Shakespeare Road Medical Practice

31/10/2025

🎃🔪 Thinking of carving up a spooky pumpkin this Halloween? Before you do, here’s how to stay safe - and how to keep your sugar intake in check 👻🍬

How to carve a pumpkin safely:
🛠️ Use a clean, dry, well-lit area with a sturdy surface.
🧼 Wash and thoroughly dry your hands and tools to avoid slips.
🛡️ Use a proper pumpkin carving kit (small serrated saws) instead of large kitchen knives.
🔄 Always cut away from your body and use small, controlled motions.
👨‍👩‍👧 Leave the carving to adults; kids can draw the design or scoop out pulp.
⚠️ If you get cut and heavy bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes, seek medical care.

Too many sweets can impact your health in more ways than one.
Read how sugar affects your body and tips for moderating consumption:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/how-does-sugar-in-our-diet-affect-our-health/

Balance is everything - carve safely, enjoy treats mindfully, and take care.

29/10/2025

Movember is coming up - and we’re calling on everyone who cares about men’s mental health.

Globally, 3 out of 4 suicides are men. That’s 1 man every 60 seconds.
This isn’t just a statistic - it’s someone’s brother, father, partner, or friend 💔🕯️

It’s time to stop the silence. It’s time to unite.

Together, we can:
🧪 Fund life-saving mental health research
📚 Support training and education
🫂 Provide real help for those in crisis

💥 Ready to take action?
👉 Register, grow a Mo, fundraise or simply spread the word:
https://movember.com/register

✊🏽 Let’s change the face of men’s health together.

27/10/2025

Black History Month is a time to honour culture, celebrate resilience, and spotlight important health conversations 🧠💬

🎯 Did you know? People of Black African & Caribbean heritage in the UK are more likely to develop:
🩺 Type 2 diabetes
💢 High blood pressure (hypertension)
❤️‍🩹 And face a higher risk of heart disease, kidney issues & stroke

But knowledge = power 💡💪
Let’s take action together:
🍽️ Eat for your heart & blood sugar (think more veggies, less salt!)
🏃🏽‍♂️ Move that body daily
🧪 Get regular checks - blood pressure & diabetes screenings can be life-saving
🫱🏾‍🫲🏽 Talk to your family - sharing this info could change lives

🧭 Start here:
👉 https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/type-2-diabetes/diabetes-ethnicity

This month, let’s rise together in strength, in knowledge, and in health 🖤✨

24/10/2025

🎗️ ADHD Awareness Month - October is here! Whether you're newly considering ADHD or already navigating life with it - you’re not alone. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can manifest as inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or all three - presenting differently across individuals and across life stages

Seeking clarity? Begin with ADHD UK’s About ADHD page, offering videos from specialists and a self-screener for adults

ADHD UK also hosts peer support groups, expert-led sessions, and an online marketplace of coaches and tools to help with day-to-day challenges

Why it matters:

• Diagnoses are rising - not because ADHD is increasing, but because awareness is growing and stigma is lifting
• But many still wait long months - even years - for NHS assessments - access remains unequal
• Misinformation online can confuse rather than clarify. Trusted sources like ADHD UK are key

Find support and fact‑checked info at:
👉 https://adhduk.co.uk

22/10/2025

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a time to learn, support, and advocate for everyone affected 💖

Breast cancer doesn’t just affect women. Men can get it too. It can also impact transgender people, who may face extra barriers to awareness, diagnosis, and care.

Here’s what to keep in mind:
🩺 Know the signs in everyone - lumps, changes in shape, ni**le changes, skin dimpling
🔍 Men, don’t ignore changes in your chest or ni**le - although less common, breast cancer can still occur in men
🏳️‍⚧️ Trans and nonbinary people: your risks and body may change with hormone therapy or surgeries - always feel empowered to ask for care and checkups

📚 Learn more and find inclusive support:
👉 https://breastcancernow.org
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-men/
👉 https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/resource-for-transgender-people/

Let’s make awareness inclusive, supportive, and life-saving 💪

18/10/2025

🌡️💬 Menopause brings change — from hot flushes and mood swings to sleep shifts and brain fog. But with the right information and support, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming 💪🌸

This is your reminder: you’re not alone - and help is just a click away 💻💙

📚 Learn more about symptoms, treatment and support from trusted sources:
👉 NHS: https://ow.ly/JGRI50XcUo4
👉 How to support someone: https://ow.ly/rTbl50XcUo1
👉 Looking after your health: https://ow.ly/hx1C50XcUo7
👉 How long do symptoms last?: https://ow.ly/Q4ZX50XcUo2

Let’s talk, share, and support each other - here's to better understanding and better health 💚

13/10/2025

🌐✨ Get Online Week 2025 is coming - 20 - 26 October!
The UK’s biggest digital inclusion campaign is BACK 🙌💻

Whether you’re brand new to the internet or want to level up your skills, this week is all about helping people feel safer, smarter, and more confident online 🧠💪

💡 Why it matters:
✅ Book GP appointments
✅ Manage your money online
✅ Apply for work or access training
✅ Stay connected with family & friends
✅ 97% of attendees say they learn something new! 📈

👥 Who’s being left behind?
• Older people
• Low-income households
• Job seekers
• People without access to devices or data
• Anyone unsure where to begin

🎁 Good Things Foundation can help with:
📱 National Device Bank (free refurbished tech): https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-device-bank
📶 National Databank (free mobile data): https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/our-services/national-databank
🖥️ Learn My Way (free beginner courses): https://www.learnmyway.com/

🎉 How to get involved:
📢 Spread the word in your community
👨‍💻 Help someone get started
📍 Find your local centre or digital hub: https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org

12/10/2025

🧠💥 What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Professor David Scott, Consultant Rheumatologist, explains it clearly:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition that primarily affects the joints - especially in the hands and feet 🙌🦶. It can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and fatigue, and it can deeply impact daily life 😓

But here’s the good news - with the right treatment and support, RA doesn’t have to define you. You can still work, stay active, and live well 💪🌈

📚 Learn more and find support:
👉 https://ow.ly/WTK950X9HfP
👉 https://ow.ly/Gi4l50X9HeN

👉 https://ow.ly/rWmj50X9HeP

You are not alone 💙

10/10/2025

🧠💬 This World Mental Health Day, let’s take a moment to check in on each other - a simple conversation can make a world of difference 🌍❤️

Here’s how to support someone who might be struggling:
1️⃣ Find a quiet space with no distractions - be fully present 🤝
2️⃣ Listen without interrupting and ask thoughtful questions 👂❓
3️⃣ Ask how you can help - it might be booking a GP appointment, helping with chores, or just being there 🫶

📱 Remember: social media isn’t always real.
Feeling low? It’s OK to log off. It’s OK to not be OK all the time.
Less screen time = more time to breathe, reflect, and reset 🌿💚

💡 Mental health matters every day.
Small actions = BIG impact.

📖 Learn more and find support here:
👉 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/

Banish harmful habits such as smoking, drugs and drinking to feel better: https://patient.info/features/healthy-living

08/10/2025

08/10/2025

The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services. Download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via the Google play or App store. You can also access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.

You must be aged 13 or over to use the NHS App. You also need to be registered with a GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man. Find out more about who can use the NHS App.

What you can do with the NHS App
You need to prove who you are to get full access to the NHS App. With full access you can:

order repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect them
book and manage appointments
view your GP health record to see information like your allergies and medicines (if your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results)
book and manage COVID-19 vaccinations
register your organ donation decision
choose how the NHS uses your data
view your NHS number (find out what your NHS number is)
use NHS 111 online to answer questions and get instant advice or medical help near you
Before proving who you are, you can use the NHS App to:

search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments
find NHS services near you
Other services
Depending on your GP surgery or hospital, you may be able to use the NHS App to:

message your GP surgery or a health professional online
contact your GP surgery using an online form and get a reply
access health services on behalf of someone you care for
view and manage your hospital and other healthcare appointments
view useful links your doctor or health professional has shared with you
view and manage care plans
Keeping your data secure
To access the NHS App, you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are. Your NHS App then securely connects to information from your GP surgery.

If your device supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in to your NHS App each time, instead of using a password and security code.