Willow Wood Surgery

25/02/2026

If your child's feeling under the weather, it can sometimes be tricky to decide whether they should stay at home or not.

The NHS website has helpful advice on different conditions to help you.

Find out when it's best to keep your sick child at home and when it's OK to send them to school or nursery.

22/02/2026

Your pharmacist can provide treatment or some prescription medicine, if needed, for seven common conditions - without you seeing a GP.

Think pharmacy first and get seen by your local community pharmacy team.

19/02/2026

Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can be very unpleasant but usually goes away in about 2 days.

You can usually treat yourself at home, but the most important thing is to rest and have lots of fluids.

Visit www.nhs.uk/norovirus

16/02/2026

From October to March we can’t make enough vitamin D from sunlight, so to keep bones and muscles healthy, it’s best to take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D.

You can get vitamin D from most pharmacies and retailers.
https://www.nhs.uk/condi.../vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

14/02/2026

Bowel cancer screening in England is improving.

FIT kits, sent to everyone aged between 50 and 74, will now be checked at a lower threshold. This means smaller amounts of blood in poo samples can be spotted — helping to find signs of cancer earlier, treatment can be more successful.

It’s the same simple test, just better at picking things up even earlier. Most people who use their kit won’t need further tests.

When your kit arrives, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.

Read more about bowel cancer screening: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and.../bowel-cancer-screening/

10/02/2026

Children under 6 on 1st January 2026 will now be offered the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox) vaccine as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

The MMR vaccine is still available for adults and older children born on or before 31 December 2019 who were not vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella when they were younger.

https://www.nhs.uk/mmrv

06/02/2026

Think you need urgent dental care?

Urgent dental appointments are now available. Find out how to get the help you need. Go to nhs.uk/urgentdentalcare

05/02/2026

Today is Time to Talk day, to break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Find out how to access NHS mental health services and where to get urgent help - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/

You can also find a lot of support at https://www.mind.org.uk

Find out how to access NHS mental health services and where to get urgent help.

04/02/2026

February 2026 is Heart Month.

Your heart age gives you an idea of how healthy your heart is.

This NHS heart age calculator will compare your real age to your heart age by asking you questions about your health. You'll also find out how to improve your heart age by making some healthy lifestyle changes.

Check your heart -

The NHS heart age calculator will help you understand your heart health by comparing your real age to your heart age by asking you questions about your health.

03/02/2026

Just tap the app to easily request your repeat prescription.

You can do more with the NHS App than you realise. Discover what else you can do today.

Tap the NHS App.

31/01/2026

Perimenopause is one of the three stages of menopause. It’s when menopause symptoms start but your periods haven’t stopped.

For many women, these symptoms can affect daily life – from energy and mood to relationships and work.

They can also start earlier for some, which is why recognising the signs and getting support matters.

Menopause will now be part of routine NHS health checks – offered every 5 years to eligible adults aged 40 to 74 – for the first time. By including tailored questions about menopause, more women will be able to get the support they need to manage their symptoms.

More info on symptoms and treatment options: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/symptoms/

29/01/2026

For some people, symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can feel more noticeable or harder to manage during the winter.

But small things can help:
- try some physical activity – anything that gets you moving
- make the most of natural light – getting outside or sitting near windows
- plan for tougher days – shifting stressful tasks or building in more rest

There’s also treatment available if you’re finding things really tough – such as light therapy, talking therapies or medication.

Find out more http://www.nhs.uk/.../seasonal-affective.../overview/