SWAN Primary Care Network

18/10/2025

♀️𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑶𝑷𝑨𝑼𝑺𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝒀🌍

Menopause is a natural stage in most women’s lives marked by hormonal changes that end the menstrual cycle. It happens in four stages:

𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲: Before any symptoms appear.
𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶-𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲: Symptoms begin due to hormone changes, but periods still occur.
𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲: When no period has occurred for 12 consecutive months.
𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲: The time after menopause.

🌸𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲?🌸
Menopause affects every woman differently. Symptoms can be physical or psychological and may impact daily life or work. Research suggests women of colour may experience more severe symptoms.

🥵𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:🥵
- Hot flushes (sweating, redness, rapid heartbeat)
- Headaches and migraines
- Low mood, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, poor concentration, and memory issues
- Joint pain and tiredness
- Skin itching or irritation

🌿𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀:🌿
- Eat regular, healthy meals and drink plenty of water.
- Exercise regularly to boost mood, sleep, and fitness.
- Reduce smoking and alcohol.
- Stay cool with breathable clothing and good ventilation.
- Track symptoms and share patterns with a clinician.
- Use stress management techniques (e.g., mindfulness, breathing).
- Maintain good sleep habits and routines.

📲For more information:📲
https://www.balance-menopause.com/
https://menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk/
https://rockmymenopause.com/
https://llttfgm.llttf4.com/

10/10/2025

𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉 - 𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓🥘🎃

Now the weather has started to turn and the colder nights are creeping in, I like to make warm comfort foods and one of the favourites in our house is this creamy coconut, butternut squash and potato Thai red curry, which is a nice light vegetable alternative with a hint of earthy, warm and spicey tones.

09/10/2025

JOIN US THIS MORNING RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR LOCAL HOSPICE

Wigan & Leigh Hospice💜

𝑪𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏 & 𝑳𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆 🍰☕

Join us for a lovely Coffee Morning in support of Wigan & Leigh Hospice!

📅 Thursday 9th October
🕚 11am – 1pm
📍Worsley Mesnes Health Centre – Community Living Area

Come along for a fun-filled morning with: 🎲 Games, 🎟️ Raffles, 🍰 Delicious cakes & ☕ Plenty of coffee

Representatives from Age UK and Wigan & Leigh Hospice will also be there on the day.

Bring your friends, enjoy a treat, and help raise vital funds for a wonderful cause💜

02/10/2025

🌈𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 - 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭🦢

Our previous team winners First Contact Practitioners have kindly chosen the next winner…

“The FCP team have decided to present this month’s staff award to a member of staff who has been instrumental in helping the team advance their knowledge and skills, in an area that was previously out of the comfort zone for most of the team.

This person spent time providing training and producing quick reference guides to help the FCPs be able to carry out a new clinical skill that will help both patients and, potentially save lives!

She also provided much needed support and expertise recently, when a patient attended for assessment with one of our team, regarding ‘neck and arm pain’.

During the consultation, it became apparent that their neck and arm pain only came on with physical activity and was also associated with chest and jaw pain.

The FCP took the patients blood pressure, a skill they had only recently learn following the excellent teaching this member of staff provided, and found it to be high.

When asked for advice, this member of staff came ready with her toolkit, and was very reassuring to the patient, whilst also expertly assessing them. She provided clear recommendations for the patient to attend A&E/MIU and the rationale as to why this was important, documenting clearly in the notes.

The patient refused to attend A&E, therefore she arranged for them to have an urgent ECG and GP appointment, which identified Atrial Fibrillation and a suspected Myocardial Infarction.

The patient was transferred by ambulance to Wigan Infirmary and then onto a specialist centre for heart bypass surgery.

Due to the training devised and delivered, and the support offered in clinic, this patient’s urgent cardiac was quickly identified and they were able to receive appropriate, much needed, urgent medical care- without that support, the outcome, sadly, could have been very different!”

𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙇𝙪𝙘𝙮 𝙅𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨, 𝙉𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚✨✨

02/10/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🎀

Early detection saves lives. 💗 Get to know your body — take a few minutes to check your breasts regularly and encourage loved ones to do the same. If you notice any changes, don’t wait: see your GP or seek medical advice.

💖 Let’s show our support together — wear pink on Friday 24th October to raise awareness and stand with those affected by breast cancer.

✨ Check your breasts.
✨ Wear pink.
✨ Encourage screening & seek advice early.

Together, we can make a difference. 💪

02/10/2025

📢 Join Us for a Digital Drop-In Session Today! 📢

Need help with the NHS App or AskmyGP? Come along to our monthly Digital Drop-In Session on:
🗓 Thursday 2nd October (Occurs 1st Thurs every month)
⏰ 1pm – 3pm
📍Community Living Area, Chandler House, Poolstock Ln

Our friendly team will be on hand to guide you through the NHS App, AskmyGP, and offer support for your health and well-being.

No appointment needed – just drop in! (Don't forget to bring your device fully charged!)

01/10/2025

𝑪𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒆 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏 & 𝑳𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑯𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆 🍰☕

Join us for a lovely Coffee Morning in support of Wigan & Leigh Hospice!

📅 Thursday 9th October
🕚 11am – 1pm
📍Worsley Mesnes Health Centre – Community Living Area

Come along for a fun-filled morning with: 🎲 Games, 🎟️ Raffles, 🍰 Delicious cakes & ☕ Plenty of coffee

Representatives from Age UK and Wigan & Leigh Hospice will also be there on the day.

Bring your friends, enjoy a treat, and help raise vital funds for a wonderful cause💜

01/10/2025

🚲 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲🚲

Looking for a bike but don’t want to buy one? The Clifton Street Bike Library is here to help!

📅 When: 1st Thursday of every month
🕑 Time: 2–4pm
📍 Where: Clifton Street Family Hub

✅ Open to anyone aged 16 and over
✅ Borrow a bike for free and get riding
✅ A great way to keep active, save money, and travel sustainably

Register by emailing cliftonstreetbikelibrary@wigan.gov.uk for a membership form

Come along, pick up a bike, and enjoy the freedom of cycling! 🚴

30/09/2025

What a great turn out we have had Friday!🍰

Friday last week we had our Coffee Morning over at New Ashton Health Centre for Macmillan Cancer Support, with a raffle and lots of yummy cake sales, we have managed to raise a HUGE total amout of….

💚🌟£564.59🌟💚

A massive thank you to all the family, friends, patients and businesses who donated some amazing prizes for our coffee morning:

• PPG members
• The Little Bloom Room
• Grandad Jims Sweet Shop
• The Paddock Coffee House & Restaurant
• Bloom 4 Seasons
• Hamraz Indian Takeaway
• M&S
• Bryn Community Shop
• Galloways Bakery
• Michelle Lily Hairdressing
• Coop Winstanley
• Beyond Beauty
• Crofty Cakes
• The Cake Boutique Ashton
• The Rolling Pin Bakery
• Asda St Helens
• St Thomas Church pantry
• Windy Arbour Farm Shop
• Kay’s Dairy
• Medicentre GP surgery

& a HUGE Thank you too our helpers who always go the extra mile with every event 🤝🏼

📆Save the date! World Hospice Day Coffee Morning - Thursday 9th October💫

25/09/2025

Who's ready for some cake tomorrow!? 🍰Join us for a Macmillan Coffee Morning! 💚

Come along to (New) Ashton Health Centre, on Friday 26th September, from 10am-1:30pm for delicious cakes, hot brews, and a chance to support a great cause☕

We’ll have raffle tickets available for purchase, with all proceeds going to Macmillan. Let’s make a difference together! 🌟

25/09/2025

The NHS offers free vaccinations including flu, RSV and whooping cough, to keep you and your baby safe.

To find out more:

- Search ‘NHS GM Winter vaccinations’
- Contact your maternity team
- Visit our website gmintegratedcare.org.uk/winter-vaccinations