Forge Medical Practice

05/11/2025

🧠🌀 Feeling overwhelmed? Stress isn’t just “part of life” — it can affect your body, mind and behaviour in real ways.

Here’s what you might experience:
✔️ Physical: headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, chest‑racing heartbeats
✔️ Mental: trouble concentrating, making decisions, constant worrying
✔️ Behavioural: irritability, sleep too much or too little, eating changes, pulling away from others

When stress becomes long‑term, it can lead to burnout — extreme exhaustion, cynicism, reduced performance.

You don’t have to cope with it alone.

👉 Learn more and find help:
https://ow.ly/KkGE50XmxOQ
https://ow.ly/6Uc250XmxOg
https://ow.ly/jcvm50XmxOI

Take a pause. Talk it out. You matter. 💚

04/11/2025

📊 Patient Feedback – October Results

Forge Medical Practice collates feedback from patients following an appointment with a clinician. Patients can rate the contact as Very Good, Good, Poor, Very Poor or Neither Good nor Poor. They can also add a comment.

We received 460 responses for October. Please see the results below:

✅ Very Good: 407 = 88.5%
✅ Good: 44 = 9.6%
⚖️ Neither Good nor Poor: 4 = 0.9%
❌ Poor: 2 = 0.4%
❌ Very Poor: 3 = 0.7%

Thank you to all of our patients for their feedback. All anonymised comments are read, and the responses are circulated to all staff.

03/11/2025

🎇 Bonfire Night is here - and it’s a time for fun, but also for staying safe! 🔥 Before you light those fireworks and dig into all the good food, here’s what to watch out for:

🍗 Food Safety / Food Poisoning
• Don’t let food sit out too long - especially meats or salads
• Keep raw and cooked foods separate
• Store leftovers promptly at safe temperatures

🔥 Fire & Fireworks Safety
• Always follow firework instructions carefully
• Keep a safe distance
• Never relight a dud firework
• Always supervise children
• Have a bucket of water or hose nearby in case of fire
👉 Safety info:
https://ow.ly/b3YI50XjLhX
https://bonfire-night-safety.co.uk
https://www.firstaid.co.uk/fireworks-safety--first-aid/

🚑 First Aid for Firework Injuries
• Minor burns: cool under running water for 10+ minutes
• Seek medical help for deeper burns, wounds, or if you see smoke inhalation symptoms
• Use sterile dressings, don’t apply creams or adhesives until checked

Have a safe and happy Bonfire Night! 🎆

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 💪

22/10/2025

📢 Reminder: Practice Closed This Afternoon

The practice will be closed today (Wednesday 22 October) from 1:00pm for staff training.

We will reopen as usual at 8:00am tomorrow (Thursday 23 October).

• For medical advice, please contact NHS 111
• In an emergency, always call 999

Thank you!

21/10/2025

📢 Important Information

The practice will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday 22 October) from 1:00pm for staff training.

We will reopen at 8:00am on Thursday 23 October.

• For medical advice, please contact NHS 111
• In an emergency, always call 999

Thank you for your understanding.

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/284H50XcUpL
👉 How to support someone: https://ow.ly/w4Vb50XcUqg
👉 Looking after your health: https://ow.ly/Qhjo50XcUpO
👉 How long do symptoms last?: https://ow.ly/JY5G50XcUq1

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

16/10/2025

Confused about getting started with the NHS App? This webpage explains who can use the NHS App and how to set up an NHS Login for all your healthcare needs.

Find out who can use the NHS App, and how to set up your NHS login, prove your identity and log in using the NHS App or the NHS website.