Chapelfield Medical Centre

26/11/2025

🫁💙 Living with COPD? While there’s no cure, there’s plenty you can do to manage it and improve your quality of life. COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed - often due to smoking, long‑term exposure to dust/fumes or genetic factors.

Here are some ways to live well with COPD:
🔹 Stop smoking - the single most effective step.
🔹 Take inhalers and follow your treatment plan to reduce flare‑ups.
🔹 Stay active, eat well, keep weight in check and avoid triggers like pollution or cold air.
🔹 Be alert to symptoms like persistent cough with phlegm, shortness of breath or wheezing - mention them to your GP.

Need more support or want to learn how to cope?
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-live-healthily-with-copd

26/11/2025

0333 335 0026 📱SAVE & SHARE THIS NUMBER

Strut Safe’s lines are open this week.
Fri + Sat: 7PM - 3AM
Thurs + Sun: 7PM - 1AM

JUDGEMENT FREE & UK WIDE

If you’re out alone and you need a chat, our trained volunteers are here for you. Please share this number with friends & family if you know they might be out late this weekend.

26/11/2025

25/11/2025

📣 Patient Participation Group Meeting
We’d love for you to join us!

🗓 Wednesday 10th December
⏰ 2:00 PM
📍 Chapelfield Medical Centre

Our Patient Participation Group is a great opportunity to share your ideas, give feedback, and help shape the services we provide. Everyone is welcome!

24/11/2025

🤢💧 Vomiting and diarrhoea affect both children and adults, but the risks and care needs can differ. Here’s what to watch out for and how to respond 🧠

👶 Children vs 🧔 Adults - What’s Different?

Children:
‑ Dehydrate more quickly - loss of fluid builds up faster
‑ More vulnerable to electrolyte imbalance
‑ May refuse drinking or have a harder time telling how they feel
‑ Risk signs: dry nappies, sunken eyes, irritability, listlessness

Adults:
‑ Might manage symptoms longer before seeking help
‑ Risk of complications if they have chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, kidney disease)
‑ The underlying cause can vary (infection, foodborne, side effect of meds)

✅ What to Do (For All Ages)
🛌 Rest & stay home
💧 Sip small amounts of fluids frequently
🍚 Once able, introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods
🧼 Wash hands often, especially after bathroom or caring for sick
❌ Avoid preparing food for others until 48 hours after symptoms subside

⚠️ When to Seek Medical Help
Watch for these red flags (in both children & adults):

• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than a few days
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Unable to keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration (dizziness, extreme thirst, low urine output)
• High fever or unexplained pain

More trusted advice here:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

Stay alert, act early, and take care 💚

21/11/2025

🥦🧠 It’s Malnutrition Awareness Week - and while it’s often associated with undernutrition, malnutrition can affect anyone, even those trying to lose weight.

Healthy eating isn’t just about cutting calories - it’s about getting the nutrients your body needs to thrive 💪

💡 Did you know?
⚠️ Weight loss medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy or Saxenda can reduce appetite so much that people may miss out on essential nutrients.
⚠️ Malnutrition symptoms can be subtle - like fatigue, slow healing, or feeling cold all the time.
⚠️ Even if you're eating, you could be missing key vitamins or minerals.

✅ Learn more:
🍽️ NHS Better Health tips: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/
📋 Malnutrition symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/symptoms/
💊 Weight loss med side effects: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/wegovy-saxenda-side-effects
🥕 10 nutrients you might be lacking: https://patient.info/news-and-features/10-essential-nutrients-you-might-be-lacking

Eat well. Stay strong. Be informed. 💚

19/11/2025

👨‍⚕️📋 International Men’s Day is approaching – and it’s the perfect moment to prioritise our health checks!

Did you know the NHS offers a free health check for adults to help spot risks like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and more? Check it out:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-health-check

Want to know what happens at the check? Learn more at:
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/what-to-expect-at-an-nhs-health-check

📌 This is important for every man – whether you feel fine or not. Strong health starts with awareness and action.

17/11/2025

🦠💊 Antibiotics are powerful medicines - but they aren’t always the answer. Using them when they’re not needed can cause harm and make future infections harder to treat.

Here’s what you should know:
✔️ They only work against bacterial infections, not viruses like colds or flu.
✔️ Overuse is driving antibiotic‑resistance (“superbugs”) - which means common infections can become untreatable.
✔️ Do these things to help protect their effectiveness:
‑ Only take antibiotics when prescribed by a healthcare professional
‑ Complete the full course exactly as directed
‑ Never save antibiotics for later or share them with others

📚 Learn more here:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-antibiotics-should-not-be-overused

14/11/2025

🩺🔍 Worried you could be at risk of type 2 diabetes? A few changes in your family history, lifestyle or symptoms might mean a lot.
Here’s what to keep in mind:

• 👪 Family history matters – If a parent, sibling or relative has diabetes, your own risk goes up.
• 🍔 Lifestyle factors count – Being overweight, inactive or having higher waist size can all raise risk.
• 🚩 Symptoms might be subtle – Increased thirst, tiredness or needing to wee more may be signs.
• 📊 Want to know your risk? Try this tool: https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start
• 📖 More reading on what to expect and why this matters: https://patient.info/diabetes/diabetes-mellitus-leaflet

It doesn’t mean diabetes is inevitable - taking action now could make a real difference. 💪

12/11/2025

Here are some local walking groups in our area if you would like to get outside for some fresh air and a chat 🧡

12/11/2025

🥂✨ Not drinking? That’s a valid choice - and one worth celebrating.

is about creating a space where everyone feels comfortable with their own decisions, whether they drink or not.
Some people are cutting back for health, others are taking a break, and some simply don’t enjoy it - and that’s okay 💬🧃

👂 How can we be more supportive?
✔️ Respect someone’s choice without questioning it
✔️ Offer non-alcoholic options
✔️ Keep social events welcoming for everyone

Learn more from:
👉 https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/stopsobershaming
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/what-not-to-say-to-someone-who-doesnt-drink-alcohol
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/is-sobriety-becoming-trendy

Let’s help make every setting inclusive, whatever’s in your glass 💚

10/11/2025

💙 It’s Anti‑Bullying Week 2025: Power for Good! Time to stand up, speak out, and build kinder communities 🌟

Bullying can happen anywhere: in schools, workplaces, online, even in organisations up and down the ladder. It affects everyone.

Here’s how we can make a difference together:
👫 Be an ally, not a bystander - if you see something, say something
🏫 In schools: encourage safe spaces, peer support, and open dialogue
💼 In workplaces & organisations: promote respect, zero tolerance, and clear reporting structures
🗣️ Share stories, challenge harmful behaviour, and support those who feel alone

Learn more and access resources:
👉 https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
👉 https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-bullying

Let’s work together for environments where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued 💪