Knowsley Medical Centre

22/10/2026

🎗️ BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – C 💗

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder of the importance of knowing your body and recognising changes early.
Breast cancer can affect anyone, so it’s important to be aware of what is normal for you.

💗 Look out for:
🔸 A new lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
🔸 Changes in the size or shape of your breast
🔸 Skin dimpling or changes in appearance
🔸 Changes to the ni**le, including a rash or inversion
🔸 Unusual ni**le discharge

If you notice any new or unusual changes, please contact your GP practice. Most breast changes are not cancer, but it is important to get them checked.

🎀 Early detection can make a difference. Don’t ignore changes – get them checked.

Please also attend breast screening when invited.
📍 Knowsley Medical Centre

18/10/2026

💜 WORLD MENOPAUSE DAY – 18TH OCTOBER 💜

Today, Knowsley Medical Centre is raising awareness of menopause and the importance of supporting everyone experiencing this stage of life. 🌸

Menopause is a natural part of life, but symptoms can affect everyone differently and may have an impact on day-to-day life, work, sleep and emotional wellbeing.

💜 Common symptoms can include:
🌸 Hot flushes and night sweats
🌸 Difficulty sleeping
🌸 Mood changes, anxiety or low mood
🌸 Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
🌸 Joint aches and pains
🌸 Changes to periods

✨ You don’t have to struggle in silence!

There are treatments and support options available to help manage menopause symptoms. If symptoms are affecting your daily life, please speak to your GP or healthcare professional to discuss the support available to you.

Let’s break the stigma, start conversations and make sure everyone feels heard, understood and supported. 💜

📍 Knowsley Medical Centre
💜 Your health and wellbeing matter to us.

14/10/2026

🚭 **STOPTOBER – MAKE A FRESH START THIS OCTOBER!** 💚

Thinking about quitting smoking? There’s no better time than now!

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. It can improve your breathing, reduce your risk of serious illnesses and help you save money, too! 🌿

💪 Whether you’ve tried before or this is your first attempt, every step towards quitting counts.

✅ Set a quit date
✅ Identify your triggers
✅ Ask for support
✅ Celebrate every smoke-free day!

You don’t have to do it alone. Support is available to help you on your journey to becoming smoke-free.

https://www.bury.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/bury-live-well-service/quit-smoking

💚 **Your health matters to us!**

📍 Knowsley Medical Centre

Quit smoking - we can help you gain the willpower to quit smoking

14/10/2026

🌟 Meet Our Admin & Care Navigation Team at Knowsley Medical Centre! 🌟

Behind the scenes — and often front-of-house — our admin and care navigation team works incredibly hard to keep the practice running smoothly and support our patients every day. 💙

Here’s a little introduction to the people who help make it all happen!

👩‍💼 Sharon – Practice Manager
Sharon oversees the whole practice, ensuring everything runs safely and efficiently. She supports all departments, manages operations, leads service improvements and works closely with our GP Partners to make sure patients receive the best possible care.

👩‍💼 Gill – Team Leader
Gill supports the day-to-day running of our reception and admin teams, handling complex queries, supporting staff training and ensuring everything runs smoothly. She plays an important role behind the scenes, helping to keep the team organised and the practice running efficiently.

🩺 Caitlin – GP Assistant
Alongside her clinical role, seeing patients for phlebotomy and health checks, Caitlin supports our admin team and doctors with paperwork, task management and organisation, helping everything run as smoothly as possible.

🖇️ Vanessa – Secretary
Vanessa manages referrals, hospital correspondence and medical records, while liaising with secondary care. She helps ensure important information is processed accurately and on time, supporting patients as they move through the next stages of their care.

📞 Our Care Navigators
Our friendly care navigation team is often the first point of contact when patients visit or telephone the practice. They help answer queries, guide patients to the most appropriate services and ensure everyone receives the right support for their needs.

Meet our Care Navigation Team:

✨ Maria – Usually found at the front desk most mornings, welcoming patients with a friendly smile and helping them with their queries, Maria also helps with the phone lines with calm, confident support.

✨ Claire – Claire helps patients with their queries, providing guidance and signposting them to the most appropriate services. She supports patients in helping them navigate appointments and access the right care and support for their needs..

✨ Josie – Josie plays an important role in helping patients navigate appointments and the services available at the practice. She assists with patient queries, provides information and guidance.

✨ Jess – Bringing valuable experience from previously working in a GP surgery, Jess has a good understanding of how general practice works. This experience helps her support patients confidently, understand their queries and guide them towards the appropriate services and care.

💙 A big thank you to our amazing Admin & Care Navigation Team! 💙

Every team member plays an important role in supporting our patients and keeping Knowsley Medical Centre running smoothly. We appreciate all their hard work, dedication and care!

Find out more about our team here:
https://www.knowsleymedicalcentre.nhs.uk/team/

12/10/2026

💉 Our Saturday Clinics Were a Success! 💙

A big thank you to everyone who attended our two Saturday clinics – they went really well! 😊

We’re still offering flu vaccinations and are now also offering COVID-19 vaccinations to help protect you this winter. ❄️

📞 Give us a call today to get booked in!

You may be eligible for a free NHS vaccination if you meet the current eligibility criteria, including:

💙 Flu vaccine:

Adults aged 65 and over

People aged 18–64 with certain long-term health conditions

Pregnant women

Residents in care homes and other eligible groups

💙 COVID-19 vaccine:

Adults aged 75 and over

Residents in care homes for older adults

People aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed due to a health condition or treatment

Eligibility criteria can vary, so please contact us and we’ll be happy to advise you.

Let’s work together to stay protected this winter! 💙❄️

08/10/2026

❄️ STAY WELL THIS WINTER ❄️

As the colder months approach, there are some simple things you can do to help protect your health.

🧥 Keep warm – try to keep your home warm and dress appropriately when going outside.

💉 Get vaccinated if you are eligible – flu and other seasonal vaccinations can help protect you and those around you.

💊 Order your repeat prescriptions in good time – don't leave it until you're running low.

🥗 Look after yourself – eat well, stay active where possible and make time for rest.

🧼 Help prevent the spread of infections – wash your hands regularly and avoid close contact with others if you are unwell.

📞 Know where to get help – your local pharmacy can help with many common illnesses, while NHS 111 can provide urgent advice when you need it.

And remember, if you are worried about your health, please don't ignore your symptoms.

💙 Let's stay well and look after each other this winter.

05/10/2026

🎗️ CANCER SCREENING – DON'T IGNORE YOUR INVITATION

Screening can help find certain cancers at an early stage, sometimes before you have any symptoms.

The NHS offers screening programmes for:

🎀 Breast cancer
🩷 Cervical cancer
💙 Bowel cancer

If you're invited for screening, please take the time to attend or complete your screening test.

📬 Received an invitation? Don't put it off.

And remember, screening isn't the only way to look after your health. If you notice a new or unusual symptom or a change that isn't normal for you, don't wait for a screening invitation – speak to a healthcare professional.

Early detection can save lives. 💙

01/10/2026

🤧 FEELING UNWELL? KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP

Most common illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats and mild stomach bugs, can often be managed at home with rest, plenty of fluids and appropriate over-the-counter medicines.

💊 Your local pharmacy can also help with advice and treatment for many common conditions.

📞 NHS 111 can provide advice if you're unsure what to do or where to go.

🩺 Your GP practice can help when you have a health concern that needs medical assessment or ongoing care.

🚨 999 or A&E should be used for life-threatening emergencies.

Please remember that antibiotics don't work for viral infections such as most coughs and colds.

💙 Choosing the right service helps you get the right care and also helps us provide appointments for patients who need them most.

30/09/2026

🏆 We’re delighted to celebrate an incredible achievement at Knowsley Medical Centre, Bury! 💙

We’re proud to have received First Place in the Star Surgery Award at the BARDOC 30th Celebration Awards.

This recognition is a wonderful reflection of the dedication, compassion and hard work of our entire team, who work every day to provide the best possible care and support to our patients and community.

A huge thank you to BARDOC for this fantastic recognition, and to everyone at Knowsley Medical Centre for their continued commitment. 👏

Here’s to celebrating our team and everything we’ve achieved together! 🌟

28/09/2026

🌸 WOMEN'S HEALTH – LOOK AFTER YOU 🌸

There are lots of different aspects of women's health that are important throughout life, and we're here to help.

🩷 Cervical screening – attending your cervical screening appointment when invited can help prevent cervical cancer.

🌸 Menopause – if you're experiencing symptoms that are affecting your daily life, please speak to a healthcare professional.

🩺 Contraception and sexual health – advice and support are available for contraception, sexual health and family planning.

🎀 Breast health – know what is normal for you and speak to a healthcare professional if you notice a new or unusual change.

💗 Your general health matters too – don't put off speaking to someone about symptoms because you're busy or unsure whether they're important.

If you have concerns about your health, please contact the practice and we'll help you access the appropriate support.