August 2025 Patient Newsletter

Posted by: clairecreativepa - Posted on:

📰 Surgery news…

Welcome to our August newsletter! We hope you’ve been enjoying the summer and making the most of the sunshine when it appears. July was a particularly busy month here at the practice, and we’d like to thank all our patients for your continued support and patience. Here’s a look at what the team got up to in July:

  • Answered 3283 phone calls.
  • Processed 2828 online requests (that’s an average of 91 requests a day).
  • Delivered 3128 appointments (face-to-face and telephone).
  • Offered 2760 GP appointments, 977 nurse appointments and 297 other healthcare appointments.
  • Processed 1382 prescriptions.

🤸🏽Get Moving! Joe Wicks’ New ‘Activate’ Series Makes Fitness Fun for Kids

This summer, Joe Wicks has released a new animated physical activity series, Activate, which aims to get children moving and having fun.

Activate is made up of short, five-minute episodes, each offering a burst of movement and energy. Parents and teachers can easily integrate these short exercises into their day at home, school or summer activity clubs.

Activate aims to make fitness fun and spark a love of movement in children, by bringing together bright and energetic new characters, alongside well-known upbeat music from exclusive music partner Universal Music UK.

The first episode is out now on The Body Coach YouTube channel, with new episodes out weekly over the summer.

🍻 Know Your Alcohol Limits This Summer

As we enjoy the longer days and warmer evenings, it’s easy for summer socialising to include more alcohol than usual. But being mindful of how much you’re drinking can help you stay in control of your health and wellbeing.

  • A shot of spirit is 1 unit
  • A pint of 4% lager is 2.3 units
  • A 250ml glass of wine contains 3 units

The NHS recommends spreading your alcohol consumption over at least three days if you regularly drink up to 14 units per week. And if you go beyond that, consider adding alcohol-free days to your routine. Knowing your units helps you make informed choices—so you can enjoy summer safely and responsibly.

person sitting on picnic table at daytime

💷 Worried About Debt? You’re Not Alone — Help Is Available

Many people struggle with debt, and it’s more common than you might think, especially with rising living costs. But there’s good news: support is out there, and you don’t have to face it alone.

Citizens Advice is encouraging people to talk about debt earlier. Whether it’s energy bills, credit cards, or rent arrears, getting help sooner can make a big difference. Their trained advisers offer free, confidential advice to help you understand your options and take back control.

😣 Struggling with How You’re Feeling? Joe’s Buddy Line Can Help

If you’re finding things tough—whether that’s stress, anxiety, feeling low, or just overwhelmed—Joe’s Buddy Line is here to help you feel heard, not judged.

The charity supports young people to make mental health feel easier to talk about. But even if you’re not sure what you’re feeling, there are ways to get support right now:

  • SHOUT 85258 is a free, confidential text support service in the UK, for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope.
  • Text Joesbuddy to 85258 for a conversation with a trained volunteer, at any time of day or night. Shout’s trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safer place.

You’re not alone. Whether it’s a small worry or a big one, talking is the first step toward feeling better.

Find more advice at joesbuddyline.org/get-help

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.

🗓️ Please cancel appointments you no longer need

Please let us know as soon as possible if you no longer need your appointment, so we can offer it to someone else and help reduce waiting times. In July, 47 hours of clinic time were wasted due to people failing to cancel appointments they no longer needed. To cancel appointments:

  • Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App).
  • Reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message.

If you regularly miss booked appointments, you may be asked to find an alternative GP practice and removed from our practice list.

👨🏽‍⚕️ Meet Our Pharmacist: Anthony Araba

Anthony has been an integral part of our team at TLHC since 2020, initially supporting us through the local Primary Care Network before officially joining the practice full-time in 2022. As a Clinical Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber, Anthony plays a vital role in patient care and medicines management.

With a background in hospital pharmacy and years of clinical experience, Anthony supports patients with a wide range of needs — from managing long-term conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic pain, to advising on complex medication regimes and providing alternatives during medication shortages.

Anthony works closely with patients and across healthcare teams to ensure safe and effective use of medicines. He regularly conducts medication reviews, supports discharge reconciliation from hospitals, advises on side effects, and sometimes carries out clinical examinations to help inform care decisions.

Anthony is available for patient appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. You can request an appointment via our administrative team or as a follow-up to an ongoing issue.

Outside of work, Anthony enjoys travelling, live football matches, and keeps up his love of running – a passion that began when he competed in cross-country races as a student.

🪼 Stay Safe from Jellyfish and Sea Creature Stings This
Summer 

If you’re heading to the coast, it’s important to know what to do if stung by a jellyfish or other sea creatures. If stung, seek local medical help immediately — ask a lifeguard or someone with first aid training.

If help isn’t available, follow these steps:

  • Rinse the area with seawater (not fresh water).
  • Remove any spines using tweezers or a bank card.
  • Soak the area in very warm water for at least 30 minutes.
  • Use painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed.

Avoid:

  • Peeing on the sting
  • Using ice packs
  • Touching tentacles or spines with bare hands
  • Covering the wound

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, vomiting, or severe swelling.

purple jellyfishes under the sea

🐝 Caring for the Carer: Dementia Support Tips

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be incredibly demanding — both emotionally and physically. Many carers feel overwhelmed and isolated, often left to manage on their own.

If you know someone who is looking after a person with dementia, your support can make a big difference. Here are six simple ways Dementia UK suggests you can help:

📲 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.