Great Western Medical Practice

31/12/2025

Get ready for the bells 🎉🔔
Follow our tips so you and your loved ones are health-prepared to say hello to 2026.

📲 Use NHS inform symptom checkers
When you’re feeling unwell, NHS inform's symptom checkers and self‑help guides will give you fast, expert‑designed advice on what to do next and how to manage common symptoms.

💊 Check medicines and repeat prescriptions
Make sure you have enough prescribed medicines as many GPs and pharmacies will be closed over New Year. Order only what you need, and collect before holiday closures. If you run out when the GP is closed, a community pharmacist may be able to give an emergency supply.

🤧 Manage winter illnesses at home
NHS inform has practical guidance for coughs, colds, sore throats, flu, norovirus and more - including self‑care and when to seek help.

🩹 Have remedies and first aid items available at home
It’s helpful to keep over‑the‑counter remedies such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (if suitable for you), antihistamines, anti‑diarrhoeals, indigestion remedies, a mild laxative, and a basic first‑aid kit. Always follow the pack advice and don’t overstock as medicines can go out of date. If unsure, ask a pharmacist.

🤒 For minor ailments - Remember Pharmacy First
If you’ve got a minor illness, your local community pharmacy is the first place to go for advice - no appointment required. Pharmacists (and trained team members) can assess, advise and provide medicine where appropriate, and will refer you to a GP, dentist, optometrist or another service if needed.

🗓️ Know your festive opening times
GP practices and pharmacies may have different opening hours on public holidays. Check local opening times and find nearby services using Scotland’s Service Directory on NHS inform.

🚑 Know where to get the right care in the right place
Call 999 or go to A&E for emergencies that are life or limb-threatening. Otherwise, NHS inform can help you decide what to do next, including when to contact your GP or 111.

Need more info? All links in the comments!

28/12/2025

🌟 Meet Clare, an NHS 24 Clinical Supervisor based in Aberdeen.

Over the festive period Clare will be on shift Boxing Day, 27th and 28th December, Hogmanay, New Year’s Day and 2nd January. She says:

"When not working, I've enjoyed traditions like catching the panto and enjoying the city’s festive light trail. I'll be spending Christmas Day with my partner and our two beautiful girls.
"If you have run out of your normal medication and your GP or local pharmacy are closed, use the accessing medicines guide on NHS inform. It can help point you in the right direction to get more prescribed and non-prescribed medicine."

For more winter health tips: https://www.nhsinform.scot/winter ❄️

16/12/2025

For lots of people, this is not the most wonderful time of the year. If you need to talk to someone about how you are feeling, you can call Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87. They are open 6pm - 2am, Monday - Thursday, and from 6pm on Friday right through to 6am on Monday. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123, 24/7. For more information on the other ways Samaritans can help, visit www.samaritans.org

15/12/2025

Cases of flu are high this winter, so if you’re wondering whether it’s just a cold or you’re floored with flu here’s what to do.

Most symptoms can be safely managed at home. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease aches and fever. Your pharmacist can advise on cold and flu remedies.

Antibiotics won’t help with colds and flu as they are viruses – time and self-care are best.

To stop the spread:
💉 get your flu vaccination if you are eligible
🧼 wash your hands regularly
😷 cover coughs and sneezes

Remember you can access trusted advice and symptom checkers by visiting NHS inform - LINK IN COMMENTS!

10/12/2025

Does HRT Cause Weight Gain? Let’s talk about it. ⬇️

One of the most common concerns about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is weight gain. So here's the truth:

👉 HRT does NOT directly cause weight gain.
Research shows that most women tend to gain some weight during midlife—with or without HRT—due to aging, hormonal shifts, and lifestyle changes.

📉 Estrogen in HRT may actually help reduce abdominal fat, improve insulin sensitivity, and support lean body mass in some people.

As estrogen levels drop, inflammation rises, and insulin resistance increases. Even without changing your diet or exercise habits, women see visceral (deep abdominal) fat jump from around 8% pre‑menopause to approximately 23% during menopause. That’s nearly a threefold increase!

Visceral fat—unlike subcutaneous fat—is metabolically active and produces inflammatory signals. It's strongly linked to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and metabolic syndrome.

HOW TO COMBAT VISCERAL FAT:

1. Boost Fiber Intake
Most women only get ~12 g/day, aim for 25 g or more daily to lower inflammation, slow glucose absorption, support gut microbiome health, and reduce visceral fat.

2. Minimise Added Sugars
Limit added sugars (not just natural fruit sugars) to < 25 g/day. People who do often see significantly lower levels of visceral fat and inflammation.

3. Prioritise Protein
Menopause accelerates muscle loss (sarcopenia), which further slows metabolism. Adequate protein intake supports muscle synthesis, satiety, and metabolic health.

4. Strength Training & Movement
Weight-bearing or resistance training at least twice a week is vital to preserve muscle mass, increase bone density, reduce visceral fat, and support insulin sensitivity.

5. Support the Gut & Consider Probiotics
Estrogen loss disrupts gut microbiome balance. Eat probiotic-rich fermented foods (e.g. yogurt, sauerkraut)

6. Lifestyle: Sleep, Stress & Vitamin D
Low vitamin D levels, chronic stress, and poor sleep amplify inflammation and insulin resistance—fueling the storage of abdominal fat. Optimising these supports metabolic health.

Visceral fat gain during perimenopause isn't a personal failure—it’s a predictable hormonal shift, one that insulin resistance, inflammation, and body composition changes can amplify.

Rather than calories-in/calories-out, it’s about creating metabolic resilience—so your body stays strong, healthy, and functional as you navigate the hormonal transition.

HRT can help ease symptoms and support metabolic balance, but it works best alongside the lifestyle strategies listed above.

We hope you found this helpful. If you wish to discuss menopause more then please call or email the surgery to book onto our group consultations at gram.gwgroupconsultations@nhs.scot

04/12/2025

Group menopause consultations are back and they're filling up fast. However, we do have a few spaces next week, on Thursday 11th Dec. Either call reception to book or email with your name, address and D.O.B to gram.gwgroupconsultations@nhs.scot. We'll reply the next working day if you have got a space.

We look forward to welcoming you!

21/11/2025

We're excited to announce that our pilot project of introducing Group Menopause Consultations has been a huge success and we are now rolling it out as a permanent option for accessing menopause care at Great Western!

These appointments are for any age or stage of the menopause journey, whether you're on HRT or not, whether you're still having periods or not. Meet others, learn from a healthcare professional and receive individual tailored advice (including prescriptions if appropriate).

The group consultations are on Thursday nights 7-8.30pm and the dates of the next 4 group consultations are:
In person - Nov 27th - NEXT WEEK (we have plenty of spaces)
In person - Dec 11th
Online - Jan 8th
In person - Jan 22nd

We will continue to roll out more dates so watch this space.

We look forward to welcoming you!

02/06/2025

20/05/2025

Some really useful information at the touch of a button

Help is at hand for a healthy summer! ☀️

If you need health advice, NHS inform's symptom checkers can give you the info you need - fast.

Symptom checker topics:

Abdominal pain
Accessing medicines
Anxiety
Bereavement and grief
Chronic pain
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Cough
Depression
Diarrhoea
Earache
Emergency contraception
Eye problems
Fever in adults
Fever in babie
Flu-like illness
Hay fever
Headache
Lower back pain
OCD
Panic
Phobias
Problem-solving
Problems with anger
PTSD & CPTSD
Rash
Self-esteem
Sleep problems
Social anxiety
Sore throat
Shoulder pain
Tick bites
Urinary infection
Vomiting

Click the link in the comments to find out more.

12/05/2025

📣 When can you stop contraception?
GREAT QUESTION and one that confuses a lot of women, and understandably so, since it depends on age, current contraception and how long you've been without a period 😳🤯

It can be even more confusing if you're still on contraception and aren't having periods. Plus, perimenopause can cause periods to change in length, frequency and heaviness.

Here's some useful information to help you navigate this time of change and help you know when it's safe to stop contraception.....

💗 HRT is NOT contraception (except for the hormonal coil e.g the Mirena coil). You will need further contraception up until the age of 55.

💜 If you are using NON-HORMONAL contraception (e.g. condoms, diaphragms, copper coil):

-->AND you are UNDER the age of 50, you can stop contraception after TWO years of no periods

-->AND you are OVER the age of 50, you can stop contraception after ONE year of no periods

💛 If you are using PROGESTOGEN-ONLY contraception (for example the implant, Progesterone-Only Pill, hormonal coil, injection):
- You can continue this until age 55, the natural age deemed safe to stop contraception OR
- You can continue this until age 50 and then have blood tests (2 FSH levels, 6 weeks apart). If the blood tests are high, indicating menopause then you can stop the contraception after ONE year.
If you are using the injection, wait TWO years

💚 If you are using COMBINED contraception with both oestrogen and progestogen (for example the combined pill):
- You can use this up to the age of 50 and then change to a non hormonal or progestogen-only contraception --> and then follow the rules for either of those (see above)

Always seek advice from a healthcare professional so you can get the right contraception/advice for YOU 🌸

29/04/2025

We are delighted to welcome a new permanent GP to the practice.
A warm welcome to Dr. Francis.