The Orchard Medical Practice

The Practice will be running the combined Influenza and Covid Vaccination Clinics commencing in October 2025.  If you are eligible, we have ordered you a vaccination and we will be contacting patients to ask you to book an appointment.

Although NICE issued guidance in December 2024 that the NHS should provide MOUNJARO (Tirzepatide) to patients for weight loss from June 2025 It has NOT been confirmed by Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland that GP Practices within this area can prescribe this medication until at least August 2025.

NHS Local Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) has advised practices that the criteria for obtaining this medication will be extremely strict – for this year patients will need to have a BMI greater than 40 and have at least four of the following qualifying medical problems.

·         Hypertension

·         Dyslipidaemia

·         Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

·         Cardiovascular Disease

·         Type 2 Diabetes

Patients with any further questions for concerns can contact NHS LLR: 

Room G30, Pen Lloyd Building, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester. LE3 8TB
Email:  llricb-llr.enquiries@NHS .net                     
Telephone: 0116 2953405

For further weight management information, please see bottom of this page.

External Services

Many health problems DO NOT need a Doctor or Nurse.  It is important that patients use their GP and A&E services appropriately.  There is a lot of useful information at www.nhsinform.co.uk. Efficient signposting can ensure that patients receive appropriate care by directing them to the correct point of service.  

Internal Service

All our Receptionists have been trained by our Clinical Team to ask appropriate questions when booking your appointment to enable patients to be directed to the most appropriate Clinician.

Please note that the Practice will be closed for trainig from 1 p.m. on the following dates:

• Wednesday 12th March 2025
• Thursday 10th April 2025
• Wednesday 14th May 2025
• Wednesday 11th June 2025
• Thursday 3rd July 2025
• NO CLOSURE IN AUGUST
• Wednesday 10th September 2025
• Wednesday 8th October 2025
• Thursday 13th November 2025
• NO CLOSURE IN DECEMBER
• Wednesday 14th January 2026
• Thursday 12th February 2026
• Thursday 26th March 2026

If you require medical assistance during this time, please telephone the surgery where an alternative telephone number will be provided.

We will re-open as usual the following day.

Please bear this in mind when ordering/collecting any prescriptions.

Please see our latest Practice Newsletter

The Newsletter is updated quarterly to keep patients up-to-date with news about the Practice.

Practice Newsletter July - September 2025.pdf

The Hinckley and Bosworth Medical Alliance have introduced a new Men's Health Clinic which is now open locally.

Please see the poster for more information on how to book an appointment.

We are proud to announce that we have been accredited as an "Active Practice"

We would like to thank all our patients who have taken part in recent activites

Gluten-free foods prescribing

The prescribing of gluten-free foods in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) is ending from 1 February 2025.

The LLR Integrated Care Board (ICB), the organisation that plans local NHS services, took the decision at its meeting on 12 December 2024, following a lengthy consultation process including discussions with patient representative groups and clinicians including GPs, dietitians and pharmacists.

You can read more about the changes on the local NHS website: Gluten-free foods prescribing - LLR ICB

Where you can find out more

For further information about the changes to the prescribing of Gluten-free products and the support available please visit the local NHS website: Gluten-free foods prescribing - LLR ICB

In addition to find out more about Coeliac Disease and how to manage symptoms, please visit  - www.nhs.uk/conditions/coeliac-disease/www.nhs.uk/conditions/Coeliac-disease

There is a lot of information on the Coeliac UK website at www.coeliac.org.uk that you can access if you want advice about your diet including:

• Home of Gluten free recipes
• Diet and health workshops
• Food and drink information
• Gluten-free food on a budget

The Association of UK Dietitians also have a range of support and information - www.bda.uk.com/resource/coeliac-disease-and-Gluten-free-diet.html

The BBC Good Food website also contains top 10 tips for a gluten free diet www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/special-diets/top-10-tips-gluten-free-diet      

Patient Webinars are also available to view on Overview of Coeliac Disease - patientwebinars.co.uk

There is local advice and support available on the cost of living from local authorities:

• Leicester City Council - Household support fund
• Leicestershire County Council - Cost of living support
• Rutland County Council - Cost of living support

If you require specific advice, please ask your GP if you can be referred to a dietitian. If you have a general enquiry about the changes, you can:

• Email: llricb-llr.beinvolved@nhs.net
• Telephone: 0116 295 3405
• Write: Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, Room G30, Pen Lloyd Building, Leicestershire County Council, Leicester Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8TB

Please see the document below containing Frequently Asked Questions about this change

FAQ

Weight management is a self referral to the Leicestershire Weight Management services which can be found on:

Leicestershire weight management

Please note unfortunately we are currently unable to prescribe the weight loss injection on the NHS for weight loss only and we are unable to refer you for this currently.

If you would like further helpful information on weight loss, this can be found on the following website:

https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/factsheets