An Update on Masks At the Surgery

In response to recent changes in national guidelines on the use of face masks in GP Surgeries we have updated our guidance on using face masks in the surgery.

• It is not mandatory for patients to wear face masks at the surgery.

• People are still welcome to wear face masks if they wish.

• Our GP’s and Nurses will still be wearing masks during consultations.

• If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, then it is requested you let our Reception team know BEFORE you arrive and arrangements will be made to see you safely which may include a car park assessment, or assessment in a specific COVID-19 ‘HOT’ clinic.

• It remains very important that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 avoid entering the reception area.
  

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According to NHS.uk, symptoms of COVID-19 infection include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

• shortness of breath

• feeling tired or exhausted

• an aching body

• a headache

• a sore throat

• a blocked or runny nose

• loss of appetite

• diarrhoea

• feeling sick or being sick

Mens Health Awareness 2022

To men everywhere becoming healthier and happier! Following “Mens Health Week”, which ran from the 13th - 19th June, why not take 5 minutes to give your mind and body an MOT?

Men’s Health Forum have created a brilliant guide to giving yourself a health MOT at home. This includes:

• 🫀 Checking your pulse

• 🩸 Assessing your blood pressure

• ⚖️ Watching your weight

• ⚠️ Looking out for warning signs such as new, continuous coughs, unexplained lumps, breathing difficulties, moles changing shape or texture, new pains, changes to your bowel habits or blood where it shouldn't be

• 🍆 Identifying erectile issues

• 🍒 Checking your testicles

• 🌊 Checking how much you pee - peeing more often (and sometimes less easily) can be a possible sign of diabetes or prostate cancer

• 🧠 Looking after your brain - how are you feeling, honestly?

You can find out more about the D.I.Y Man MOT at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/diy-man-mot

The ‘Can Do’ Challenge

The ‘Can Do’ challenge is a great mindfulness technique for all genders to take part in! The five ways to wellbeing are five things we can all do that are scientifically proven to help us feel better. Try taking part in the CAN DO Challenge by choosing a different way to wellbeing each day of the week. Every day, a different way. The five ways are:

• Connect - connect with other people (eg. call an old friend you haven't since before lockdown)

• (Be) Active - move your body (eg. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)

• Notice - take notice of the environment around you (eg. turn off your phone for an hour)

• Discover - learn something new (eg. read a book you haven't read before)

• Offer (or give) - do something for someone else (eg. volunteer for a local community group)

Have you attended your diabetic eye screening appointment?

The Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire diabetic eye screening service are encouraging those living with diabetes to attend their diabetic eye screening appointment. It is vital that you get an annual check for diabetic retinopathy. This condition can lead to sight loss if not detected early and treated. Standard intervals between screening are yearly, and for patients aged 12 and over the screening process is free of charge.

What can I expect from my appointment?

Your history
Your details will be checked and confirmed before the screening test begins.
Testing Visual Acuity
In other words, a test is carried out to see how good your sight is. If you wear glasses, please take them to your appointment.
Dilation Drops
These eye drops make your pupils larger to ensure the images that are captured are clear. The eye drops can cause blurriness and sensitivity to light for up to 6 hours – do not drive in this time.
Photographing the eye
An advanced camera system is used to photograph different areas of the back of your eye.
Grading your eyes
The images of your eyes will be assessed after your appointment.
Results
You will usually receive your results 4 - 6 weeks after the appointment.

To book your appointment, please call the Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire diabetic eye screening service on 0333 456 7670.

Job Alert: Receptionist Needed!

We are recruiting for a part time receptionist to join our friendly team due to our rapid expansion.

The successful candidate will work as part of team delivering our front of house services, this includes opening and closing, booking appointments, processing repeat prescriptions and samples. We are looking for a new recruit to join us, working 18.5 hours a week.

For further information and how to apply please click here

Closing date is Friday 29th July 2022.

Staying safe in the sun this summer

Sun safety is always in season, but particularly now that the temperatures are soaring and the sun is at its most intense, its vital that we know how to protect ourselves from the suns warm rays whilst enjoying them. Whether you are topping up your tan in your garden, or venturing to warmer climates abroad for your summer break, allow us to refresh your knowledge surrounding sun safety

“My general advice is that sunscreen is not an alternative to shade and clothing. Sunscreen should be factor 35 or above and also have a UVA rating of at least 4 or 5 stars, keep babies out of the sun, and sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming – 2 tablespoons is enough to cover your whole body.” Dr Bakewell – GP at St Wulfstan Surgery

In the UK, the peak of the heat tends to be between 11am and 3:00pm, so this would be the best time to seek regular refuge in the shade. Just 10 minutes of strong sunshine is all it takes to burn pale skin! Always keep babies and toddlers in the shade when possible.

Our choice of clothing can also help protect our skin against sun damage, so try to opt for wide brimmed hats, long sleeved tops and long skirts or trousers. And although most of us choose them to complete our outfit of the day, your sunglasses prevent any damage to your eyes from the bright sun – so don’t forget them if you’re heading out! Sunglasses with good quality lenses that filter out the UV are essential, those with an EU CE Mark are proven to offer safe protection.

The NHS website advises that you should take extra care in the sun if you:

• have pale, white or light brown skin

• have freckles or red or fair hair

• tend to burn rather than tan

• have many moles

• have skin problems relating to a medical condition

• are only exposed to intense sun occasionally (for example, while on holiday)

• are in a hot country where the sun is particularly intense

• have a family history of skin cancer

It goes without saying that increasing our fluid intake will help prevent dehydration and overheating, having a refillable bottle of water on your person is a handy way of ensuring that you’re keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day! You can find more helpful advice on sun safety by visiting the following trusted websites:

https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/sun-awareness/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/

Temperatures are expected to rise significantly...

During hot weather, there’s a high risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Please read and share the NHS’s helpful guide so you know what to do if you see someone with signs of heat exhaustion.

Food for thought…🍉🥑🍅

Just as we change our wardrobe during the summers months to stay cool, it’s also a good idea to change the way we look at what we eat during warmer temperatures. Sweating is our bodies natural way of regulating our temperature – releasing water and salt, which evaporates to help cool us down. Naturally, this can cause a loss in your body’s hydration, but there are many different nutrient and hydration dense foods we can enjoy to help keep you feeling your best!

Watermelon is largely made up of water and is packed full of nutrients such as lycopene and beta-carotene, along with potassium and Vitamin C. Delicious on it’s own, tossed in a salad or blitzed and frozen for a healthy ice lolly. Oranges also have a high water content, and are best known for being a great source of Vitamin C which helps keep your immune system supported. If you’re looking for something relatively easily to incorporate into your diet, cucumber is a great choice for keeping your bodies thirst quenched being made up almost entirely of water. Other great summer foods include:

• Grapefruit

• Tomatoes

• Berries

• Probiotic Yoghurt

• Melon

• Lettuce

• Courgette

• Bell peppers

• Celery

• Leafy greens (such as kale or spinach)

• Peaches

Alongside of taking care of our patients, one thing we are all very passionate about as a team is food! So if you have any great summer recipe ideas, we would love to hear them. Feel free to email us.

Menopause Evening at The Community Hub & Café

Royal British Legion are thrilled to be holding ‘Menopause Evening’ on Friday 29th July 2022 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Joining them will be our very own Dr Kirti Viswanathan, Practice Nurse Tricia Morton and Clinical Pharmacist Mina Hunjan, who will be covering various topics surrounding menopause.

Should you wish to register your interest, please contact:
The Community Hub & Café on 01926 812815 ext 5365.

St Wulfstan Surgery @ Southam Clinic

We are really pleased to announce that St Wulfstan Surgery are now able to offer some GP and Nurse appointments from Southam Clinic starting from Monday 11th July. We have 2 newly refurbished, well equipped clinic rooms available with a dedicated waiting area. One of our friendly reception staff will also be based at the clinic, during clinic times, to welcome you. For us it has been so important that we continue to offer our patients the best possible service.

When booking your appointment, you will be made aware either via online booking or via our receptionists whether your appointment will be at the Surgery, or at Southam Clinic. This information should also be available in your appointment booking text message.

We know that many of you will remember Southam Clinic as the site at which you had your COVID vaccine, but for those who have not visited, the address and map can be found below. On arrival please check-in with our receptionist at the main desk, and you can then make your way round to our waiting area on the right. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

 

‘Tis the season to be… Bitten?! 🦟 🪰 🕷️

Just as the warm weather draws us out to enjoy the glorious rays, there are several creepy crawlies that enjoy the summer sun too! Whether you are enjoying a well earned break somewhere tropical, or perhaps tending to some chores in the garden, we are all susceptible to being targeted by insects and suffering with a bite or a sting. Generally, bites and stings can be treated at home and will clear up on their own within a few days. If you wish to pro-actively manage this, your local pharmacist will be able to advise you on suitable over-the-counter treatments. The NHS website offers useful advice on home management for bites and stings, such as;

• Wash the affected area with soap and water

• Apply a cold compress (such as a flannel or cloth cooled with cold water) or an ice pack to any swelling for at least 10 minutes

• Raise or elevate the affected area if possible, as this can help reduce swelling

• Avoid scratching the affected area if possible, as this can help reduce swelling

• Avoid scratching the area, to reduce the risk of infection

• Avoid traditional home remedies, such as vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, as they’re unlikely to help

You can help to try and prevent being bitten by using insect repellent on exposed skin – repellents that contain 50% DEET (diethyltoluamide) are recommended as being most effective, and keeping your skin covered with longer clothing when the weather allows. Of course, we are always on hand to assist should your symptoms be lingering longer than a few days or you are concerned about a bite or a sting. For more information on bites and sting’s, please find the NHS’s helpful guide at - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insect-bites-and-stings

Thank you, Dame Deborah James 🤍

Many of us have been following the inspirational journey of Dame Deborah James, also known as ‘Bowelbabe’. Deborah spent her life working as a teacher up until her bowel cancer diagnosis in 2016, and since then has dedicated herself to sharing her story through working as a journalist, podcaster host, author and charity campaigner. Deborah was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire – which was conferred on her by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at her family home. Dame Deborah James sadly passed away on the 28th June 2022, having raised nearly £7 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe fund - https://www.bowelbabe.org/

The awareness that Dame Deborah raised for bowel cancer has been immeasurable, and for an incredibly worthy cause. Please see below an excerpt from the NHS UK Website for an overview of bowel cancer and its symptoms. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, please don’t ignore them and talk to your GP. It may be absolutely nothing to worry about, but in the words of Deborah; “check your poo – it could just save your life.”

“Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer. Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.

The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• persistent blood in your poo – that happens for no obvious reason or is associated with a change in bowel habit

• a persistent change in your bowel habit – which is usually having to poo more and your poo may also become more runny

• persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating or discomfort – that's always caused by eating and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant unintentional weight loss

Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. See a GP if you have any of the bowel cancer symptoms for three weeks or more.”

For more information on bowel cancer, you can visit these useful websites below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bowel-cancer

An Update on Masks At the Surgery

In response to recent changes in national guidelines on the use of face masks in GP Surgeries we have updated our guidance on using face masks in the surgery.

• It is therefore no longer mandatory for patients to wear face masks at the surgery.

• People are still welcome to wear face masks if they wish.

• Our GP’s and Nurses will still be wearing masks during consultations.

• If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, then it is requested you let our Reception team know BEFORE you arrive and arrangements will be made to see you safely which may include a car park assessment, or assessment in a specific COVID-19 ‘HOT’ clinic.

• It remains very important that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 avoid entering the reception area.
  

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According to NHS.uk, symptoms of COVID-19 infection include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

• shortness of breath

• feeling tired or exhausted

• an aching body

• a headache

• a sore throat

• a blocked or runny nose

• loss of appetite

• diarrhoea

• feeling sick or being sick

St Wulfstan Surgery - Warwickshire's First Pride Ally GP Surgery

St Wulfstan surgery is celebrating Pride month by showing equality, diversity and inclusion for our LGBT+ community. Clinical lead Dr Kirti Viswa and operational lead Mrs Amanda Cogley have been busy co-ordinating policies, protocols and training for all staff.

We are the extremely delighted and proud to be the first practice in Warwickshire to have teamed up with LGBT foundation LGBT Foundation - Training for Organisations for our training. Pride in Practice Co-ordination Stevie Watson –Andrews has conducted our staff training, which was immensely helpful. She helped us understand the inclusive language and the barriers faced by LGBT community. Stevie will be continuing her support for the next year as we are currently in the process of applying for accreditation

We will soon be making changes in our new patient registration forms and adding an exclusive area for LGBT support services on our website.

Dr Viswa attended the Coventry and Warwickshire Pride webinar by Dr Michael Brady ( National LGBT health advisor at NHS England) on 13th June Coventry. She has also completed all the RCGP e-learning modules in Our LGBT+ GP community | RCGP to ensure that St Wulfstan surgery meets all standards and is certainly a Pride Ally.

Do you know your defibs? 🫀⚕️

This week at the surgery we have been refreshing our knowledge surrounding CPR and defibrillators, guided by a 30-year veteran of the West Midlands Ambulance Service. This information is of the utmost importance, not just to those of us who work within a healthcare setting but for everyone. You never know when a loved one, friend, colleague or member of the public may need your help.

“A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. This high energy shock is called defibrillation, and it's an essential part in trying to save the life of someone who’s in cardiac arrest. A defibrillator may also be called a defib, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) or a PAD (Public Access Defibrillator).” British Heart Foundation

“The Circuit” is the National Defibrillator Network that provides a national overview of where your nearest defibrillator can be found through their online database. When defibrillators are purchased by anyone, it is vital that they are registered with The Circuit to enable the 999 operators to advise you on where your nearest defibrillator is, and provide you with the access code for its container. Our nearest defibrillators in Southam are located at the following points:

• Fire Station Southam, Coventry Street, Southam

• Flying Fields, Daventry Road, Southam

• Southam Swimming Pool, Welsh Road, Southam

• Cyber-Weld Ltd Lion House, Welsh Road East, Southam

• St Wulfstan Surgery, Northfield Road, Southam

• The Tool Connection Ltd, Kineton Road, Southam

To find out more on the use of defibrillators and CPR, you can find an abundance of useful information at https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators

To explore further defibrillator locations, please visit https://www.defibfinder.uk

Do you take orange juice with your breakfast?

Do you take orange juice with your breakfast? Please read on for some tips from our Health & Wellbeing Coach, Ludmila Enticott

Orange juice is normally seen as a source of vitamin C and a 'healthy option' to add to breakfasts. However, it is important to note that fruit juice is devoid of fibre and has therefore a lot of concentrated sugar. What started as a healthy piece of fruit easily turns into something quite far from it when you realise that you are taking in all the sugar from about 6 or 9 oranges, all at once, in one average glass of the stuff.

And more: the vitamin C content of the juice is not that viable as it is separate from the pith and pulp, which contain five times more nutrients than the juice and the bioflavonoids that work in synergy. The reality is vitamin C is utilised in the body as part of a complex, which includes a range of nutrients present in the rest of the fruit but discarded when you drink just the juice. That also goes for the vitamin C capsules if you buy them in isolated form such as ascorbic acid. So, in the end, drinking just the juice means you've missed out on most nutrition from the fruit, the vitamin C in it will not be well utilised in the body, and you will dose yourself up with sugar in liquid form.

A better alternative would be to use the whole fruit, perhaps by blending it into a smoothie (peel, pith, pulp, seeds and all). Something very good to do is to buy some organic lemons, freeze them whole and then grate about 1/3 of a lemon on top of your salads. That way, you get the full nutritional benefits from citrus fruit without throwing out the most valuable parts. It is all edible, including the seeds, and the nutritional value is much superior to juice alone. Stick to whole foods whenever possible, that’s what nature intended, that’s how our bodies can benefit the most. 

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Lifestyle management for the improvement of health is what we focus on during our Health Coaching Sessions. If you would like to invest in your long-term health, please come talk to us. Referrals are easy and straight forward with no waiting lists. Health coaching sessions cover all aspects of lifestyle and wellbeing with topics varying amongst diet, exercise, emotional health, stress management, sleep hygiene and more. Talk to your GP for an easy referral, or e-mail us at we.connect@nhs.net to self refer.

Make time for your health. We are here to help. 

By Ludmila Enticott, Health & Wellbeing Coach