Newsletter (Soft Blue design)
Author: Rebecca Furnival

21st December 2024
Volume 1, Issue 3

Winter 2024

Welcome to the Winter Newsletter!
Leaving Autumn into Winter is a time of transformation and letting go. The crisp air and golden hues in the skies and the leaves surrounding us add to the beauty of this season.
And whilst this season can be wonderful, it is important to stay warm and hydrated.,
Practice News
Since our previous issue we have bid farewell to some of our wonderful staff. Our practice nurse Luan has retired and left the practice at the end of October. She is enjoying her retirement and making the most of seeing her family. Our Advanced clinical practitioner, Elaine has also left us, we wish her well in her new role.
We have since welcomed our new practice nurse, and we hope you will also make him feel welcome! Welcome to the team Darren.
We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Inside this issue
Christmas Raffle 2
Health and Wellbeing 2
Winter Care 3
RSV Vaccine 3
Blood Tests 3
Smears 3
Treating the Flu 4
Blood Tests 4
Asthma Clinics 4

Christmas Hamper Raffle

This year the admin team decided to hold a Christmas raffle with one lucky winner, winning a hamper full of Christmas goodies.
We would like to thank everyone who participated and bought a ticket, and helped us raise money for Shropshire Mental Health Support. In total we raised £33.
We would like to congratulate our winner, Laura who won the hamper for herself and her family. We hope you enjoy your winnings.
We’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We will be organising another fundraiser around Easter.

~Congratulations to our winner Laura!~

Macmillan Coffee Morning
We would like to thank everyone who participated or donated during our Macmillan Coffee Morning.
As a team, we had decided to continue our fundraising and added an extra coffee morning.
In total we raised:
£131.01
Thank you for all your support during our coffee morning, we will be hosting other fundraising throughout the year for some amazing charities. So please , if you can, participate and donate to our worthy causes.

Health and Wellbeing Services During the Christmas Period

The Silverline Call free on 0800 470 8090.
The Silverline helpline is run by Age UK and is a free confidential telephone service for older people. This service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
SHOUT—TEXT SHOUT to 85258
SHOUT is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Simply text SHOUT to the number above and one of the trained team members will respond to you and be happy to talk about how you are feeling and what can be done to help.
Talk Squad
Shout have teamed up with Harrys to launch Talk Squad, where you can speak confidentially to one of Shouts mental health professionals whilse playing a video game together online. To book a 1-on-1 session with a Shout clinician you must be over 18 and can do so by following the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqQSwlrieRE9z8C4V2YGdZwt7AH0_gXGWkslAAg_h SaaIbLg/viewform
C.A.L.M (Campaign against living miserably) TEL: 0800 58 58 58
https://www.thecalmzone.net/how-to-get-through-anxious-xmas
Provides a helpline and online chat, as well as information and support, for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. CALM's helpline and webchat are open from 5pm to midnight, every day of the year

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Asthma Reviews

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. Over 8 million people, or approximately 12% of the population, have been diagnosed with asthma. However, some may have grown out of the condition, and 5.4 million people are receiving asthma treatment.
Asthma can affect people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults. There's currently no cure, but there are simple treatments that can help keep the symptoms under control so they do not have a big impact on your life.
Here at Woodside Medical Practice we offer regular asthma reviews for our patients who suffer and for anyone who thinks that they may have asthma. This is so we can ensure that your treatment is working effectively for you and to help increase your quality of daily living and breath a little easier.
If you suspect you have symptoms of asthma, you can book yourself in to be checked by one of our nurses; you do not need to see a doctor for this. If you need treatment for this, our nursing staff can help.

Smears

Cervical screening, which used to be called smear test, is a test the check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
It is important to book in for your cervical smear as soon as you receive your letter from the screening service. Don’t put it off or you may forget! It is important to attend this routine smear test to ensure that if there are any abnormal changes, these can be treated before they have can turn into cancer. It is not a test for cancer, it is a test to help prevent cancer.
Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called “high risk” types of HPV.
When you’ll be invited for cervical screening
You will be sent an invitation letter in the post when you are due for your cervical screening test. The letter will tell you where you can go for screening and how to book.
Most cervical screening is done in a GP surgery by a female nurse or doctor.
Call your GP surgery to book an appointment with them. You might be able to book the appointment online via patient access.

RSV Vaccinations
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes hundreds of thousands of infections across the UK each winter in the young and the old
RSV accounts for approximately 33,500 hospitalisations annually in children aged under 5 years old, is a leading cause of infant mortality globally, and results in 20 to 30 deaths per year in the UK.
RSV vaccines have now been developed which have been rigorously tested for safety and efficacy.
vaccinating a woman in pregnancy enables her to produce RSV antibodies which pass across the placenta to provide the baby with passive protection during the first six months of infancy.
a study of RSV vaccination of pregnant women indicated that infants had a 70% reduced risk of severe lower respiratory tract disease caused by the RSV virus.
all pregnant women should be offered one RSV vaccine in every pregnancy, from week 28. This is ideally given in week 28 or soon after, to ensure sufficient time to generate enough antibodies to protect the infant.

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How to look after yourself if you have the flu

DNA appointments
Each month appointments go missed. This could be for a number of reasons, but if you don’t cancel within an appropriate timeframe then they cannot be given to someone who needs it.
In June we had 134 appointments that went to a DNA (did not attend) without a reason or an unanswered phone call.
In July there was 114 missed appointments, again without a reason.
All together over a period of 2 months 248 appointments were missed.
Please remember that if you are unable to attend an appointment for whatever reason, you inform the practice so these appointments can be given to someone else who needs it.
We understand that life can get in the way and things may pop up that need to be taken care of, however if you don’t inform the practice this goes on your record.

Rest and sleep.
Keep warm
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains.
Give paracetamol or ibuprofen to you child if they’re distressed or uncomfortable - check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you are not sure.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your urine should be light yellow or clear).
Eat healthy foods
Practice good hygiene
Avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, aerated drinks.
Avoid junk foods such as packed food.

Blood Tests

Here at Woodside Medical Practice, we offer blood tests onsite for our patients. Please note that you can only book in for a blood test if a medical professional has requested it.
If a medical professional from outside the practice has requested this, then you MUST bring the blood form or letter they give you to your appointment. This form tells our nurses, nursing associates, and health care assistants what blood tests to take.
Please note:
If you require blood for a medication review, please allow a week between the two appointments to ensure the results come back in time.
Please allow a week for blood results to come back before calling for them.
If your results come back with any abnormalities, we will contact you to arrange an appointment for these to be discussed with a clinician.
Our admin and reception staff are not medically trained to discuss your blood results with you. They can only tell you if your blood tests are normal or if you require an appointment.

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Mental Health Support
Please see below some of the services available :
IAPT Self-referral Please call 01952 457415.
Crisis Team Text Service 24/7 Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
Samaritans 116123
Online Live chat service Kooth.com
Urgent Help 24/7
0808 196 4501

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Repeat Prescriptions
The easiest, safest and quickest way to order your repeat prescription is online via patient access. There is no need to make a phone call or visit us; instead computer, smartphone or tablet users can request repeat prescriptions anywhere – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also check what medication you should be taking and when.
If you are unable to request your medication online then you can pop into the practice, fill in a repeat prescription request and put it in the prescription box in the foyer. You can also request your prescriptions through your chosen pharmacy.
If you are not already registered for Patient Access or the NHS App, please let a member of the Practice team know you would like to use this service.
Please allow 3 full clear working days before collecting your prescription during normal working hours. The table below will show you when you can pick up your prescription based on the day you request it.

Woodside Medical Practice
Park Lane
Woodside
Telford
TF7 5NR
Phone: 01952 586691
E-mail: patients.woodside@nhs.net

Opening Hours
Monday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Tuesday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Wednesday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Thursday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 6.00pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday CLOSED
Telephone lines open Monday—Friday from 8am—6pm .

We are closed for staff training
Wednesday 25th December 2024
Thursday 26th December 2024
Wednesday 1st January 2025

Age	When you’re invited
Under 25	Up to 6 months before you turn 25
25 to 49	Every 3 years
50 to 64	Every 5 years
65 or older	Only if a recent test was abnormal