We are pleased to announce we raised £35 this year for Comic Relief by wearing something red to work. Please visit the Comic Relief website to see where and how the donations are spent.
Community Autism Support Service – CASS for Adults
Who is it for?
CASS provides support for autistic adults (diagnosed, awaiting diagnosis or those that think they may be autistic, age 18+), living in Coventry and Warwickshire. The service is suitable for individuals not currently accessing or eligible for learning disability support.
What Is Offered:
Support is aimed at providing individuals with the opportunity to:
Understand autism and how it affects them individually
Increase self-help strategies to better manage their emotional and mental wellbeing
Feel more confident to engage with others and community activities
Positively move forward independently to a more fulfilling life
Support Available
Peer Support Groups
Autism Education Course
Information and Signposting
Family/Carer support
For further information please visit the Mind in Coventry and Warwickshire Website or contact 024 7771 4545 or email caass@cwmind.org.uk
Of course our GPs are also always here to help.
Introducing Solid Foods - Weaning Hub 🥕 🥦 🍐 🍓👶
The NHS Better Health Start for Life Campaign has created a Weaning Hub with lots of useful information to help you introduce solid food to your child.
The hub has some great information including:
How to identify when your child is ready?
Preparing for weaning
What to feed your baby
Recipe and Meal Ideas
How to wean safely
For further information please visit the website.
An Introduction to Solids course runs monthly at The Grange Hall, Southam (invitation only). An invite will be sent to you in the post however if you do not receive one or you require any further advice you can contact the Health Visiting team on 01926 815045..
Support is available for anyone in Coventry and Warwickshire affected by suicide
“Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council would like to remind people affected by suicide that free and confidential support is available to help them through this difficult time.
When someone dies by taking their own life, this can create a ripple throughout the community, having an impact on many people in lots of different ways. Whether you are grieving a loved one, a friend or colleague, or whether you have been affected by suicide as a passer-by or at work, you may be faced with a lot of complex emotions. Feelings such as sadness, guilt, shock, anger, frustration, confusion and isolation are common and can be really difficult to process.
To reassure people, no matter how they have been affected, that they don’t have to struggle on their own and that support is available to them, the councils have commissioned a new service. Support after suicide provider Amparo can offer specialist help to anyone living in Coventry or Warwickshire who has been bereaved or affected by suicide in any way.
Amparo provides free emotional and practical support in a range of ways based on an individual’s needs. This may include one-to-one individual advice, help dealing with police and coroners, dealing with media enquiries, support and guidance up to and including an inquest and help to access other local support services.”
The service can be accessed by calling 0330 088 9255, by emailing amparo.service@listening-ear.co.uk or through an online referral form available at amparo.org.uk/refer/
Of course you can also always speak to our GPs.
Bereavement and Grief Support Group Available ☕
Warwickshire East Primary Care Network run a support group for those who have lost someone or are caring for someone with a terminal illness or dementia.
The meetings will provide an opportunity to meet and talk with others in a similar situation. The group will be led by Stig Graham who was the former Chaplain at Myton Hospice.
The group will run on every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 2:30-4pm. There will be 6 sessions per course.
Please email for further information we.connect@nhs.net or call: 07901236280
Cervical Screening Awareness
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer amongst women under 35, but screening can help stop it before it starts. Protect yourself - attend your cervical screening. Cervical screening saves lives.
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.
When you should be invited for cervical screening
This is based on your age, as follows:
Under 25 years of age: up to 6 months before you turn 25
25 to 49 years of age: every 3 years
50 to 64 years of age: every 5 years
65+ years of age: Only if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal
If you have previously received an invite letter but not yet booked in please call the surgery on 01926 810939 to make an appointment.
For more information visit nhs.uk/cervicalscreening
Children's Mental Health Week - Growing Together
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week - 1 in 6 children and young people have a diagnosable mental health problem, whilst many more suffer from challenges such as bullying or bereavement.
Whilst it can often be difficult to understand where to go for help, there are many options out there.
Kooth - This is a free online platform providing help and support to young people. It gives young people a platform to discuss concerns with others, keep a journal, and message a support team who are there to help.
Young Minds - A website packed with useful help and resources. It also provides support for Parents looking to support their children.
RISE - Our local mental health services offer a wide range of courses to help manage anxiety, low self esteem, anger and many other issues.
School - Schools are well placed to help with mental wellness. If you have not done so, please consider discussing your concerns with your school, there maybe more help out there than you realised.
And finally, if you are struggling, you can always speak to one of our GP’s. We are always here to help!
Our reception team is growing
We wish a warm welcome to Kaz who also joins our reception team.
“Hi I am Kaz, I live locally in Southam, and I have 2 young children.
I love to travel and I enjoy genealogy. I am really excited to start working at the surgery.”
Welcome to the admin team, Tanya!
We would like to welcome Tanya to our growing team at St Wulfstan Surgery. She brings with her great experience and will help us continue to deliver an efficient service to you all!
“Hi my name is Tanya, I have a Gorgeous husband Joe and two amazing boys Tobias and Hugo.
I love going to the gym, spending time with my family and making memories. I have worked at St Wulfstan as bank staff since June, and have loved every minute, I am really looking forward to becoming a permanent member of this amazing team!”
Welcome to the Reception Team Natalie
We are very happy to introduce Natalie who has joined our reception team, please see below for an introduction from Natalie.
“Hi, my name is Natalie and I have just recently started working at St Wulfstan Surgery.
I have two children under the age of 5 and also a crazy 6 year old chocolate Labrador, so as you can imagine there is never a dull moment in our household.
I’m very excited about working for St Wulfstan surgery and am looking forward to getting to know both work colleagues and patients”
New Local Bereavement & Grief Support Group
Bye Bye Sarah & Welcome Dr Beirne
As a GP Training Practice we are really privileged to welcome GP Trainees who are in the process of training to become fully fledged GP’s. They bring with them great experience from their training at medical school, but also through extensive hospital based placements and others.
It has been a privilege to have Dr Sarah Whaley with us for the last 6 months but her placement has now come to an end and she moves into a 6 month placement in Palliative Medicine. She will always be welcome at St Wulfstan Surgery and we wish her the best for her very bright future!
In her place we welcome Dr Tom Beirne who will be joining us for 6 months.
A few words from Tom:
“‘I am a GP trainee with an interest in Paediatrics and Acute medicine, I live with my fiance, son and dog and enjoy any activity that involves being outdoors!””
Free Workshops for people with Dementia and their carers: Arts Uplift
Arts and Dementia Warwickshire is a new arts programme for people living with dementia and their carers living in Warwickshire in the community, in In Patient wards and also in care homes. It has been commissioned by Warwickshire County Council. It will be a varied programme for 1.5 years including singing, performance poetry, arts and crafts, dance/movement, storytelling and reminiscence therapy. Alongside this there will be some training for care staff as well.
Please visit Arts Uplift more more details
In South Warwickshire we came across the following activities locally:
Warwick Memory Singers - Weekly on Wednesdays 1.00 pm to 2.30pm. £5 a week, carers go free. Held at Unitarian Chapel, 31 High Street, CV34 4AX. Further information or queries, contact Sarah Riddell 07722 632 242 or at sriddell@armonico.org.uk
Orchestra of the Swan - Held at 14 Rother Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6LU Tel: 01789 267567 Stratford contact Sue Pope to get more information education@orchestraoftheswan.org
Dementia Café at Compton Verney is held at Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park (CV35 9HZ). Every first Tuesday of the month (10.30am - 12.30pm) Tel: 01295 688376 or 07964 683146 (Contact Heather or Paul) More information visit Compton Verney
Online Arts Uplift - Online choir weekly on a Monday from 2pm to 3pm its £5 per couple of £8 per group. Tel: 07946 585978 To join, contact Jenny Davis at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk
Children’s Community Autism Support Service
There are local services available to children, young people (up until their 19th birthday) who are on the neurodevelopmental waiting list for an autism diagnosis, or who have previously received a diagnosis but require support, and their families.
The service can offer low level support, focussing on understanding, communication, sensory integration, processing, behaviour, self-esteem, and daily routines and activities.
Online support groups are held Tuesday 7-8pm and Thursday 1-2pm.
There is also a wealth of other online support materials.
For more information, or to register, please visit Coventry & Warwickshire MIND
Face Masks Are Still Required At the Surgery
Please be advised that whilst COVID restrictions are easing in most settings this week, the guidance for healthcare settings from Public Health England has not changed.
Therefore the use of face masks and social distancing remains in place within the surgery to ensure the safety of our staff and patients.
We thank you all for your understanding.