The Parish Fields Practice

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

We're the UK's leading digital inclusion charity. Our mission is to fix the digital divide - for good. Join us in helping everyone become digitally equal, able & safe.

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/cfKA50X9GW3
👉 https://ow.ly/yLSO50X9GVX

👉 https://ow.ly/P0Yq50X9GWa

You are not alone 💙

Try using search, making sure all of the words are spelt correctly. Or you can explore our Health topics, Medicine information as well as our Professional articles or tools and calculators.

11/10/2025

Well done and thank you to the Parish Fields Practice team who have put so much work into our first Saturday flu vaccination clinic of Autumn 2025 today.
These clinics involve a considerable amount of clinical, administration and reception team support weeks before the clinic.
On the day itself of our nursing and reception teams, all of whom volunteer for these Saturday clinics after a busy week, work hard to ensure that the clinic on the day progresses smoothly.
A big thank you also to our Parish Fields patient volunteers, many of whom also give their time to be members of our Patient Participation Group, who provide invaluable support on the day in meeting and greeting and guiding patients to and from the clinical rooms.
Our next Saturday vaccination clinic will be on Saturday 25th October 2025.
If you believe that you qualify for a flu and/or Covid vaccination this Autumn and you would like to receive either/both of these vaccines please contact the Practice on 01379 642023.
Our telephone lines are open Monday- Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) from 8am to 6.30pm.

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

Explore trusted health features on Patient.info with expert insights, research updates and real-life stories to support your wellbeing.

08/10/2025

🧘‍♀️💪 Looking after your back has never been more important - whether you're working from home, on your feet all day, or just trying to stay strong and mobile 🪑🫶

This gentle, low-impact back care class from InstructorLive focuses on improving strength and flexibility in the muscles that support your spine 🌀🦴 It’s ideal for those managing back pain or wanting to prevent it altogether 💥

🎥 Watch the safety video first:

We, and our partner InstructorLive, have taken reasonable endeavours to ensure that the content of these videos is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate an...

07/10/2025

Just a few updates this week from the Practice:
Firstly, if you qualify for and want a Covid and/or flu vaccination please contact the Practice on 01379 642023, or come in and speak to our Reception Team.
Our first vaccination clinic takes place this Saturday 11th October.
Also, our Dispensary is now open from 8.30am each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays) through until 6.30pm, and now also stays open through lunchtimes.
A reminder that our telephone system opens at 8am each weekday, excluding Bank Holidays, which is an automated service until 8.30am, after which patients have a choice of using the automated or manual telephone system through until 6.30pm.
The automated service enables patients to leave their request for appointments, all of which are reviewed by our Triage Team led by a Duty Doctor, in the same way as the manual telephone calls and online requests are.
Our online system also opens at 8.00am on these days.
Our telephone system has a callback option from 8.30am on days the Practice is open through until 6.30pm which gives patients the option to request a callback at the time they would have had their call answered if they had waited on hold.

Finally, we continue this month with a focus on blood pressure monitoring.
High blood pressure can lead to a number of serious health issues, including heart attack and stroke.
High blood pressure often has no symptoms and it is recommended to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
We have blood pressure monitoring machines available in our Waiting Room for patients to use.
Please hand your readings in to our Reception desk so that your medical records can be updated.
If you have any concerns or doubts about your blood pressure, or how to obtain a blood pressure reading, please speak to one of our staff.

06/10/2025

🫀💥 October is National Cholesterol Month – the perfect time to take charge of your heart health! ❤️✨

High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but it can lead to serious health issues like heart attacks and strokes 😟💔. The good news? You can take action today.

Here’s how to get started:
🥗 Eat heart-healthy foods (cut down on saturated fats!)
🚶‍♂️ Stay active with regular movement
🧪 Know your cholesterol numbers and get checked
🧠 Understand your risks and take control

📚 Learn more with trusted resources:
👉 https://www.heartuk.org.uk
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/
👉 https://patient.info/heart-health/high-cholesterol
🍽️ Tips for eating out with high cholesterol:
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/eating-out-with-high-cholesterol

Every small step counts when it comes to protecting your heart 👣💚

If you have high cholesterol, going out for a restaurant meal can feel like a minefield. Luckily there is so much choice now available.

03/10/2025

🍹❌ Feeling like it’s time for a reset? Sober October is your chance to take a break from alcohol, boost your health 💪, sleep better 😴, save money 💷, AND raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support 🎗️💚

Whether you're doing it for your body, your mind, or someone you love - it’s the perfect excuse to say no thanks to that drink and yes to a better you 🌟🧠

⚠️ Be careful of slipping into drinking more than usual - especially once October ends.
If you have a long-term condition, alcohol can interfere with your medication 💊 and make symptoms worse.

Try to build healthy habits that last:
✅ Make alcohol-free days a regular thing
✅ Know your limits
✅ Reach out for support if you're struggling

🛑 Sign up and go booze-free this October 👉 https://www.gosober.org.uk 🍺

01/10/2025

TEST RESULTS: May we please remind patients that it is their responsibility to contact the Practice to obtain their test results, ALLOWING 5 WORKING DAYS from the date of the test before contacting us.
It would be most helpful if patients could please contact the Practice during weekday afternoons for test results to reduce call waiting times during the busiest times for the Practice.
Thank you for your cooperation.

01/10/2025

This October, take the first step towards a healthier you with !

Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions you can make for your health. With the right support, you can succeed. The NHS offers a range of free resources to help you on your journey:

📱 NHS Quit Smoking App: Track your progress, manage cravings, and stay motivated.
📧 Daily Email Support: Receive tips and encouragement straight to your inbox.
📍 Local Stop Smoking Services: Get expert advice and support tailored to your needs.
📝 Personal Quit Plan: Create a plan that works for you.

Speak to your GP if you need assistance or have questions, we're here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make this October the month you take control of your health. You can do this!

Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/

Thinking about quitting smoking, ready to stop, or struggling to stay smoke-free? Find the tools, tips, and support you need for a healthier life.

29/09/2025

❤️ How healthy is your heart?
A heart attack can strike without warning — but recognising the symptoms early can save lives ⚠️💔

🚨 Common warning signs include:
• Chest pain or pressure 🫀
• Pain spreading to your arm, neck, jaw or back
• Shortness of breath 😮‍💨
• Cold sweat 😓
• Lightheadedness or nausea 😵‍💫

💡 If you have a family history of heart conditions, you may be at higher risk. It’s time to take action:
🧠 Learn the signs: https://ow.ly/IU3V50X2PRL
🫀 Check how healthy your heart is: https://ow.ly/B1cq50X2PRp
📊 Calculate your heart age: https://ow.ly/Vsin50X2PRK
💉 Understand your blood pressure: https://ow.ly/8CbI50X2PRW

💬 Don’t wait until it’s too late. Knowledge is power — prevention is everything.

This service helps you check your blood pressure by showing your reading on a chart. You'll get a result and advice on what to do next.

28/09/2025

As part of our ongoing review of the service we provide to our patients, with effect from Monday 6th October 2025, each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays) our Dispensary will open at 8.30am until 6.30pm.
Effective from this date our Dispensary will also remain open through the lunchtime period.
We hope that our patients find this extended access to our Dispensary helpful.