The Hadleigh Practice Newsletter: Autumn 2022

 

Introduction

We continue to face ongoing challenges.

  • Covid 19 is still with us in the background, although following the successful vaccination programme, fortunately the virus is not causing the same levels of illness as with the early variants. 
  • Despite not making National headlines nearly as often, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. 
  • We have the cost of living crisis with inflation rising above 10%.
  • And then we have extreme weather and climate change.

During these difficult times it is vital we maintain and improve our own physical and mental health. To achieve this, we need to look to optimise our lifestyle and take advantage of the support available. 

 

Smoking

  • Nearly 15% of adults in the UK continue to smoke.
  • There are nearly 2 million people admitted to hospital in England due to diseases directly caused by smoking. 
  • A packet of 20 cigarettes typically costs approximately £14, so if you smoke 20 per day that is over £5000/year. In these times of economic pressures then if the health benefits are insufficient motivation alone, then consider the financial incentive. 

Advice on stopping smoking is available at:

 

Alcohol

  • 24% of adults regularly drink over the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines.
  • Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49-year-olds in the UK, and the fifth biggest risk factor across all ages.
  • There are approximately 1 million hospital admissions per year in England related to alcohol use.
  • Alcohol is implicated as a cause in many illnesses including stroke and dementia. 

Further general information on alcohol is available here:

 

Exercise

Exercise is a medicine that is so important to our physical and mental health and yet many of us are not optimising the dose. 

Exercise can be free. Walking is an excellent form of exercise and we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country with many scenic walks on our doorstep. If you have an old bike in the garage, that has not been used for a few years, how about digging it out, check the brakes, pump up the tyres, oil the chain and get out on the Castleman Trailway. Don’t forget to wear a helmet. 

Exercise Referrals are available to everyone at many of the local Sports Centres. They are usually for 12 weeks and provide a lower cost option with some instruction and support to use the gym and swimming pool.

 

Weight Management

If you are overweight, losing weight is likely to have many benefits. Not only will it reduce your risk of diseases including diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, but will give you more energy and improve your psychological wellbeing.

 

Vaccinations

Vaccinations play a vital role in disease prevention and maintaining health.

Flu vaccine

Similar to last year, the adult flu vaccination clinics will be held at Corfe Hills School on designated Saturdays. 

Most of those eligible will be invited by text or letter to book an appointment.

The priority groups include those over the age of 65, those in at risk groups, pregnant women, those caring for a vulnerable person or in close contact with a person with immunosuppression. 

During the COVID pandemic the eligible groups were extended to include the 50 to 64-year-old age group. This remains the case for this year, but patients aged 50 to 64 who are not in the priority group will be invited later in the autumn/winter months. 

If you think you are eligible for the flu vaccine but have not received an invitation, please speak to our reception team.  They will forward your query to a clinician who will check your medical records to confirm whether you should indeed receive the vaccine.

Autumn COVID Vaccination Programme

As this is not being run by GP Practices, invitations are sent by NHS England and you book your appointment through the National Booking Service. 

The easiest was to do this is to book on-line via the NHS website

Alternatively, telephone 119. 

Those eligible for the COVID Autumn booster are: 

  • residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
  • frontline health and social care workers
  • all adults aged 65 years and over
  • persons aged 5 years and over in a clinical risk group
  • persons aged 5 years and over who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
  • persons aged 16 years and over who are carers

Starting today let’s optimise our health!

 

Feedback

If you have a positive experience at the Hadleigh Practice, we would be most grateful if you could take a few minutes to write a review on the NHS website: 

Dr Robert Timmis

Published: Oct 1, 2022

Facebook Twitter