Old Bridge Surgery PPG

27/11/2025

25/11/2025

🧠💓Mental health & high blood pressure – Is there a link?
The answer is yes!
Stress, anxiety, and depression can all affect your heart health, and high blood pressure can in turn impact your wellbeing. Looking after your mental health is an important part of looking after your body too.
Know Your Numbers and Take Action
Once you know what your blood pressure numbers are, it's important to understand what to do next if they're high.
Contact the surgery and discuss your blood pressure reading, they'll be able to advise on next steps.

10/11/2025

Information about the WorkWell mental health app . . .

Is your mental health making going to work, or staying in work, feel like a struggle?

Have you downloaded the WorkWell mental health app yet? It shares 6 digital cognitive behaviour therapy sessions offering advice and tips on improving mental wellbeing.

Users can track their progress, update how they're feeling and see how far they've come.

There's also the chance to connect with a WorkWell coach at the touch of a button, who can offer personalised 1-2-1 support on staying in or returning to work if you're having physical or mental health struggles.

The app can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play here:

App Store https://apps.apple.com/app/id6746168445
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.workwell.app&pcampaignid=web_share

28/10/2025

From October to March we can’t make enough vitamin D from sunlight, so to keep bones and muscles healthy, it’s best to take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D. You can get vitamin D from most pharmacies and retailers.

➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

27/10/2025

Help others stay well in the winter.
If you're unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with people if you can.
Let people who need to come into your home know if you have any symptoms.
Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, bin your tissue immediately, then wash your hands.
Consider wearing a mask if you have symptoms, and open a window if its not too cold.
Get all the vaccines for which you are eligible.

10/10/2025

Healthwatch Cornwall warmly invite any individuals with lived experience, as a carer or cared for, to join the board and share their perspectives. If you're interested in getting involved, they’d love for you to attend their next meeting!

This meeting will be themed around Supporting Carers Mental Health and what services are available to promote this. There will also be an update or Cornwall's All-ages Care Strategy.

They are holding this meeting online to help accommodate carers who may be unable to join in person.

📆 Wednesday 15th October 2025
⏰ 1:30pm – 3:30pm
📍 Online Meeting via Microsoft Teams

Message Healthwatch Cornwall for the Microsoft Teams link

04/10/2025

Healthwatch Cornwall run monthly listening hubs in communities across Cornwall. These hubs are designed to reach people who live in rural or undeserved areas, to collect views and experiences of health and social care services from GP practices, hospitals, pharmacies and care homes in the area. The feedback received provides vital insights and recommendations to NHS and social care leaders and decision makers, shaping better services for all.

03/10/2025

Eligible people are urged to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to help protect themselves and their families this winter.

Respiratory infections like flu spread more easily in winter because we spend more time indoors with others. Last year in England, flu caused around 8,000 deaths, while vaccination prevented an estimated 96,000 to 120,200 hospitalisations.

Dr Vinay Takwale, NHS England’s South West Medical Director, said: “Getting vaccinated is vital to help keep yourself and those around you Stay Well this winter – while also helping to reduce the pressure seasonal infections can have on our healthcare service.

“Flu is a highly infectious disease which can cause symptoms much worse than a heavy cold and getting flu or COVID-19 can be very dangerous for those most at risk. Vaccines provide the best protection against these infections which is why we are urging everyone who is eligible to vaccinated as soon as possible.

“You can book an appointment through the National Booking System, by speaking with your GP, or at some local pharmacies for those aged over 18. In addition, this year for the first time ever, parents will also be able to get their children aged 2 to 3 years old vaccinated against flu at many pharmacies across the region.”

https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/2025/10/01/stay-well-this-winter-by-getting-your-flu-and-covid-19-vaccinations/

21/09/2025

Children are offered a flu vaccine to help protect them against the disease and help reduce its spread both to other children, including their brothers or sisters, and, of course, their parents and grandparents. If your child is eligible for their flu vaccine, you should speak to your GP to book an appointment.
Children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions can now get their flu vaccines.
For more information visit https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/child-flu-vaccine/

16/09/2025

Need help with travelling to your medical appointment? 🚘There is transport help available - please share to anyone you know who might need to know.
Find out about the local patient transport schemes that could help you and whether you're eligible for NHS funded transport.
👉 https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/2025/06/05/need-help-getting-to-your-appointment/

04/09/2025

Are you a parent, caregiver or a professional working alongside a young person aged between 0-18 years and have concerns for their emotional wellbeing or mental health?

A free, young people's, mental health service is available to patients registered with Old Bridge Surgery.

29/08/2025

All young children in England and Wales will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine by the NHS from January 2026.