May 2025 Patient Newsletter
🙂Thank you!
Thanks to your help, we’ve seen a fantastic 44% reduction in missed appointments compared to April 2024, which means we can provide better care for everyone. Please continue to cancel any appointments you no longer need at least one hour in advance and arrive on time for your scheduled appointments.
In April we:
- Answered 2,656 phone calls
- Processed 2,601 online requests (that’s an average of 87 requests a day)
- Delivered 2,680 appointments (face-to-face and telephone).
- Offered 2,404 GP appointments, 751 nurse appointments and 212 other healthcare
- appointments.
- Processed 1,508 prescriptions.
💻Want to learn more about tech?
Do you sometimes find using your laptop, tablet or smartphone hard? Would you like to learn more about what is available to you online? Age UK Wandsworth is running sessions at various community venues to help older people in Wandsworth become more confident with technology and getting online. More details can be found here.
⚠️ Do you know the signs of a stroke?
Every day in May, 240 people will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke. May is Stroke Awareness Month, and an opportunity to make yourself familiar with the signs of a stroke and what to do if you or someone you know is having a stroke. The main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly. They may include:
- face weakness – one side of your face may droop (fall) and it might be hard to smile
- arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in 1 arm
- speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused
The easiest way to remember these symptoms is the word FAST. This stands for: face, arms, speech and time to call 999.
For more information, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/
🌞 Stay safe in the sun!
We hope that you have been enjoying the beautiful spring weather, but remember to protect yourself from the sun! Protecting your skin from the sun can help reduce your chances of developing skin cancer. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen and try to keep out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day. For more information and advice visit www.nhs.uk/sun
ℹ️ Help us to stay in the loop
From time to time, you may receive a request from us for information so we can keep your records up to date. Please respond to any requests you receive from the surgery, as it helps ensure we’re providing you with the right care for you.
📋 Your annual medical review is important
A friendly reminder that if you live with a chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes or COPD to look out for your annual medical review. We send text message invites out in your birth month and ask you to book your appointment promptly. If you don’t receive an invite or have had to cancel yours in the past, please get in touch with the practice to arrange yours.
🤍 Why the culture of dying matters
This week is Dying Matters Awareness Week and this year’s theme is “ The Culture of Dying Matters”. Hospice UK is encouraging people from all ages, cultures and communities to join the conversation and get talking in whatever way, shape or form works for them. This Dying Matters Awareness Week focuses on how different communities and cultures in the UK feel, talk about, and deal with death and dying, and what brings them together. Hospice UK has produced a video around this topic, which can be viewed here.
🏊🏾♂️ Tooting Bec Lido reopens for the summer
Tooting Bec Lido, the UK’s largest freshwater swimming pool, has reopened to the public for the summer season. Last year, the Lido had a £4m refurbishment to upgrade the pool, making it better for everyone, including a brand new pumphouse to keep water flowing and a modern UV filtration system to keep the water clean and safe. Swimming is a great way to meet new people and keep fit, so why not pop along this summer? More information, including how to book, can be found here.
🚶🏼♀️➡️ Increase your steps this May
Walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. May is National Walking Month, so why not get on your trainers and explore some of the lovely walks you do around Wandsworth? https://wandsworth.gov.uk/walking
🦻🏼 Communication tips if you have hearing loss
Research indicates that many people lack confidence in communicating with individuals who have hearing loss or who use British Sign Language (BSL).
For those with hearing loss, the following tips can be helpful when communicating their needs to others. These three simple steps can help with clearer communication:
Gain Attention: Encourage the use of simple gestures, such as waving, to get the person’s attention.
Face the Person: Emphasise the importance of facing the person directly while speaking. Many individuals with hearing loss rely on lip-reading to enhance their understanding.
Be Patient: Advise communicators to be patient, and to be prepared to repeat, rephrase, or try alternative methods of communication.
📈 Check your blood pressure without seeing a GP
The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get a blood pressure test to lower your risk of a fatal heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or vascular dementia.
You can get a free blood pressure check if you:
- are aged 40 or over
- live in England
To find a pharmacy near you that offers free blood pressure checks, please click here.
📲 Have you joined our WhatsApp Channel?
Tudor Lodge Health Centre has launched a new WhatsApp channel to keep patients updated with:
- Surgery news
- Helpful tips and advice
- Health resources and tools
Simply click here to join http://bit.ly/40JdpT1
Subscribing to our WhatsApp channel does not give us or any other group member access to your phone number or any other details, and users can opt out at any time.
For personal enquiries or to book an appointment at the surgery please use our online form to contact us.
If you would like to opt out of receiving these monthly updates, please complete this form.
