Live Well

Practical advice and NHS resources to help you and your family stay healthy — from vaccinations and stopping smoking to mental health, seasonal wellbeing and travel health.

Child Immunisations

Keeping your child's vaccinations up to date is one of the most important things you can do to protect their health. Routine NHS vaccinations are free and offered at set ages from birth through to teenage years.

If you are unsure whether your child is up to date, please contact us — it is never too late to catch up. You can also find the complete NHS childhood vaccination schedule on NHS.uk.

Stop Smoking

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health at any age. About 40% of long-term smokers will die from a smoking-related condition — but the benefits of stopping begin within days. Taste and smell improve quickly, and within one to two years the risks of heart attack, stroke and lung cancer fall significantly.

We run a free Stop Smoking Clinic at the surgery every Wednesday morning. Your GP can also prescribe medication to help, and local NHS services offer tailored support that makes you four times more likely to succeed.

• NHS Smokefree helpline: 0300 123 1044

Get Fit for Free

Being physically active is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week — but even small increases in activity make a real difference.

Getting active does not have to cost anything. Walking, cycling, home workouts, and community sports groups are all free or low-cost options. The NHS Better Health website has practical ideas and plans to help you get started at any fitness level.

Birth to Five

The NHS Start for Life programme provides comprehensive guidance for parents of children from birth to age five. Whether your child is a newborn, a toddler or a pre-schooler, you will find clear, reliable information covering:

• Feeding, sleeping and child development
• How to spot signs of serious illness
• What to do in an accident or emergency
• Your own health and wellbeing as a parent or carer

Mental Health

One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. Mental health problems are common — and treatable. If you are struggling, please do not wait. Speak to your GP, or self-refer to our local NHS talking therapies service.

Contraception

Contraception is free for most people in the UK. There are 15 methods to choose from — your GP can help you find the one that best suits your lifestyle, health and plans.

Contraceptive services are free and confidential, including for people under 16, as long as they are mature enough to understand what is involved. Remember that only condoms protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — whatever method you choose for contraception, use condoms as well to protect your sexual health.

Our GPs have specialist experience in women's health and contraception. See also our Menopause & Perimenopause page for more on reproductive health services at the practice.

Winter Health

Winter can be tough on your health — particularly for older people, young children and those with long-term conditions. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the milder "winter blues" affect many people between September and April.

Practical steps that can help include getting outside in natural daylight, staying active, keeping warm, eating well, and staying connected with friends and family. If you think you may have SAD, speak to your GP.

Summer Health

Warm weather brings its own health risks. The most common include sunburn, heat exhaustion, food poisoning (particularly from barbecues), and insect bites. Children, older people and those on certain medications are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness.

Key summer health tips: use sun cream of at least SPF 30, stay hydrated, cook meat thoroughly on the barbecue, and check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives during hot weather.

Travel Vaccines

If you are travelling abroad, check which vaccinations you need well in advance — ideally at least 8 weeks before departure. Some courses require multiple appointments over several weeks to provide full protection.

We offer a Travel Vaccine Clinic at the surgery. Some travel vaccines are available on the NHS; others may need to be obtained from a private travel clinic.

Carers

Caring for someone can be deeply rewarding but also exhausting. Many carers struggle to look after their own health and wellbeing. If you are a carer, help is available — and you do not have to manage alone.

• Carers Direct: 0808 808 7777 — free, confidential advice for carers, Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, weekends 11am–4pm. Also available in over 170 languages.