice Manager and long-standing member of the Primary Care team

Future Practice Closures

As a practice we have planned closures due to training and public holidays. These are regularly posted in practice, on our website, on our Facebook page and on our phone lines. The upcoming closures are:

• Thursday 15th October 2026 from 12:30pm for Practice Staff Training
• Wednesday 11th November 2026 from 12:30pm for Practice Staff Training
• Friday 25th December 2026 (Christmas Day)
• Monday 28th December 2026 (Boxing Day Bank Holiday)
• Friday 1st January 2027 (New Year's Day)

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Published: Sep 22, 2026