Windermere and Bowness Medical Practice

30/10/2025

If you feel unwell or need medical help but aren’t sure which NHS service is right for you, please visit NHS 111 https://www.nhs.uk first. A&E is for emergencies only. 🚨

28/10/2025

🎉 Congratulations!

You’ve done the best thing you can for your health by quitting smoking and after 28 days smoke-free, you’re now 5 times more likely to quit for good. That’s a huge achievement, and everyone from your GP surgery is proud of you!

💡 Quitting smoking is always worth it.
Even after just a few weeks, your body is already repairing itself: your circulation improves, your lungs start to clear, and your risk of heart disease begins to drop. Every smoke-free day is a step towards a healthier, longer life.

🛠 Staying smoke-free
To help you stay on track, check out these tips and strategies to remain a non-smoker: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/staying-smoke-free/

Remember, quitting isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to do it alone, we’ve got your back every step of the way. Keep going, and celebrate every smoke-free day!

25/10/2025

🚭 Thinking about quitting smoking? You don’t have to do it alone, we’ve got your back.

There are lots of free local services across Cumbria that can give you support, advice, and even ni****ne replacement therapy to help you stay on track.

👉 Here are some options near you:

Smokefree Cumberland – 1-to-1 and group support, pharmacy sessions, plus access to Allen Carr’s EasyWay programme. https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/find-support-and-help-give-smoking

Smoke Free Westmorland and Furness – Free online sessions, 12-week pharmacy support, and one-to-one coaching. https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/smoke-free

Cumbria Stop Smoking Service (NHS) – Free pharmacy-based support available county-wide. https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/cumbria-stop-smoking-service/N10510733

Well Pharmacies – Local clinics offering personalised quit support. https://well.co.uk/health-hub/services/stop-smoking/

Townhead Surgery Stop Smoking Service – Free 6-12 week personalised programme with weekly check-ins. https://www.townheadsurgery.co.uk/clinics-and-services/smoking-cessation/

North Cumbria Integrated Care – To***co Dependency Treatment Service – Support available in hospital and after discharge. https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/services/tobacco-dependency-treatment-service

💡 Whether you want in-person help, phone support, or online sessions, there’s a service to suit you.

20/10/2025

🚭 Do you know someone who wants to quit smoking, but doesn’t know where to start?

Taking the first step can feel daunting, but the right support makes all the difference. The NHS offers a free Personal Quit Plan, tailored advice to help find the best way to quit, based on individual needs and lifestyle.

💡 It only takes a few minutes to complete, and it could be the first step towards a healthier, smoke-free future.

👉 Share this link with a friend, family member, or loved one today: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/ready-to-quit-smoking/personal-quit-plan/

18/10/2025

🌿 World Menopause Day 2025 – 18 October

GP practices across the region recognise the strength and resilience of people going through menopause. This year's theme, Lifestyle Medicine, highlights how nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management and self-care can make a real difference in managing menopausal symptoms and supporting wellbeing.

Menopause is a natural stage of life and there are ways to maintain health and vitality during this time. Local GP practices are here to offer advice, guidance and resources. Booking an appointment with a GP can help you access personalised support and information.

💡 Simple lifestyle steps to support menopausal health
Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet with plenty of whole foods, fibre and essential nutrients
Physical activity: Take part in regular exercise to support mood, energy and bone strength
Sleep: Prioritise good quality sleep to maintain hormonal balance and mental clarity
Stress management: Try mindfulness, meditation or relaxation techniques to reduce stress
Self-care: Listen to your body, ask for support when needed and practise self-compassion

Let’s continue the conversation and support each other through this important life stage. For more information visit the International Menopause Society's World Menopause Day page; https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

15/10/2025

🚭 We know quitting smoking isn’t easy – but the ‘future you’ will thank you.

Every day you go smoke-free, your body begins to repair itself. Within just 20 minutes your pulse rate returns to normal, and within weeks you may notice more energy, easier breathing, and a better sense of taste and smell. Longer term, the health benefits are even greater – reducing your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, stroke and cancer.

💪 Quitting can be tough, but support is available and every attempt gets you closer to becoming smoke-free for good.

👉 Learn more about the health benefits of stopping smoking here: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/why-quit-smoking/benefits-of-quitting-smoking/

10/10/2025

🧠 World Mental Health Day - 10 October 🧠

Today is World Mental Health Day, a moment for all of us to pause, reflect, and check in, with ourselves and with each other. This year the theme is “Access to services: mental health in catastrophes and emergencies”, a reminder that everyone deserves support when they need it most.

In our community here in Cumbria, we know that life can sometimes feel heavy, overwhelming, or uncertain. You are not alone in how you feel, and there is help, both within and beyond our GP Practice.

Every Life Matters is a Cumbrian based organisation which have a fantastic support directory listing various mental health support services available: https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/support-directory/

You are not alone. Struggling doesn’t mean defeat.

There is support, and there are caring people who want to help.

Let’s look after our minds, today, tomorrow, and every day.

09/10/2025

🕯️ Baby Loss Awareness Week (9–15 October) 🕯️

This week, we join together to remember babies lost too soon, support grieving families, and work to improve bereavement care. 💙💗

If you have experienced pregnancy or baby loss, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or the loss of a baby at any stage, please know that you are not alone. Your grief matters, and your baby is remembered.

✨ Ways to take part and find support:

🌸 Wave of Light: Join others across the world by lighting a candle at 7pm on 15 October to remember every baby gone too soon. You can share your candle online using .
👉 babyloss-awareness.org

🌿 North Cumbria Integrated Care is holding remembrance services during the week, including:
🕯️ Thursday 9 October, 6 pm – Cemetery Chapel, Dalston Road, Carlisle
🕯️ Sunday 17 November, 7pm – St Peter’s Church, Kells, Whitehaven
More details: North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

🕊️ At the Cumberland Infirmary, the Snowdrop Suite provides a private, calm space for families experiencing loss.

💬 Support and advice:
❤️ Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity) – Helpline 0808 164 3332 | sands.org.uk

💜 The Lullaby Trust – Bereavement support 0808 802 6868 | lullabytrust.org.uk

💛 Mariposa Trust – Services and peer support | sayinggoodbye.org

💗 Baby Loss Awareness Alliance – Information and resources | babyloss-awareness.org

09/10/2025

🚭 Quitting smoking is always worth it.

Every cigarette you don’t smoke is a step towards better health, for your heart, lungs, and overall wellbeing. Within weeks, you’ll notice improvements in breathing and energy levels, and over time the benefits only increase.

💡 Need a little support along the way?
The NHS Quit Smoking App is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps you track progress, stay motivated, and access tips whenever you need them.

Whether it’s your first attempt or your tenth, remember, every quit attempt brings you closer to success. You don’t have to do it alone.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhs-quit-smoking/id687298065
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doh.smokefree&hl=en_GB

03/10/2025

3 Days down!
You've done the hard bit, and now you get to see the benefits!

After 72 hours your pulse, breathing, and energy levels should be returning to normal, with your senses of taste and smell also improving.

Find out more about the health benefits of quitting smoking here: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/why-quit-smoking/benefits-of-quitting-smoking/

03/10/2025