{"id":5764,"date":"2026-02-27T09:36:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T09:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/?p=5764"},"modified":"2026-02-06T11:39:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T11:39:35","slug":"willingham-medical-practice-march-2026-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/willingham-medical-practice-march-2026-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Willingham Medical Practice \u2013 March 2026 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5764\" class=\"elementor elementor-5764\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f21624b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"f21624b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2c037cb\" data-id=\"2c037cb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e12149 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"1e12149\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-17bc34e\" data-id=\"17bc34e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bfb7ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6bfb7ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WMP_March.jpg?w=960&#038;ssl=1\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-79b526a\" data-id=\"79b526a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0477007 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0477007\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Join in the fun at the Western Park Junior ParkRun<\/strong><\/p><p><em>Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate<\/em><\/p><ul><li>Free and easy to take part<\/li><li>Make new friends and feel part of the local community<\/li><li>Every Sunday morning<\/li><\/ul><p>A free, fun and friendly weekly 2K event for juniors (4- to 14-year-olds). It\u2019s held every <strong>Sunday<\/strong> and starts at <strong>9am<\/strong> taking place at<strong> Western Park, Peppercorn Drive, Northstowe, Cambridge CB24 1BF<\/strong>. It\u2019s <strong>FREE<\/strong>, but please register before you come along.<\/p><p>Please see <strong>https:\/\/www.parkrun.org.uk\/westernpark-juniors\/<\/strong> for more details or speak to a member of practice staff<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b968fa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"4b968fa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-93a29b3\" data-id=\"93a29b3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-399851f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"399851f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Contacting the Surgery<\/strong><\/h5><p>Emails to the surgery are not the appropriate route for our patients to make clinical contact with the GP and we ask that you do not convey any clinical information this way. This includes, for example, asking clinical questions, letting the GP know that you are changing doses of your medication or wanting to update the GP before attending an appointment with them. On receipt of such emails, our only response will be to ask you make a GP appointment.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h5><strong>PIP Supporting Letters<\/strong><\/h5><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>We understand that applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can feel challenging. Please be aware that the GP practice is unable to provide supporting letters for PIP applications. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use the information you include on your application forms to make their decision. If the DWP needs any further medical information or clarification, they will contact the GP practice directly.<\/p><p>If you need help with completing the forms, there may be local advice services that can offer support and our Social Prescriber, Alaine Bunce, may be able to help in some instances as well as facilitate a referral to support services such as the Social Care Welfare Benefits Team.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h5><strong>Volunteer Opportunity: Chair of the Patient Participation Group (PPG)<\/strong><\/h5><p>We are looking for a new Chair for our Patient Participation Group (PPG). The PPG is a group of patients who work with the practice team to help improve services, share patient views and support the development of the practice. As Chair, you would lead meetings, help set agendas, and act as a key link between patients and the practice.<\/p><p>Any patient registered with Willingham Medical Practice, who is interested in representing patient views and helping shape local healthcare services, can apply. No previous experience is required &#8211; just enthusiasm, good communication skills and a willingness to get involved.<\/p><p>If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Sharon Unwin, Practice Manager. We would love to hear from you and welcome new voices to the PPG.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-261ebbb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"261ebbb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-744f82f\" data-id=\"744f82f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba54d8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba54d8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Vaccinations<\/strong><\/h5><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The <strong>Pneumococcal Vaccine<\/strong> is available year-round for everyone who is aged 65 years and over.<\/p><p>The <strong>RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine<\/strong> is available year-round for everyone who is aged between 75 and 79 years of age and for all pregnant women who are over 28 weeks.<\/p><p>The <strong>Shingles Vaccine <\/strong>is available year round for everyone who is aged between 70 and 79 years of age and have never received a shingles vaccine, for individuals who reach the age of 65 or 70 years of age during the period 01\/09\/23 and 31\/08\/2028 (these individuals should be vaccinated on or after (but not before) their 65th or 70th birthday), individuals who are aged 50 years and above and meet the definition of severe immunosuppression and for those who are aged between 18 and 49 years and receiving a stem cell transplant. <em>Please note, when booking your second (booster) shingles vaccination, that this cannot be administered any sooner (even by one day) than six calendar months after the first vaccination was given.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-127bf0f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"127bf0f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ced0f16\" data-id=\"ced0f16\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be69d9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be69d9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong>Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meeting<\/strong><\/h5><p>The PPG brings together patients, GPs and staff from a GP practice. They meet to discuss issues relating to their surgery and the services provided to patients. All of our patients are welcome.<\/p><p>The next meeting will be held on <strong>Wednesday 11<sup>th<\/sup> March, 7-9pm <\/strong>at the <strong>Willingham Medical Practice<\/strong>.<\/p><h5><strong>Carers Meetings<\/strong><\/h5><p>If you are a carer for someone and need advice and financial or emotional support, please come along to our carers support meeting on <strong>Wednesday 4<sup>th<\/sup> March,<\/strong> at the <strong>Wilford Furlong Centre in Willingham<\/strong>, where we will be holding a drop-in session <strong>between 2pm and 4pm<\/strong>. Please come along and get some support from other people in the local community. Refreshments are provided, there\u2019s no need to pre-book and it\u2019s completely <strong>FREE<\/strong>! Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month and for more information please contact <strong>alaine.bunce@nhs.net@nhs.net<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0b59e0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"f0b59e0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e540410\" data-id=\"e540410\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9d40d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e9d40d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WILLINGHAM &amp; LONGSTANTON SURGERIES<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Willingham 01954 260230\u00a0 Longstanton 01954 207600\u00a0 Dispensary 01954 207602<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.willinghammedicalpractice.nhs.net\">www.willinghammedicalpractice.nhs.net<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Community (District) Nurses: 0330 726 0077\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Health Visitors:\u00a0 0300 029 5050<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>\u00a0A&amp;E\u00a0 is not an alternative to a GP appointment<\/strong><\/p><p>When the surgery is closed please call <strong>111<\/strong> for medical assistance, or <strong>999<\/strong> for a life-threatening emergency<\/p><p>For urgent mental health support, please call <strong>111<\/strong> and select option <strong>2<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join in the fun at the Western Park Junior ParkRun Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate Free and easy to take part Make new friends and feel part of the local community Every Sunday morning A free, fun and friendly weekly 2K event for juniors (4- to 14-year-olds). It\u2019s held every Sunday and starts at 9am taking place at Western Park, Peppercorn Drive, Northstowe, Cambridge CB24 1BF. It\u2019s FREE, but please register before you come along. Please see https:\/\/www.parkrun.org.uk\/westernpark-juniors\/ for more details or speak to a member of practice staff Contacting the Surgery Emails to the surgery are not the appropriate route for our patients to make clinical contact with the GP and we ask that you do not convey any clinical information this way. This includes, for example, asking clinical questions, letting the GP know that you are changing doses of your medication or wanting to update the GP before attending an appointment with them. On receipt of such emails, our only response will be to ask you make a GP appointment. \u00a0 PIP Supporting Letters \u00a0We understand that applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can feel challenging. Please be aware that the GP practice is unable to provide supporting letters for PIP applications. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use the information you include on your application forms to make their decision. If the DWP needs any further medical information or clarification, they will contact the GP practice directly. If you need help with completing the forms, there may be local advice services that can offer support and our Social Prescriber, Alaine Bunce, may be able to help in some instances as well as facilitate a referral to support services such as the Social Care Welfare Benefits Team. \u00a0 Volunteer Opportunity: Chair of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) We are looking for a new Chair for our Patient Participation Group (PPG). The PPG is a group of patients who work with the practice team to help improve services, share patient views and support the development of the practice. As Chair, you would lead meetings, help set agendas, and act as a key link between patients and the practice. Any patient registered with Willingham Medical Practice, who is interested in representing patient views and helping shape local healthcare services, can apply. No previous experience is required &#8211; just enthusiasm, good communication skills and a willingness to get involved. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Sharon Unwin, Practice Manager. We would love to hear from you and welcome new voices to the PPG. Vaccinations \u00a0The Pneumococcal Vaccine is available year-round for everyone who is aged 65 years and over. The RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine is available year-round for everyone who is aged between 75 and 79 years of age and for all pregnant women who are over 28 weeks. The Shingles Vaccine is available year round for everyone who is aged between 70 and 79 years of age and have never received a shingles vaccine, for individuals who reach the age of 65 or 70 years of age during the period 01\/09\/23 and 31\/08\/2028 (these individuals should be vaccinated on or after (but not before) their 65th or 70th birthday), individuals who are aged 50 years and above and meet the definition of severe immunosuppression and for those who are aged between 18 and 49 years and receiving a stem cell transplant. Please note, when booking your second (booster) shingles vaccination, that this cannot be administered any sooner (even by one day) than six calendar months after the first vaccination was given. Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meeting The PPG brings together patients, GPs and staff from a GP practice. They meet to discuss issues relating to their surgery and the services provided to patients. All of our patients are welcome. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th March, 7-9pm at the Willingham Medical Practice. Carers Meetings If you are a carer for someone and need advice and financial or emotional support, please come along to our carers support meeting on Wednesday 4th March, at the Wilford Furlong Centre in Willingham, where we will be holding a drop-in session between 2pm and 4pm. Please come along and get some support from other people in the local community. Refreshments are provided, there\u2019s no need to pre-book and it\u2019s completely FREE! Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month and for more information please contact alaine.bunce@nhs.net@nhs.net WILLINGHAM &amp; LONGSTANTON SURGERIES Willingham 01954 260230\u00a0 Longstanton 01954 207600\u00a0 Dispensary 01954 207602 Website: www.willinghammedicalpractice.nhs.net Community (District) Nurses: 0330 726 0077\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Health Visitors:\u00a0 0300 029 5050 \u00a0A&amp;E\u00a0 is not an alternative to a GP appointment When the surgery is closed please call 111 for medical assistance, or 999 for a life-threatening emergency For urgent mental health support, please call 111 and select option 2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Tb23-1uY","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5764"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5773,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5764\/revisions\/5773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.overvillage.co.uk\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}