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.
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.
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
Galanos House Dementia Café
Galanos House are proud to introduce their new Southam Dementia Café support group, being held at the Community Hub next to Galanos House. They are welcoming those living with Dementia to join them along with their carers to join them at this new local support group, where a fantastic opportunity to meet others and share experiences can be had. There will also be volunteers on hand to offer support and advice. Southam Dementia Café will open on Thursday 30th June, and thereafter the last Friday of each month at 2:30pm. Further dates can be found below:
Thursday 30th June 2022
29th July 2022
26th August 2022
30th September 2022
28th October 2022
25th November 2022
For further information, please contact Galanos House
Galanos House
Banbury Road
Southam
Telephone - 01926 812815
🤧 It's Hay Fever Season Again! 🤧
The sunshine has arrived - hooray! But for those of us with hay fever it can be bittersweet.
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen and the symptoms occur or worsen in the Spring and Summer when pollen counts are higher. This can result in sneezing, coughing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy or watery eyes and an itchy throat.
We often get calls about hay fever at this time of year, but recent changes mean that most treatments for hay fever can now be purchased over the counter at your local pharmacy, meaning your pharmacist is often best placed to help.
The treatment of hay fever normally consists of antihistamine tablets, antihistamine eye drops and steroid nasal sprays. If required you can use a combination.
Anti-histamine tablets/syrup
There are several different types available from your pharmacy. If you try one which doesn’t help, then it is worth trying an alternative, unfortunately this often involves some degree of trial and error. Some anti-histamine’s such as Piriton (chlorphenamine maleate) can make you feel drowsy, so there are non-drowsy preparations available, such as cetirizine.
If, despite trying different anti-histamines, your symptoms persist then consider adding in eye drops, or a nasal steroid spray, or both.
Anti-histamine Eye Drops
These can be purchased from the pharmacy and work well where itchy and runny eyes are more problematic. The drug is called sodium cromoglicate.
Nasal Steroid Spray
These can work very effectively helping control your symptoms of hay fever and can be used in conjunction with the above treatments. Nasal steroid sprays can take days or weeks to reach their fullest effect so they are worth persevering with.
What Next?
If the above treatments, when used in combination, have failed to solve the problem, and you have given them a reasonable period of time to work, then please give us a call to discuss further.
Kindness, by Dr Jaiye Olaleye
““On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.””
As we celebrate the Queens' Platinum Jubilee this weekend, kindness is a word that shines in my heart. Her pictures, her presence, her poise, her eyes, speak kindness and calm.
I fully recollect periods in my life when
I have received kindness from others through their actions, gifts, or from words.
I want to believe I have also been a giver of kindness in various different ways.
Kindness can be an act of compassion towards others but also to ourselves. The latter is also termed 'self-compassion'.
As humans, we all have this inborn need to feel connected, accepted, understood, cared for or even believed! This need can sometimes make us vulnerable, it causes us to give, sometimes beyond our perceived capacity.
Remember, you can only give what you have. Taking some time to be kind to yourself everyday, helps build a reservoir from where you can dip from to give others.
Self- Compassion can be specific acts that boost our physical and emotional wellbeing on a regular basis.
- Healthful Eating, reducing intake of ultra-processed foods.
- Regular Physical Activity, reducing time spent sitting.
- Avoid behaviours that affect sleep.
- Minimising harmful substances or behaviour.
- Develop and sustain healthy relationships that increase social connection.
- Actively managing stress, improving health through connection to nature.
I think of self -compassion both as a Proactive kindness and a reactive one. We should aim to do more proactive self - kindness.
Proactive self - kindness is being kind to oneself with the fullness of intention, taking specific action steps even before an event triggers it compared to Reactive self - kindness, waiting to reward oneself only after a negative or stressful situation or a specific goal is achieved. It is not unusual for this to be linked with unhealthy choices which unfortunately have further negative impact on our health and wellbeing.
I really want to encourage us not to wait till we are stressed before we start looking after our physical and emotional health.
Proactive self - kindness can be practised daily. A mindset that is ready to do, ready to go and not giving up is a good starting point!
Remember small acts of goodness can cause changes bigger than we imagine.
If you need help starting or wish to explore more health and wellbeing topics why not have a look at the silvercloud digital wellbeing help on our website:
https://www.stwulfstan.co.uk/news/silver-cloud-immediate-online-help-for-your-mental-wellbeing
We also have a health and wellbeing coach for the area and social prescribers who are very nice! Please let us know if you would like to be put in touch with them.
Thank you all for the lovely Welcome to the practice! I look forward to meeting you at some point.
Yours truly,
Dr Jaiye Olaleye.
GP | Interests in Lifestyle Medicine & Women's Health.
Want To Increase Your Resilience & Improve Your Wellbeing?
Resilience is the capacity to face, overcome, and even be strengthened by difficult experiences.
If you would like to develop your resilience, why not give our online learning module, SPACE FOR RESILIENCE, a try via the Silver Cloud Platform. It is free and can be accessed immediately by registering below or visiting https://wepcn.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/ or see the poster below for more details.
Jubilee Bank Holiday
St Wulfstan Surgery will be closed on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 999 immediately
For any other medical advice whilst we are closed, please call 111
Please call the surgery number on 01926 810939 for further information on what to do if you need help when we are closed.
The Saturday morning clinic will move to 11th June. The early bird clinic will run on Monday 6th June as normal (pre-booking essential)
Pharmacies:
If you need to visit a pharmacy Asda Pharmacy is open:
10.00 -16:00 on Thursday 2nd June and Friday 3rd June
Address: Chesterton Drive, Leamington Spa, CV31 1YD , 01926 459010
Please click here for further information on pharmacies open over the Bank holiday period.