Thornfield Medical Group

12/08/2025

If you get a gluten-free NHS prescription, we want to hear from you!

The NHS is thinking about stopping prescriptions for gluten-free bread, rolls and flour mix. This could affect people with coeliac disease or other gluten-related conditions. No decision has been made yet.

🗣️ Tell us what you think by taking a short survey:
👉 https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/nencicb/nenc-gluten-free-2025
⏳ Closes 25 August 2025
📞 Need help? Contact NENCICB.Involve@nhs.net
Your views matter. Please share with anyone who may be affected.

04/08/2025

👶World Breastfeeding Week 2025 👶

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by WHO, UNICEF, Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe.

Under the banner of WHO’s ongoing Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign, World Breastfeeding Week will shine a particular spotlight on the ongoing support women and babies need from the healthcare system through their breastfeeding journey.

This means ensuring every mother has access to the support and information she needs to breastfeed as long as she wishes to do so - by investing in skilled breastfeeding counselling, enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and creating environments—at home, in healthcare, and at work—that support and empower women.

For more information please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/breastfeeding/ or contact your Health Visitor.

If you visit the surgery and need to breastfeed your baby and would like a private area, please speak to a receptionist and we will accommodate you.

Breastfeeding can take practice – read our guides on breastfeeding to find out what works best for you

04/08/2025

HPV often has no symptoms, so you may not know if you have it.
That’s why the NHS offers HPV vaccination and cervical screening to help prevent cervical cancer.
Find out more ➡️ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-cancer/

01/08/2025

Psoriasis Action Month 2025

Over 8 million people in this country and 125 million worldwide live with psoriasis, and every single one has an unique story.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease where skin cells build up quickly, typically causing red or discolored, scaly, and itchy patches on the skin. It is not contagious and can vary in severity.

For more information, help or support please visit:

During August, we come together to honor and recognize each other during Psoriasis Action Month.

31/07/2025

There are many strains of HPV. Some of these are high-risk and may lead to certain cancers, including cervical, pe**le and a**l.

This is why the NHS offers the HPV vaccine to boys and girls from the age of 12-13. Find out more about the HPV vaccine ➡️ https://nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine/

29/07/2025

Did you know?

The NHS is struggling under ever increasing costs. One of these costs which continues to escalate is that of SMS messaging. We use these important messages to contact you about appointments, results and for many other reasons.

However, every text message we send comes at a cost!

But there is an alternative! By clicking on this below link and downloading the NHS App, this allows us to contact you via the app instead which is FREE:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

If you already have the app, please ensure you turn on notifications as otherwise the messages will automatically revery back to SMS which will cosy the NHS money.

This is just on simple step you can take towards supporting your NHS and Thornfield Medical Group.

We thank you for your support.

If you need help downloading the app you can visithttps://practice365.co.uk/uploads/sites/1580/2024/04/An-Easy-Guide-to-the-NHS-App.pdf or contact the practice to make an appointment for admin to help.

24/07/2025

SAMARITANS AWARENESS DAY

Samaritans is the charity that prevents su***de through the power of human connection. Connecting people in crisis with trained volunteers who will always listen. People calling for change with those who need to listen. People who’ve been there before with those struggling now.​

Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They're there for your 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

To contact them by phone call: 116 123

Samaritans works to make sure there’s always someone there for anyone who needs someone. Read more.

13/07/2025

☀️ UV SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH ☀️

It is important that we protect our skin and eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) light. We need to protect it all year round but especially in the summer months where UV exposure is at its highest.

Most skin cancers are caused by skin damage that happens from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sunbeds.

Our top tips for staying safe in the sun:

- Use 5* UVA with at least an SPF 30. Usually, the instructions are to re-apply every 2 hours, or more often if you have been swimming or exercising.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Cover up with a hat and long sleeves. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and neck.
- Wear UV blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.

In the UK, sun damage to the skin is most likely between 11am and 3pm between March and October. But sunlight can be strong enough to cause sunburn at other times of the day and year, and sometimes even on cloudy days.

For more information visit:
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/skin-cancer/causes-and-risk-factors-of-skin-cancer

https://careinthesun.org/

Over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer, but other factors can increase your risk. Find out more about what causes skin cancer.

09/07/2025

We have had to temporarily close our Shieldfield this surgery this week . There is some building works going on opposite the surgery and the noise from a pile driver is causing the building to shake and the noise is horrific. The noise is an unacceptable environment for staff to work in and patients be consulted in due to a lack of confidentiality for clinical staff . A full service is available from the Molineux surgery. Our sympathies go out to the residents of Shieldfield who are also having to endure this noise.

08/07/2025

👶 Group B Strep Awareness Week 👶

Group B Strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK. It causes sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia. In the UK:

- 2 babies a day develop group B Strep infection
- 1 baby a week dies from group B Strep infection
- 1 baby a week recovers from group B Strep infection with disability

Despite this, we know many new and expectant parents struggle to find the information they want on group B Strep. Here we give a brief overview of group B Strep, what it can mean in pregnancy and after a baby is born.

Group B Strep is a bacterium which lives normally and naturally in and on humans without causing harm or symptoms. This is often described as ‘carrying’ or ‘being colonised’ with group B Strep.

About 1 in 4 pregnant women carry group B Strep bacteria without any symptoms. This is perfectly normal: carrying group B Strep isn’t a sign of poor hygiene and it is not a sexually transmitted disease.

Carrying group B Strep isn’t harmful to an adult, but it can affect newborn babies around labour and birth.

For more information and support visit: https://gbss.org.uk/

07/07/2025

🍺 ALCOHOL AWARENESS WEEK 7TH-13TH JULY 🍷

Every day in the UK more than 20 people die as a result of alcohol.

Alcohol harm – mental health problems, liver disease, one of seven forms of cancer, economic difficulties, and so much more – can affect any one of us, from any walk of life.

Cutting down or stopping drinking is usually just the beginning, and most people will need some degree of help or a long-term plan to stay in control or completely alcohol free.

Getting the right support can be crucial to maintaining control in the future.

Ask your GP or alcohol service about what longer-term support is available in your area.

For more information and for support please visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/

We are the alcohol charity, Alcohol Change UK. We work across the UK to reduce the harm caused by alcohol. We are not anti-alcohol; we are for alcohol change.

07/07/2025

July is Melasma Awareness Month, a time to educate people about the skin condition of Melasma and discover successful treatments for hyperpigmentation.

The exact cause is not known, but it is thought to be due to pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes) producing too much pigment (melanin). Several factors can contribute to developing melasma.

Most people affected by melasma are upset by the appearance of it, but there are no physcial symptoms like itchiness or pain.

For more information please visit:

Access help and info on skin health conditions. Know your skin. Access help and info on skin health conditions. Know your skin.