Healthier North Walsham, North Walsham (2025)

01/12/2025

During the month of December Healthier North Walsham will focus on the topic of bereavement. Bereavement is difficult to navigate all year around, but it can be especially difficult at Christmas time.

Throughout December we will be looking at support that is available for all stages and needs of grief, as well as sharing poems.

For the whole of December our Christmas Remembrance tree will be back and located in Top Reception where you can pop in and write a message on a star or heart, which can then be hung on the tree. You do not need to be a patient of Birchwood Surgery to take part in this activity.
On Monday 1st December we will be joined by "Remembering Together"- a local bereavement group who use the medium of crafts to provide a casual and 'no pressure to talk' service. Caroline will be with us to hand out some leaflets and information, as well as craft packs to those that wish to find out more.

24/11/2025

Smart meters are the new generation of gas and
electricity meters. They replace your traditional meters and are installed at no extra cost by your energy supplier. Smart meters help to monitor how much energy is being used in your home.
Your meter readings are sent automatically and securely to your energy supplier, so you no longer have to provide manual meter readings. Your supplier uses this information to produce
accurate bills. If you prepay for your energy, the in-home display will enable you to see how much credit is left and with a smart meter you can also top up easily via an app, online or
still in the local shop.

Along with the smart meter, you’ll be offered an in-home display (IHD), which is a small portable
device that tells you in pounds and pence how much energy you are using. The smart meter installer will show you how to use the in-home
display. It can help to identify which appliances are using the most energy. Using this information may mean you can identify ways
you might be able to save money.

Your in-home display provides vital information such as:
💡 Energy consumption in pounds and pence.
💡 Meter readings
💡If you prepay for your energy, it will also tell you how much credit is left, when credit is running low and if there is any debt on the account.
💡You can find in-home display user guides on the Citizen's Advice website here: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/find-the-user-guide-for-your-smart-meters-in-homedisplay/
💡Accessible in-home displays are also available from some energy suppliers. If you have a sight
impairment, problems with dexterity or suffer from memory loss then let your supplier know as they might be able to provide you with an accessible in-home display.

To find out more about smart meters and arrange for one in your home, contact your energy supplier. If you already have a smart meter and there is an issue with it, or with the in-home display then let your energy supplier know so they can resolve the issue.

Smart Energy GB is the independent, non-profit organisation that helps households and small businesses across Great Britain to understand how smart meters can benefit them, their families and the environment. Their website has lots of useful information: www.smartenergygb.org

To view this leaflet in full visit https://healthiernw.co.uk/directory_leaflets/national-energy-action/ or https://www.nea.org.uk/

19/11/2025

On Monday 1st December, Caroline from 'Remembering Together' will have a table in top reception where she will be talking about their informal bereavement service and what they are all about, as well as providing some materials for people to make a wooden or fabric heart whilst you chat. There will be make at home kits to hand out as well to anyone interested.

This is open to all members of the public, you do not need to be a patient at Birchwood Surgery.

17/11/2025

We are pleased to have Emma from the Family Hub joining us again on Thursday 20th November between 1:45pm and 3pm at Birchwood Medical Practice, as part of her work with Healthier North Walsham.

The Family Hubs approach supports parents and carers of children and young people from conception up to the age of 19-years-old (25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities). to read more visit https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/familyhubs

Emma will be located in the bottom waiting room during the childhood immunisations clinic where she will be available to speak to for more information about the service and to provide some support to parents.

Norfolk family hubs

17/11/2025

Understanding which items in your home use the most electricity could help you save money. The amount it costs to run electrical appliances depends on three things:
1️⃣ The amount of power they need (power rating)
2️⃣ The price you are charged per unit of electricity (kWh)
3️⃣ How long the appliance is on (use)

So what is a kilowatt? The power rating for electrical appliances is measured in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). A kilowatt is 1000 watts. If a 1 kW appliance (like a fan heater) runs for 1 hour it will use 1 kWh (kilowatt hour) of electricity. Units of electricity are measured in kWh and counted through our electricity meters. The price for a unit of electricity is shown in pence per kWh
and that’s what energy suppliers use to bill us.
On a prepayment meter (PPM/top-up meter) your credit will run down with each kWh used.

By understanding the power rating, the electricity unit rate of your supplier and using the following simple formula, you can see how much your appliances cost to run:
Running cost = Power rating ✖ Electricity unit rate ➗ 1000

Of course, some items will only be on for a few minutes and some several hours so the actual costs will vary. Due to that price cap changing regularly and differences between makes and models, the age of appliances and because things like heaters, cookers, washing machines and tumble dryers use different amounts of energy while they run, it can be tricky to give exact costs. A higher rating doesn’t always mean higher cost. E.g. your kettle might have a high rating but you likely won’t turn it on for an hour!
Choosing energy efficient electrical items can help. A is the most efficient.

To view the full leaflet visit https://healthiernw.co.uk/directory_leaflets/national-energy-action/ or https://www.nea.org.uk/

10/11/2025

Condensation happens when warm, moist air hits a cold surface such as a window or outside wall and condenses, running down the surface as water droplets. Moisture left on your walls can lead to black mould. Mould looks and smells bad, can cause serious health problems and damage
clothes, furniture and books.

Areas likely to be affected by condensation:
💧 Rooms where a lot of steam is created, such as kitchens and bathrooms
💧 Outside walls, walls in unheated rooms, corners of rooms, behind furniture
💧 Cold surfaces such as mirrors, windows and window frames
💧 In wardrobes and cupboards

Condensation is different to other forms of damp (such as rising and penetrating). It is not caused by a defect of the building so can often be improved by making small changes.

NEA advises to get rid of condensation in the home using H.I.V.E:
Heating- Try to keep temperatures in all rooms to
above 18°C when you are using them – this will reduce condensation forming.
Insulation- This will stop heat escaping through walls, ceilings and windows, making it easier and cheaper to keep the home warm
Ventilation- This will allow moisture-filled air to escape and be replaced with fresh air. Make sure vents and airbricks are not covered or blocked, use extractor fans and open windows when possible.
E- (reduce) Excess Moisture- Use extractor fans when showering or cooking, put lids on pots and pans when cooking, avoid drying washing indoors where possible. Consider using a dehumidifier in rooms which are prone to condensation or in rooms where you dry washing. If you live in a rented property and you have tried all the above, but the damp and condensation isn’t going away,
then contact your landlord.

If you have black mould in your home, the best
way to deal with this is by wiping the affected areas with mould removal spray. Always check the
manufacturer’s instructions. There are some special anti-mould and insulating paints that may delay the return of the mould but the best way to prevent it coming back is to reduce the condensation in your home.

To read the full leaflet visit https://healthiernw.co.uk/directory_leaflets/national-energy-action/ or https://www.nea.org.uk/

03/11/2025

During the month of November we will be covering energy efficiency, especially as the colder months bring more use of drying washing indoors, tumble driers, and turning the heating on.

We have worked alongside National Energy Action to bring you information this month regarding condensation and mould in the home, a guide on how much house appliances take to run, and a breakdown of having a smart meter and the benefits.

National Energy Action is the national charity working to end fuel poverty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They offer advice and support to fuel-poor households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as advocating for policy and regulation to protect the most vulnerable households.

When households struggle to pay their energy bills for long periods it can lead to increasing and unsustainable levels of debt. The resulting vicious cycle of high bills and increased outgoings is difficult to escape. Households in fuel poverty often resort to unsafe energy rationing, trying to use as little energy as possible, which can be risky for their health and the condition of their home. Some people with prepayment meters even voluntarily disconnect from their mains energy supply in a bid to spend less.

Cold homes can cause or worsen a range of serious health conditions including heart attacks, strokes, bronchitis, and asthma. Each year, around 10,000 people die as a result of living in a cold home. Fuel poverty can also have a significant impact on mental health and is a known risk factor for su***de.

To read more and access help and advice from National Energy Action, visit their website at https://www.nea.org.uk/.

For energy advice you can contact NEA on 0800 304 7159 or for Benefits advice call 0800 138 8218

You can also visit the Healthier North Walsham website to view all the NEA energy efficiency leaflets, some of which we will cover throughout the month. https://healthiernw.co.uk/directory_leaflets/national-energy-action/

20/10/2025

As of October 2024, the Government has announced that everyone who has experienced pregnancy loss—regardless of when it occurred—can now apply for a certificate that formally acknowledges their loss. You can get a certificate in memory of your baby if your pregnancy ends before 24 weeks (or 28 weeks if your pregnancy ended before 1 October 1992). If your pregnancy ends from 24 weeks onwards, you need to register a stillbirth instead.

It’s free to get a certificate.

The certificates are entirely optional and while not legal documents, we know they provide comfort to many people who may have felt their loss was not considered as important as others.

If you’ve lost more than one pregnancy, you can request a separate certificate for each loss. You can do this straight after you have requested your first certificate or later.

To request a certificate visit https://www.gov.uk/request-baby-loss-certificate

Baby loss certificate service
Email: babylosscertificate@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0300 330 9445

15/10/2025

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13/10/2025

Baby loss is a general term used around the world to describe various different experiences including miscarriage, molar pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, neonatal death, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Termination for Medical Reasons (TFMR). There are support services out there which are available to all families that have experienced baby loss and here we highlight just a few.

Tommy's- Tommy's Midwives' helpline is for people who have had any type of pregnancy loss. The midwives who run the line are specialists who can support you with any aspect of pregnancy loss that would be helpful for you, including mental health and pregnancy after loss.
🤍0800 0147 800 or midwife@tommys.org.

Sands- Sands exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or shortly after birth, whenever this happened and for as long as they need support.
🤍 0808 164 3332 or helpline@sands.org.uk

Lullaby Trust- Provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies, emotional support for bereaved families and raises awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
🤍 0808 802 6868 or support@lullabytrust.org.uk

Compassionate Friends- An organisation of bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children.
🤍0345 123 2304 or helpline@tcf.org.uk

Petals- Petals provide free-of-charge specialist counselling to support the mental health of women, men and couples who experience pregnancy or baby loss. Their counsellors provide a safe space to guide parents through the grief and trauma of their devastating experience to a place of reconciliation and hope for the future.
🤍0300 688 0068 or counselling@petalscharity.org

Twins Trust- Twins Trust Bereavement Service offers support, community and information to parents who have experienced the death of a baby or child from a multiple pregnancy.
🤍familyservices@twinstrust.org

Antenatal Results and Choices- ARC offers non-directive information and support to parents before, during and after antenatal screening; when they are told their baby has an anomaly; when they are making difficult decisions about continuing with or ending a pregnancy, and when they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement.
🤍0845 077 2290 or info@arc-uk.org

Miscarriage Association- The Miscarriage Association offers support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in early pregnancy. They also raise awareness of miscarriage and promote good practice in medical care.
🤍 01924 200799 or info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

For more services available visit https://www.sands.org.uk/support-you/understanding-why-your-baby-died/useful-link-and-organisations

06/10/2025

During the month of October we will be raising awareness of baby loss and bereavement. Please be aware this may be a triggering subject for some people.

Sadly, some babies are lost during pregnancy, birth, or shortly afterwards. During October we are going to highlight support services that are available, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or termination for medical reasons. We are also going to explain baby loss certificates which can now be obtained from the government.

Throughout the month, there will be a 'Tree of Love' in the Green waiting room (formerly top reception) at Birchwood Medical Practice, along with pink, blue and white ribbons. We invite you to pop in to the surgery and tie a ribbon on the tree in remembrance of a baby that is no longer with us. On the table with the tree will be service leaflets and various booklets, as well as blank resources for you to take away and complete for the baby you are remembering. This table will be in the corner of the waiting area and is open to ANYONE. You do not need to be a patient at Birchwood Surgery to take part.

29/09/2025

We are pleased to have Emma from the Family Hub joining us again on Thursday 2nd October between 1:45pm and 3pm at Birchwood Medical Practice, as part of her work with Healthier North Walsham.

The Family Hubs approach supports parents and carers of children and young people from conception up to the age of 19-years-old (25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities). to read more visit https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/familyhubs

Emma will be located in the bottom waiting room during the childhood immunisations clinic where she will be available to speak to for more information about the service and to provide some support to parents.

Norfolk family hubs

Healthier North Walsham

01/12/2025

24/11/2025

19/11/2025

17/11/2025

17/11/2025

10/11/2025

03/11/2025

20/10/2025

15/10/2025

13/10/2025

06/10/2025

29/09/2025

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