The Parish Fields Practice

12/12/2025

As winter approaches, it’s more important than ever to take action to avoid slips and falls — especially for older adults. 👣❄️

Knowing the risks and making small changes can make a big difference. Check out these helpful guides:
👉 https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/dizziness/prevention-of-falls-in-the-elderly
👉 https://patient.info/features/general-health/step-to-take-this-winter-to-avoid-falls
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/falls/

From improving lighting and removing trip hazards to building strength & balance, it’s all about staying steady and safe. Let’s keep moving with confidence this season. 💪🧤

Find out about falls, including what to do when you have a fall, what help is available and how to prevent falls.

10/12/2025

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OPENING TIMES

During Christmas week the Practice will be open (8.00am - 6.30pm) on the following days:

Monday 22nd December
Tuesday 23rd December
Wednesday 24th December

The Practice will be CLOSED all day on Christmas Day and Boxing day, reopening at 8.00am on Monday 29th December 2025.

The Practice will then be open 8.00am - 6.30pm on:

Monday 29th December
Tuesday 30th December
Wednesday 31st December

The Practice will be CLOSED all day on New Years’ Day, reopening at 8.00am on Friday 2nd January 2026.

If medical assistance is required outside Practice opening hours please contact 111.

IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT ANY TIME PLEASE TELEPHONE 999 AND ASK FOR THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.

We would like to wish all of our patients a peaceful Christmas, along with all best wishes from the team at Parish Fields for a healthy and happy 2026.

10/12/2025

🧬💊 Keeping on top of your medicine cabinet and daily medications is more important than you might realise. From having the right medicines at home to organising your routine and checking expiry dates — it all matters.

Check these helpful guides:
👉 https://patient.info/treatment-medication/medicines-to-keep-at-home
👉 https://patient.info/features/treatment-medication/when-did-you-last-check-your-medicine-cabinet
👉 https://patient.info/features/treatment-medication/how-to-manage-your-medications-at-home

Staying organised means you’re ready, safer and more in control of your health. ✅

Medications can be helpful and even life-saving for many, yet research shows that a large proportion of people are not taking them correctly. Reviewed by a GP

08/12/2025

🧼✨ Good hand-washing is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others from illness.

Whether you’re prepping food, using the loo, blowing your nose or getting home from a trip out — clean hands matter! Check these useful guides:
👉 https://ow.ly/8fZv50XFy8E
👉 https://ow.ly/mmCr50XFy8K

Take 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) to lather, rub all surfaces, rinse & dry — and you’ll make a big difference. 💧👌

Washing your hands is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu.

05/12/2025

👂💡 Ear infections can be painful and frustrating, but knowing the facts can make all the difference! Whether it’s a common middle ear infection or a less common fungal type, it’s helpful to recognise the signs and take steps early.

Check these out:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ear-infections/
👉 https://patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/earache-ear-pain/fungal-ear-infection

From itching and discharge to muffled hearing, symptoms vary. And when it comes to treatment, you’ll often hear about pain relief and keeping the ear dry.

Remember: if symptoms persist, worsen or include hearing loss, get medical advice. 👍

Fungal ear infections involve the canal that runs from the earhole to the eardrum (the external auditory canal). The medical term for it is otomycosis.

04/12/2025

Following on from our recent post about ensuring we have your current (and most importantly correct!) contact details, please use the link below to complete the 'Patient Contact Details' form. You can also access the form by scanning the QR code below.
https://forms.office.com/e/a1kSxu6f5p?origin=lprLink

With such busy phone lines we would appreciate it if you could avoid ringing in with your up to date contact details and complete the above online form instead.
We also have some printed copies at the surgery by the Reception desk if you would prefer to fill it in this way, just hand your form into Reception once you have completed this.

Our website will be updated shortly also to include the link to the form.

Having your correct contact details allows us to send you information/links/appointment confirmations/appointment booking links etc by message. This is so much more efficient and quicker than sending out by post, it also means we can give the option for you to reply directly to us from the message if we feel we need a response from you.

03/12/2025

💙 Feeling connected and supported matters more than ever. Social isolation can deeply affect mental health, especially for people living with disabilities - but there are ways to stay active, engaged and supported. 🌈✨

Check out these helpful resources for advice on reducing loneliness and staying well:
👉 https://ow.ly/hsjV50XzUj6
👉 https://ow.ly/BsOX50XzUja
👉 https://ow.ly/34YB50XzUjp

Whether it’s joining a local group, finding an accessible exercise routine or learning what support is available, small steps can make a big difference. 💪💬

01/12/2025

With today being the first day of Winter, we are gearing up at Parish Fields for the increasing amount of requests that we expect to see at this time of year.
It would be an enormously beneficial to us in order to help you as efficiently as possible, if all of our patients could ensure we hold a mobile ‘phone number on record that is up to date please.
This not only enables us to contact you by telephone, but also enables us to contact you by text, including for appointment reminders.
It also helps us reduce the significant costs we incur where we have to revert to communicating by post.
Thank you for your support with this.

01/12/2025

🌍❤️ This World AIDS Day 2025, let’s come together to fight stigma, share knowledge and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by HIV. 💪✨

There are still so many myths surrounding HIV and AIDS — but knowledge is power! Learn the facts and help stop misinformation:
👉 https://patient.info/features/sexual-health/dispelling-common-myths-about-hiv-and-aids
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/

Find out how you can get involved and show your support this :
🔗 https://worldaidsday.org

Together, we can end stigma and empower healthier futures. ❤️🕯️

Get Involved There are loads of ways to get involved: in school, college or university, in your workplace or in any other setting.In your school Never too young to raise awareness (and money) to help fight HIV! You can do it in your school or college. Click here for more informationIn your universit...

26/11/2025

🫁💙 Living with COPD? While there’s no cure, there’s plenty you can do to manage it and improve your quality of life. COPD happens when the lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed - often due to smoking, long‑term exposure to dust/fumes or genetic factors.

Here are some ways to live well with COPD:
🔹 Stop smoking - the single most effective step.
🔹 Take inhalers and follow your treatment plan to reduce flare‑ups.
🔹 Stay active, eat well, keep weight in check and avoid triggers like pollution or cold air.
🔹 Be alert to symptoms like persistent cough with phlegm, shortness of breath or wheezing - mention them to your GP.

Need more support or want to learn how to cope?
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/
👉 https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-live-healthily-with-copd

Living with COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be challenging, but there are many ways to live healthily with COPD.

24/11/2025

🤢💧 Vomiting and diarrhoea affect both children and adults, but the risks and care needs can differ. Here’s what to watch out for and how to respond 🧠

👶 Children vs 🧔 Adults - What’s Different?

Children:
‑ Dehydrate more quickly - loss of fluid builds up faster
‑ More vulnerable to electrolyte imbalance
‑ May refuse drinking or have a harder time telling how they feel
‑ Risk signs: dry nappies, sunken eyes, irritability, listlessness

Adults:
‑ Might manage symptoms longer before seeking help
‑ Risk of complications if they have chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes, kidney disease)
‑ The underlying cause can vary (infection, foodborne, side effect of meds)

✅ What to Do (For All Ages)
🛌 Rest & stay home
💧 Sip small amounts of fluids frequently
🍚 Once able, introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods
🧼 Wash hands often, especially after bathroom or caring for sick
❌ Avoid preparing food for others until 48 hours after symptoms subside

⚠️ When to Seek Medical Help
Watch for these red flags (in both children & adults):

• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than a few days
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Unable to keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration (dizziness, extreme thirst, low urine output)
• High fever or unexplained pain

More trusted advice here:
👉 https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

Stay alert, act early, and take care 💚

Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies. Find out how to treat and avoid spreading them, and when to get medical help.

21/11/2025

🥦🧠 It’s Malnutrition Awareness Week - and while it’s often associated with undernutrition, malnutrition can affect anyone, even those trying to lose weight.

Healthy eating isn’t just about cutting calories - it’s about getting the nutrients your body needs to thrive 💪

💡 Did you know?
⚠️ Weight loss medications like Mounjaro, Wegovy or Saxenda can reduce appetite so much that people may miss out on essential nutrients.
⚠️ Malnutrition symptoms can be subtle - like fatigue, slow healing, or feeling cold all the time.
⚠️ Even if you're eating, you could be missing key vitamins or minerals.

✅ Learn more:
🍽️ NHS Better Health tips: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/
📋 Malnutrition symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/symptoms/
💊 Weight loss med side effects: https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/weight-loss/wegovy-saxenda-side-effects
🥕 10 nutrients you might be lacking: https://patient.info/news-and-features/10-essential-nutrients-you-might-be-lacking

Eat well. Stay strong. Be informed. 💚

HSIS's study reveals that UK diets are surprisingly low in essential nutrients that play a key role in protecting us against health conditions such as diabetes, hea