Support - Castle Healthcare Practice

Alcohol Support

Realising you have a problem with alcohol is the first big step to getting help.

You may need help if:

you often feel the need to have a drink
you get into trouble because of your drinking
other people warn you about how much you’re drinking
you think your drinking is causing you problems

For more information, visit:

Asthma Support

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.

It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.

There’s currently no cure, but there are simple treatments that can help keep the symptoms under control so it does not have a big impact on your life.

For more information visit:

Cancer Support

NHS
Cancer outcomes have improved significantly over recent years, including survival rates, which have never been higher. However, work continues to make sure that everyone with cancer receives world-class care, support and treatment.

For more information, visit:

CARE – Cancer Rehabilitation & Exercise
Notts County FC Football in the Community work in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to deliver this incredibly effective cancer rehabilitation & exercise programme. CARE uses physical activity to help patients during their recovery.

The CARE programme not only provides participants with the benefits of physical exercise, it is also a social environment where members can share stories, and increase their confidence and self-esteem during a difficult period in their lives.

Participants are welcomed on to our CARE programme at any time throughout their cancer journey; from diagnosis, during treatment or recovery and through to remission, meaning they can benefit from the programme before, throughout and after treatment.

For more information and how to self-refer, visit: Notts County – CARE

Children Support

Nottinghamshire Children’s Centre Service

Children’s Centre Volunteers offer one-to-one or group support with:

BABES breastfeeding support group
Under Ones group
Stay and Play group for under fives

Qualified Children’s Centre workers also offer one-to-one or group support with:

preparing for a baby
children’s development, including listening and communication
playing with your child
the emotional health of you or your child
children’s behaviour
feeding your child
increasing your confidence to help you get a job
domestic abuse (in partnership with Women’s Aid services)

For more information, visit:

Dementia

It’s normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines. But if you’re becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you’re over the age of 65, it’s a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia.

Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning.

There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.

People often get confused about the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases.

For more information, visit:

Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Find out how to recognise the signs and where to get help.

Domestic violence, also called domestic abuse, includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse in couple relationships or between family members.

For more information, visit:

Drug Addiction

If you need treatment for drug addiction, you’re entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem.

With the right help and support, it’s possible for you to get drug free and stay that way.

For more information, visit:

Farming Community

The Farming Community Network are a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community.

If you’re suffering from stress, anxiety, loneliness, bereavement, depression, retirement, illness, family concerns or worries about the future, The Farming Community Network are here to help.

For more information, visit: The Farming Community Network

Fitness Support

The secret to getting fit for free is to use every opportunity to be active.

Armed with a bit of get-up-and-go and good planning, you can be fitter than ever without spending a penny.

NHS Choices have enlisted the help of top fitness experts to help you explore new ways and places to exercise for free.

Exercise guidelines and workouts to help improve your fitness and wellbeing. The NHS website has information on:

The benefits of exercise
Why we should sit less
Physical activity guidelines for all ages
Strength and flexibility exercises
Balance exercises
Sitting exercises
Exercises for sciatica problems
Running and aerobic exercises
Walking for health
How to warm up before exercising
How to stretch after exercising
Knee exercises for runners
Knee pain and other running injuries

Heart Health

The Heart Age test gives you an idea of what your heart age is compared to your real age. You’ll also find out:

the number of extra years you can give your heart age by making some healthy lifestyle changes
the importance of blood pressure and cholesterol levels in estimating your heart age
how to improve your heart age by eating better and moving more

To complete the Heart Age test, visit: NHS – What’s your heart age?

Mental Health

Crisis
The crisis line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to people of all ages.
If you’re in a mental health crisis, call the crisis line anytime of the day or night, and it can be arranged for you to speak with a mental health professional. You can also be advised about other services, which can help you.
The crisis line is operated by local health workers. Don’t worry, they will help you get the right support.

Phone: 0808 196 3779

For more information, visit: NHS Nottinghamshire Healthcare – Help in a crisis

Shout
Anyone living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can text the word ‘Notts’ to 85258 for free and be connected to a trained Shout volunteer. This service is available 24/7 and is operated by clinicians who can help with issues such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts.

The conversation takes place over text and is a free, confidential and anonymous service.

More more information, visit:

NHS Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies
Nottinghamshire Talking therapies is a free and confidential NHS service designed to help with common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. Anyone aged 17 1⁄2 years or over and registered with a GP can access support, though a GP referral is not necessary as you can self-refer.

For more information and where to complete a self-referral:
Web – NHS Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies
Phone – 0333 188 1060
YouTube – NHS – Treatment for depression and anxiety | NHS Talking Therapies

NottAlone
Local mental health advice and help for young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
NottAlone offer support and advice on a range of issues, such as:

Anger
Anxiety & panic attacks
Body image
Bullying
Depression
Drugs & alcohol
Eating disorders
Exam stress
Family separation
Gangs or dangerous situations
Identity
Relationships
Self harm

For more information, visit: NottAlone

Physiotherapy

Patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including conditions such as back pain and arthritis, are now able to contact their local physiotherapist directly and self-refer, rather than waiting to see a GP or being referred to hospital. Patients can also book an appointment to see a physiotherapist by speaking to a receptionist or by being referred by their GP.

For more information, visit:

Pregnancy & New Mothers

The Perinatal Mental Health Service
If you are a new or expectant mother and have concerns about your mental health and wellbeing, this service can help. To access this service, please speak to your GP, Midwife, Health Visitor or other professional involved in your care.

For more information, visit:

Nottinghamshire Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service
Anyone experiencing any of the following can access the Nottinghamshire Perinatal Trauma and Bereavement Service by speaking to their GP, Midwife, Health Visitor or other professional involved in their care:

Mental health difficulties related to your birth experience.
Mental health difficulties following bereavement in the perinatal period, including difficulties related to miscarriage, termination of pregnancy for any reason, stillbirth and neonatal death.
A severe fear of childbirth.

For more information, visit: NHS Nottinghamshire Health – The Nottinghamshire Perinatal Trauma & Bereavement Service (PTBS)

Sexual Abuse/Violence

NHS Support
If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don’t be afraid to get help.

There are services that can help if you’ve been sexually assaulted, raped or abused. You don’t have to report the assault to the police if you don’t want to. You may need time to think about what has happened to you.

However, consider getting medical help as soon as possible for any injuries and because you may be at risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you want the crime to be investigated, the sooner a forensic medical examination takes place, the better.

For more information and where to find local help and support, visit: NHS – Help after rape and sexual assault

Nottinghamshire Sexual Violence Support Services
If you are aged 18+ and have experienced rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse, either recently or in the past then Notts SVS Services are here to help you.

For more information:
Web: Notts SVS Services
Phone: 0115 941 0440
Online Self Referral: Notts SVS Services – Online Referral Form

Sexual Health

The NHS website has detailed information on:

Where you can get sexual health advice
Visiting a STI clinic
Confidentiality
Advice for gay/lesbian/bisexual men/women
Sex activities and risk
Help after rape and sexual assault

For more information, visit: NHS – Sexual health

Smoking

We all know smoking is bad for you, your family and your friends. There are lots of reasons to stop smoking as well as plenty of support to quit. It’s never too late to give up smoking, and research suggests that smokers who stop with support are four times more likely to succeed, and so you do not have to do it on your own.

For more information, visit:

Stop smoking self referral: YourHealthNotts.co.uk – Stop Smoking

Social Prescribing

What is Social Prescribing

Many things can affect your health, from feeling isolated or lonely at work, money, housing problems or managing different long-term conditions.

Your doctor isn’t the only person who can help you get better. There are other things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing, and sometimes you just need a bit of help to work out what they are.

The Rushcliffe Social Prescribing Service is based on the five ways to wellbeing. This is an evidence based model that can improve your physical and emotional health.

Your social prescribing link worker could connect you to a community group, a new activity or a local club, or they might help you access legal advice or debt counselling. They might just help you find information and guidance by using a bit of inside knowledge on your situation or what local resources there are.

Our approach:

Signposting to local resources
Health coaching
One-to-one support

Referral

The service is by referral only and starts with a conversation. It might be a conversation you have with a doctor, or with another person in the GP Practice team. If they think you will benefit, they may refer you to a social prescribing link worker.

For more information, visit:

Stress

Most people feel stressed sometimes and some people find stress helpful or even motivating. But if stress is affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help.

Support is also available if you’re finding it hard to cope with stress.

Stress can cause many different symptoms. It might affect how you feel physically, mentally and also how you behave.

It’s not always easy to recognise when stress is the reason you’re feeling or acting differently.

For more information, visit:

Suicidal Thoughts Support

If you’re feeling like you want to die, it’s important to tell someone.

Help and support is available right now if you need it. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

For more information, visit:

Samaritans
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. Samaritans are here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Tel: 116 123 (free phone)
Web: Samaritans.org

Summer Health

Barbecue Food Safety

It’s important to cook food thoroughly at a barbecue to avoid food poisoning. Food poisoning is usually mild, and most people get better within a week. But sometimes it can be more severe, even deadly, so it’s important to take the risks seriously. Children, older people and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning.

The two main risk factors to cooking on the barbecue are:

undercooked meat
spreading germs from raw meat onto food that’s ready to eat

This is because raw or undercooked meat can contain germs that cause food poisoning, such as salmonella, E.coli and campylobacter. However, it’s easy to kill these germs by cooking meat until it is piping hot throughout.

When you’re cooking any kind of meat on a barbecue, such as poultry (chicken or turkey), pork, steak, burgers or sausages, make sure:

The coals are glowing red with a powdery grey surface before you start cooking, as this means that they’re hot enough.
Frozen meat is properly thawed before you cook it.
You turn the meat regularly and move it around the barbecue to cook it evenly.

Remember that meat is safe to eat only when:

It is piping hot in the centre.
There is no pink meat visible.
Any juices are clear.

Hay Fever – Allergy UK helpline: 01322 619898

Hay fever affects around 20% of people in the UK. Lindsey McManus of Allergy UK offers some tips on avoiding the causes and reducing your symptoms.

“The main triggers of hay fever are tree and grass pollen,” says Lindsey. “The pollen count is always higher when it’s a nice, bright, sunny day.”

Top Tips:

If grass makes you sneeze, get someone else to mow your lawn. If you react to grass and you spend time on the lawn, you’ll get symptoms.
Create a barrier by smearing Vaseline inside your nostrils.
Don’t sit outside between 4pm and 7pm or in the early morning, as the pollen count is highest at these times.
Don’t sleep or drive with the windows open, as this will allow pollen to come in.
Damp dust regularly.
Wash your hair. Pollen is sticky and may be in your hair.
Vacuum. Pollen can live in carpet for up to three months.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist about any treatment you’re taking for hay fever as it might be worth trying a new treatment. The same antihistamine [anti-allergy treatment] doesn’t always work for someone year after year. Try something different, such as a nasal spray or a new antihistamine.

Sun Safety

It’s important to protect you and your children’s skin in the sun to avoid sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Click here for NHS Choices Questions and Answers

Stings

Knowing how to treat an insect sting and how to recognise when it needs medical attention will help you do the right thing if you or your child are stung.

Insects such as wasps and bees sting as a defence mechanism (when they feel in danger) by injecting poisonous venom into the skin. For most people, stings are painful but harmless. But some people can have an immediate allergic reaction to being stung, which can be very dangerous.

Click here to read more about stings

More Summer Health at NHS Choices

Walking Group

Rushcliffe Ramblers has now resumed following its postponement during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rushcliffe Ramblers Short Health Walks on Tuesdays

Start times are 10.15 and repeated at 11.30

Each walk is about 45 minutes

Terrain: Easy and flat

Meeting place: Junction of Gresham Park Road and Wilford Lane (near the mini roundabout). Car parking is available in places on the Gresham Park Road.

Please let Jeremy know if you are likely to come or contact him if you have any questions on 0115 981 0420 or Mobile 0775 145 8041.

Web: Rushcliffe Ramblers

Please come along to:

Enjoy the company
Improve your health
Relax
Add vitamin D!

Weight Management

Being a healthy weight is essential to good health. It helps you move around easily, take part in everyday social activities and helps prevent illnesses.

For more information, visit:

Winter Health

Winter depression (seasonal affective disorder or SAD) is thought to affect up to one in 15 Brits every year between September and April. Many more of us (about 17%) get a milder form of the condition, known as the winter blues.

Key symptoms

depression
sleep problems
lethargy
overeating
irritability
feeling down and unsociable

According to Sue Pavlovich of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), these 10 tips could help. “Everyone’s affected differently by SAD so what works for one person won’t for another. But there’s usually something that will help, so don’t give up if the first remedy you try doesn’t work. Just keep trying,” she says.

1. Keep active

Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk, in the middle of the day, could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues. Read more about walking to get fit.

2. Get outside

Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on bright days. Inside your home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.

3. Keep warm

Being cold makes you more depressed. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes and aim to keep your home between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees). For further information on what you can do, including applying for grants to keep your home warm, read our article on keeping warm and well.

Severe symptoms

If your symptoms are so bad that you can’t live a normal life, see your GP for medical help.

4. Eat healthily

A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.