New St Mary's and Mulberry Surgeries Community Newsletter

Spring 2025 Edition

Welcome to our newsletter which we aim to publish quarterly to update you with information about our services, health campaigns, events, and ways you can get involved.

 

Southampton Sea City Partnership

As you may already know, in 2024 St Marys and Mulberry surgeries merged together to form one GP Practice serving Southampton’s inner city and Portswood neighbourhoods. This year we are planning to merge together with Victor Street Surgery (in Shirley), to form a new organisation called the Southampton Sea City Partnership. Coming together will help us to be stronger for the future, allowing us to develop our services and to improve access.

We understand the importance of being local and we will continue to provide services from our four sites at St Marys, Telephone House, Mulberry and Victor Street surgeries. We know it’s sometimes important to be able to see a GP or other member of our team that you already know, at your local GP surgery - particularly if you have more complex health needs or find traveling challenging.

Being a bit bigger will also enable us to develop more services for you and your family and improve the way you can access services. For example, we are currently looking at different ways to improve our online access (currently this is done via e-consult).

We will share more information about this soon. If you would like to find out more about our plans for the coming year or have any questions, comments, or ideas

Visit the practice merger page

 

Checking Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is an important indicator of your health. You can come into the surgery and take your blood pressure at any time we are open using the machines in our waiting rooms. Instructions are available and/or you can ask our reception team if you get stuck.

Top tip: Sometimes your BP can be higher than expected if you have been active prior to taking it. Before you take your blood pressure, it can be helpful to rest for 10 minutes.

blood pressure monitor

 

Bowel Screening Home Testing Kits

If you are aged 50 to 74 years, you will automatically receive a FIT KIT through the post every two years. FIT KITS test for invisible blood in your poo. If you receive a kit – you can take a sample at home and post it in pre-paid envelope provided. Results come back to you by letter within 2 weeks.

Get more information about the FIT KIT

 

RSV

RSV or respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of coughs and colds. We recommend and can provide vaccinations for RSV for pregnant women and people aged 75 to 79.

For more information contact the surgery or visit RSV vaccine - NHS.

 

healthy eating

Did you know...?

  • 1 fizzy drink contains 10 teaspoons of sugar?
  • 2.5 tablespoons of frosted flakes contains 2.5 teaspoons of sugar?
  • 1 packet of crisps contains 2.5 teaspoons of cooking oil?

See 8 tips on eating a balanced diet

 

The NHS App

The NHS app allows you to securely access your GP health record with information regarding your current or past prescriptions and book, amend or cancel appointments.

For more information please visit the NHS App website.

the-nhs-app-april2022

 

Getting Involved: Patient Participation Group

We have a Members Participation Group, providing an opportunity for people who use our services to feedback, share ideas and concerns, and to be involved when we are planning changes. Members of our Participation Group also help us share information between the surgery and communities we serve.

If you are interested in joining our PPG, please sign up here.

 

Anyone wishing to submit a query, comment, or feedback can fill out a suggestion slip available in the surgery waiting room and drop it into the comments box.

Published: Apr 4, 2025