Men’s Health Week takes place every year during the week leading up to Father’s Day.

It’s happening this year from 9th – 15th June. The focus is on raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging them to prioritise their wellbeing. Been putting off seeing your GP? Make an appointment today! #menshealthweek

For support in keeping well, please visit - https://www.keepingwellnwl.nhs.uk/self-help-resources/mens-health 

Did you know that four in five suicides are by men, with suicide noted as being the biggest cause of death for men under 35 (UK Parliament)?

Men’s health cannot take a back seat. We’re urging the Government to fulfil their promise of putting in place a Men’s Health Strategy for the NHS this #menshealthweek.

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw

Are you a carer?

There are 5.8 million people in the UK caring for a family member, friend or neighbour who’s ill, older or disabled.

Make sure you let us know if you’re caring for someone; it’s important that we can look after your health while you’re looking after them.

This year, Carers’ Week will focus on ‘Caring About Equality’, highlighting the disparities and disadvantages faced by unpaid carers across the UK, to increase awareness and improve support.

Caring for someone can have a significant impact on your own health, finances, employment and education opportunities. 70% of carers report a long-term physical or mental health condition, disability or illness, compared to 50% of non-carers, so it’s important you access the help you need as a carer. https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/

Carers Bucks is dedicated to supporting carers, based in Buckinghamshire for more information  - https://carersbucks.org/ 

 They can be contacted T: 0300 777 2722 E: mail@carersbucks.org

If you’re living with diabetes, it’s important to attend your regular checks with us at the surgery. We understand it can feel like you don’t have time or you’re feeling fine, but these checks will help keep you healthy and provide support, even if you feel like you don’t need it!

Diabetes can cause other health issues, so it’s vital to pick these up in the early stages. Make your yearly health check an essential date in your diary.

Read here what to expect: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/looking-after-diabetes/care-to-expect

If it is more than 3 years since you last attended a Diabetes Structured Education, you are entitled to repeat the program free of charge.It consists of 4 sessions, each around 2 hours long. 

Session1 - Starting Life with Diabetes

An overview of the issues surrounding type 2 diabetes

Session 2 - Diet and You

The dietary principles of living with diabetes lead by a dietician

Session 3 - Targets and Terminology

Lead by a physiotherapist the benefits of activity and taking control of your diabetes.

 Session 4 - Medication and Foot care

Lead by a podiatrist and diabetes specialist nurse

The sessions are held in various locations around the county, for more information on dates, venues and times t: 01296 566155.

Cervical screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free NHS health test that’s offered to women and all people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening saves over 5,000 lives a year. It’s a quick test, and we’ll make you feel relaxed and comfortable.

This is a life-saving test, so when invited, please make sure you #AttendScreening.

To learn more about cervical screening and why itis so importnat, visit - Cervical Screening Misconceptions

Aged 17 to 65?

Generally fit and well?

Weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg) and less than 25st (158kg)?

You could help by donating blood as stocks are critically low.

Giving blood

You can give blood at thousands of donation venues across England, from permanent donor centres to pop-up community venues.

More about giving blood

Giving plasma

You can give plasma (part of your blood that can make life-saving medicines) at 3 donation venues in England:

• Birmingham
• Reading
• Twickenham

More about giving plasma

Information: 

Note that you can't donate blood and plasma at the same appointment.

If you have a baby under six months of age, it can be really difficult to know whether you need to make a medical appointment, or whether you can safely look after your baby at home. The Lullaby Trust built an app to help parents of young babies to know the difference:
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-check-app/

National Weaning Week, 12th – 16th May

Babies are usually ready to start trying their first solid foods when they reach six months of age. Giving your baby a wide variety of normal family foods can encourage habits for life, but we do need to make sure we’re careful as some foods such as salt and honey aren’t suitable for very young children.
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/how-to-start-weaning-your-baby/

If you’re caring for someone at risk of going missing, you might want to have a look at the Herbert Protocol. Named after a war veteran called George Herbert, the Herbert Protocol helps you to establish information about someone who’s at risk before they go missing.

In the event that they later do go missing, you’re able to quickly share the information with the police force.

We’ve linked some national information below, but you’ll be able to find the information for your local police force and their forms by carrying out an internet search. The police will ask additional questions about what happened if/when the individual goes missing, but having the protocol ready helps you to think about important information beforehand when you’re not in a moment of intense stress.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-s...gether-magazine/scheme-support-missing-people

The safety initiative ‘Ask for Angela’ is being rolled out to bars, clubs and other licensed businesses across England.

People who feel unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for ‘Angela’. This code-phrase will indicate to staff that they require help with their situation and a trained member of staff will then look to support and assist them. This might be through reuniting them with a friend, seeing them to a taxi, or by calling venue security and/or the police. 

Venues that support ‘Ask for Angela’ have been given Welfare And Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training. Delivered by the Met’s licensing officers and Safer Sounds partnership, it gives staff the ability to help customers who may be in a situation that makes them vulnerable or unsafe.

For more information about the scheme, visit: https://askforangela.co.uk/