Vaping amongst children and young people has increased in recent years.

NHS figures for 2021 showed that 9% of 11-15 year old children used e-cigarettes, up from 6% in 2018 (NHS Digital, 2022)

In response to this, Warwickshire County Council is working with schools and parents to encourage open conversations with young people about vaping, raising awareness of the risks associated with vaping and equipping them with the facts so they can make informed decisions.

What are vapes/e-cigarettes?

Vapes are battery operated devices that simulate the sensation of smoking, they are an effective tool in quitting smoking. They do not contain as many of the harmful ingredients as cigarettes so they are less harmful than cigarettes, but they do contain nicotine and they are not completely risk free.

It is recommended by the National Institute Centre of Excellence (NICE) that e-cigarettes should not be used by people who have never smoked.

Councillor Margaret Bell, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Health has said:

“We know that the rate of young people vaping is increasing and we are working hard to support schools, parents and carers to work with young people and raise awareness of the associated risks.  

“Although vaping has fewer risks than smoking, it is not risk free, and our message to everyone is: if you don’t smoke, don’t vape.” 

There are also risks associated with the small batteries used in vapes. It is important to keep the batteries out of reach of young children to avoid any accidental swallowing or choke hazards. Regularly inspect vape batteries and replace the battery immediately if it is damaged, leaking or malfunctioning.

All Warwickshire Household Waste Recycling Centres have recycling facilities for vapes and batteries. They should never be disposed of in general waste bins as this is a fire hazard.

You can find out more about vaping here:

To view the school toolkit, visit smoke and vape free schools.

Lots of availability for under 65's on this Saturday's Flu & Covid vaccination clinic!

We are running another flu & covid vaccination clinic this Saturday 21st October, and we have lots of availability in the morning session from 8am until 12:30pm which is targeted at under 65s!

If you are under 65, eligible for the flu and/or covid vaccination, and haven’t had them yet, call our wonderful reception team to book in on 01926 810939.

Who is eligible for a flu vaccine?

  • Under 65 year olds in clinical risk groups such as those with
    - chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma, COPD
    - chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
    - chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5
    - chronic liver disease
    - chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease
    - learning disability
    - diabetes and adrenal insufficiency
    - splenic dysfunction or asplenia
    - a weakened immune system due to disease, such as HIV/AIDS, or treatment, such as cancer treatment
    - morbidly obese, defined as a BMI or 40+

  • pregnant women

  • those aged 65 and over

  • those in long-stay residential care homes

  • carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person

  • close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

  • locum GP’s

  • frontline staff employed by the following types of social care providers without employer led occupational health schemes:
    - registered domiciliary care provider
    -Direct Payment (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistant’s
    a registered residential care/nursing home
    - a voluntary managed hospice provider

  • those living in:
    - long stay residential care homes or nursing homes
    - other long-stay health or social care facilities
    - a house bound patient

Who is eligible for a covid vaccine?

  • those aged 65 and over

  • aged 6 months to 64 years are at increased clinical risk

  • living in a care home

  • a frontline health or social care worker

  • aged 16-64 years old and a carer

  • aged 12-64 years old and live with someone with a weakened immune system

If you are still not sure whether you are eligible, give our wonderful reception team a call on 01926 810939 and they will be able to advise you!

You can have both jabs on the same day, or you can have them one at a time, it is entirely your choice!

NHS App access to your GP health records goes live today!

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

We're now letting you see all the information within your health record. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App, NHS website, or other GP online services and apps, you will now automatically be able to see all future information entered on your medical record. Some people can already access this feature, this won't  change for you.

This means that you will be able to see records from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists, although you will be able to see any letters that hospitals or specialists send to your doctor (GP). You will only be able to see information from 18th October 2023. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won't need to do anything. If you want access to view your historical medical records, you will still have to apply via your GP practice, you can do this by visiting Online Services — St Wulfstan Southam Surgery and filling in our online form.

Your doctor (GP) may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your doctor (GP) may also talk to you before you are given full record access to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. If you are concerned that seeing your records is not right for you, you should speak to your practice.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. If you do not want an online account, you can still access your GP health record by requesting this information via reception. The changes also only apply to personal information about you. If you are a carer and would like to see information about someone you care for, speak to reception staff.

The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure.  You'll  need to make sure you protect your login details. Do not  share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.

If you do not want to see your health record, or if you would like more information about these changes, please speak to your GP or reception staff. You can also read more by going to www.nhs.uk/gp-record.

Menopause Fair for World Menopause Day

On Wednesday 18th October at The Community Hub and Cafe from 6:30pm, join Dr Kirti Viswanathan, Mina Hunjan and other professionals to dispel menopause misinformation, talk about healthy eating through the menopause, and get practical and medical menopause advice!

Healthwatch Warwickshire would like to hear your experience of healthcare during the menopause

Have your say on menopause support services in Warwickshire.

Have you had the support you need? What is your experience of HRT?

Share your story and let us know what you think would make menopause services better for you.

World Mental Health Day 2023

Every year, World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10th October. The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental Health is a universal human right’.

World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everybody’s mental health. It’s also a change to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

Top tips for talking about mental health

We know by now that the first step to getting help is to talk about your mental health, but we also know that starting a conversation like this isn’t as easy as talking about the weather! Here are some tips for getting that initial conversation going.

Talking about your mental health:

  1. Pick somebody you trust - this could be a friend, family member or a colleague; you might find it easier to talk to somebody you don’t know and there are support helplines for this.

  2. Find the best place to talk - you want to feel comfortable in the place you decide to open up; whether this is somewhere private where it’s unlikely you’ll be disturbed, or whilst doing an activity, such as walking

  3. Prepare yourself for their reaction - hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open up to someone, but there is a chance they not react in the way you hope. There’s a few different reasons for this; maybe they are worried about you, or don’t fully understand at first - they may need time to process what you have told them.

Talking to someone about their mental health:

  1. Find a good place to talk without distractions - if you’re worried about someone, try to find somewhere to talk to them where you won’t get distracted. Give them your full attention.

  2. Listen and ask questions - one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone is to listen to them. Show them you’re actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting. Questions can help clarify meaning and show you’re actively listening, but ensure the questions are relevant to what they are saying.

  3. Ask how you can help - do this and make suggestions, try not to tell them what to do next. They might want support making a GP appointment, help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what’s going on in your life.

We’ve all been living through difficult and uncertain times recently. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, down or anxious, whether you are worrying about big stuff or small stuff. It may help to talk about how you are feeling.

Your GP surgery (us) is your first point of call if you have concerns about your mental health that won’t go away, we offer lots of different services, with varying levels of involvement to try and help you.

You can call the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub by calling 111 if you need support when the GP is closed or unavailable.

There are other options for free, confidential support by phone or online. You can:

  • Call the Samaritans on 116 123 at any time of the day/night

  • Message SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 text support on your mobile

  • If you are a child or young person, call Childline on 0800 1111 or talk to them online

  • Call the CALM helpline on 0800 58 58 58 or use their webchat - they are open from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year

Find more information regarding mental health here:

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2023 runs from 9th-15th October

Health and wellbeing coach Chelsea Loydall writes:

“Baby Loss Awareness Week is a wonderful opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone.

During last year’s ‘#WaveOfLight messages of remembrance and hope brought many people together. Take care of yourselves and know that we are here for you now and throughout the year.

You are not alone!”

Group Coaching Sessions for Chronic Pain Management

These group sessions are open to all patients interested in getting more involved with managing their own pain.  Patients are welcome to participate and engage in a friendly environment with the view to learn some tools and share their insights. The sessions aim to inform, encourage and support people to explore lifestyle changes that can positively impact the management of pain-related conditions.  The sessions also provide a safe-space for sharing and discussions with a view to expand people's ability to influence their own symptoms beyond what medication can offer. 

 

The sessions are face-to-face and run fortnightly by the Health Coach and Clinical Pharmacist in collaboration. There are 4 sessions in total. 

 

Group Coaching sessions are free to all patients registered with the EAST PCN surgeries: Kineton, Harbury, Fenny Compton, Southam and St Wulfstan. 

 

For more information or to register, please contact the Warwickshire East Primary Care Network at:

STOPTOBER is incoming!

‘WHEN YOU STOP SMOKING, GOOD THINGS START TO HAPPEN’

Stoptober is back, calling on smokers in England to join the 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it first launched. Over 5 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the biggest behavioural cause of preventable illness and death, with 64,000 deaths a year. This year's Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting remaining one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. That’s why this year’s Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to join the thousands of others who are committing to quitting for the month of October – quit smoking for 28 days and you’re five times more likely to quit for good.

When you stop smoking good things start to happen - quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily and give you more money to spend. Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool. It provides information and advice on proven quitting methods: the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit, and expert support from local Stop Smoking Services. Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information or visit the Better Health - Quit Smoking Website.

Physical benefits to stopping smoking

Stopping smoking can significantly improve your health in ways you might not expect. Once you stop smoking, some benefits are immediate, some are longer term:

  • After 20 minutes - pulse rate starts to return to normal

  • After 8 hours - oxygen levels are recovering & harmful carbon monoxide in the blood is reduced by 50%

  • After 48 hours - the body has flushed out all carbon monoxide, lungs start to clear out mucus and ability to taste and smell is improved

  • After 72 hours - bronchial tubes begin to relax, breathing becomes easier and energy levels increase

  • After 2-12 weeks - blood is pumping to the heart and muscles better because circulation has improved

  • After 3-9 months - coughs, wheezing and breathing problems improve as lung function increases by up to 10%

  • After 1 year - risk of heart attack has reduced by half compared to a smoker.

  • After 10 years - risk of death from lung cancer falls to half of that of a smoker

  • After 15 years - risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked

Mental health benefits to stopping smoking

  • Evidence shows that once people have got past the short-term withdrawal stage of quitting, they have reduced anxiety, depression and stress and increased positive mood compared with people who continue to smoke

  • For symptoms of anxiety and depression, stopping smoking is as effective as taking antidepressants. Just 6 weeks after quitting, people start feeling happier as well as healthier

Financial benefits to stopping smoking

  • On average, smokers in England can save £38 a week by quitting smoking. That’s £167 per month and £2,000 per year from quitting smoking

 

We know we’re stronger together. This Stoptober, join us and the thousands of people who committing to quitting smoking #Stoptober

COVID & Flu Vaccinations 2023

We are now gearing up to deliver Flu & COVID Vaccinations this Winter - and those who are eligible will be able to have both vaccines at the same time.

We have scheduled clinics commencing 30th September 2023 for those aged 65+, and 7th October 2023 for those aged under 65.

Eligible patients will be sent an SMS/text message in due course. Appointments can be booked:

  1. Through the text message

  2. Online via The NHS App or via Patient Access

  3. By calling reception on 01926 810939

Which Adults will be eligible for the vaccinations this year?

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:

  • are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)

  • a frontline health or social care worker

  • aged 16 to 64 years old and are a carer

  • aged 12 to 64 years old and live with someone with a weakened immune system

  • have certain health conditions (see below)

  • are pregnant

  • are in long-stay residential care

  • receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick

  • live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Which Health Conditions would make me eligible for vaccination if I am under the age of 65?

The vaccines are offered free on the NHS to people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

Which Children will be eligible for the flu vaccine this year?

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

  • children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021)

  • all primary school children (Reception to Year 6)

  • some secondary school aged children (Year 7 to Year 11)

  • children aged 2 to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

What other conditions make me eligible for the vaccine if I am aged

|t is organ donation week!

This week is Organ Donation Week 2023 (Monday 18th - Sunday 24th September)! Organ Donation Week is the perfect time for people to confirm their support for organ donation by adding their name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

What is organ donation?

Organ donation is when you decide to give an organ to save or transform the life of someone else.

You can donate some organs while you are alive, and this is called living organ donation.

However, most organ and tissue donations come from people who have died.

Who can become an organ donor?

  • There is no age limit for becoming an organ donor, children can be registered by their parents/guardians, and they can register themselves. Children who are under 12 in Scotland, and under 18 in the rest of the UK will require agreement from their parent/guardian

  • Having an illness or medical condition doesn’t necessarily prevent a person from becoming an organ or tissue donor. There are only a few conditions where organ donation is ruled out completely; including Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Ebola Virus, active cancer & HIV (in rare cases, the organs of donors with HIV have been used to help others with the same conditions. If you live with HIV and wish to be a donor, you should register to donate)

  • Someone with current active cancer cannot become an organ donor, but it may be possible for people with certain types of cancer to donate after 3 years of treatment. It may also be possible to donate corneas and some tissue in these circumstances

  • It is still possible to be an organ donor if you smoke

  • Having a tattoo does not prevent you from being a donor

  • Drinking alcohol does not prevent you from becoming an organ donor, although a heavy alcohol intake may affect your ability to donate some organs

  • Donors are needed from all communities and ethnicities. Blood and tissue types need to match for a transplant to be successful, and organs from donors of the same ethnic background as the recipient are more likely to be a close match. Find out more about why ethnicity matters in organ donation

  • You could still potentially be an organ donor, even if you can’t give blood. There may be specific reasons why you can’t donate blood such as having had a blood transfusion or blood products since 01/01/1980. Sometimes a simple thing like a cold or medication that you are taking can prevent you from donating blood.

The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue are suitable for transplant is always made by a medical specialist at the time of donation, taking into account your medical history.

You can find out more about organ donation here:

Thanks For The Visit, Nikki Kanani

We were really proud to welcome Nikki Kanani who joined our St Wulfstan vaccinating team at Galanos House, Southam, on Friday 15th September. Nikki is not only lovely, she is an NHS England COVID Vaccination Leader, who played a pivotal role in the initial rollout of COVID vaccinations Nationwide during the pandemic.

We were lucky enough to talk to her about the great work being done by our Primary Care Network, St Wulfstan Surgery and the vaccination programme. She then joined our team in vaccinating residents in Galanos House.

It allowed us to reflect on just how well St Wulfstan Surgery and Galanos House work together to deliver exemplary levels of care to residents in Galanos House. This is made made possible by the highly warm and respectful relationship we have built up over many years.

Thank You Nikki!

Please stay tuned for more details about our COVID and Flu vaccination programme this year, a post will be released in the next few days with further details, and we are gearing up for our first clinic on Saturday 7th October 2023!

The NHS app - you can now do more on it than ever before!

Have you got the NHS app? Do you need help navigating it? Look no further, we are here to help!

Things you can do on the NHS app:

  • Order repeat prescriptions

  • Use NHS 111 online

  • Find NHS services

  • View your GP health record

  • Book appointments

  • Get reminders and messages from your GP practice and hospital

 

How to order a repeat prescription:

 

You can now also receive messages from your GP surgery in your NHS app, instead of by SMS text or letter.

If you have downloaded the NHS app and you have notifications turned on, any batch message or questionnaire will be sent automatically to the app (for example flu vaccination invites), this includes messages with attachments. If the message has not been read within 3 hours, it will automatically revert to being sent as an SMS message.

 

New one-stop-shop to support transitions for children and young people in Warwickshire

SEND Transitions

With the new school year upon us, the thought of starting in a new educational setting, or moving to a new phase in their education can bring out a range of emotions for a child or young person and their family, including excitement, anticipation, and anxiety. Some children and young people can adapt to these changes effortlessly, while others may require additional support in navigating the changes a new learning environment brings.

It is important to begin preparations as soon as possible to create a positive experience and help with a successful transition. This is why Warwickshire County Council has worked closely with parents, carers, and professionals to create a ‘one-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance to support smooth transitions. Families and professionals can now easily access a set of comprehensive resources online to help prepare for the changes ahead. Whether it’s the move from nursery to primary school, primary school to secondary school, or options for young people aged 16+ and preparing for adulthood; the new Transitions webpages have information to guide you.

The carefully selected resources include:

  • A new transitions animation

  • checklists

  • Transition forms

  • Activities for children and young people

  • Videos

Within each set of resources, there is guidance tailored to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilites (SEND).

New timelines have also been made to provide parents and carers with an overview of key activities throughout the school year, to ensure important deadlines aren’t missed and to support conversations with education settings. Specific timelines are provided for each transition page, both for children and young people with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) or those in receipt of SEN support, and those without.

All transition resources can be found at:

For further support, including a range of tips to help prepare young people acclimatise to a new school in the crucial first weeks, listen to the latest:

Additional support is also available through the Family Information Service on 0800 408 1558 or 01926 742274, via email to fis@warwickshire.gov.uk or by visiting the Children and Families webpages.