Category Archives: Services

New Years Resolutions 2017

NHS supported Activities, Resources and Services for better Self Care in 2017 – click here to download this post. and here for a print version

happy_family_2We all want to be healthy and happy this year. What better time to form a good New Years Resolution? And what better if the New Years Resolution is free? Therefore I have put together a little leaflet pointing out a few opportunities in Bracknell, that may help you in your quest for better health. You may not know about some of the resources.

But first, click here to sign up for the Newsletter on our website for information about free self care resources in Bracknell & Ascot. We send you short and non-promotional information about opportunities that are generally free and government funded.

Free Weight Loss Classes with Slimming World

If you are obese (BMI over 30, for a BMI calculator click here) you qualify for a free slimming world voucher from your GP surgery. They may print it for you or ask you to make a nurse appointment. (Note, if you have diabetes you even qualify with a BMI of 28)

Free / reduced cost Gym membership

Go and see your practice nurse for a so called “Activate” Referral for free / reduced price exercise.

Health Walks

One, two and three mile walks with a visit to the cafe afterwards. Second and fourth Saturday of the month at 10.30am. Call 07443 499207 for more information. Postcode: RG12 7DE.

Sandhurst Health Walks

One hour walk, open to all abilities. Monday to Friday, 9.30am. Start from Sandhurst Town Council, Yorktown Rd, Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 9BJ. Call 01344 774754

Summer evening walks for people of average fitness are also available from Horseshoe Lake car park on Wednesdays at 7pm, starting on Wednesday, 27 April. Visit the Health Walks website for more information.

South Hill Health Walks

One, two and three mile walks with a visit to the cafe afterwards. Every Saturday at 10.30am. Call 07443 499207 for more information.

Smoking Cessation

Free service with https://www.smokefreelifeberkshire.com/ call 0800 622 6360 or text QUIT to 66777.

Supported Beginner Exercise

  • Bracknell Leisure Centre – Thursday (11-noon) January 12th to February 16th [FREE 6 week course]
  • Great Hollands Community Centre –  Fridays 10:30 – noon [£2] Starts 13th Jan
  • Priestwood Community Centre – Mondays 10am -11:30am [£2] Starts 16th Jan
  • The Parks Community Centre – Tuesdays 6pm – 7pm [£2] Starts 17th Jan

Alcohol Problems:

Drinking too much? Problems over Christmas with the family? Relationship on the rocks? Click here for local AA information. If you don’t like AA and you are looking for a professionally led service, contact the iHub for New Hope.

Drugs Problems?

New Hope is a professionally led service to help your daily life by either helping you to ditch drugs or prescribe drugs, which let you function in your environment better. Click here for more information.

HealthMakers

For help to live with a chronic condition or health problem, contact Healthmakers for their new courses. A great community with inspiring people help you to fulfil your goals much easier. Its free coaching and much more. Contact: HealthMakers@berkshire.nhs.uk or telephone 01344 415947.

Blood Pressure

Start taking control of your Blood Pressure and buy your own equipment. Click here for more information and to download a clinically approved BP monitoring chart in accordance with NICE guidelines.

Free Falls Assessment

If you or someone you know would like to receive a free falls risk assessment please contact us via; email at info@fallsfree4life.co.uk , telephone FallsFree4Life Bracknell on – 01344 534019

Check Your Pulse

Missing a beat in your pulse can be serious. Click here to learn to check your pulse and do it regularly!

Bowel Cancer Screening Awareness

If you are over 60 you qualify for screening. Don’t throw away your kit, you could be throwing away your life. Click here for information on how to get a new kit and how to do the test.

Cervical Screening – Smear

Ladies over the age of 25 years can have a smear every 3 years. Women between 50 and 64 can have a smear every 5 years. Contact your GP surgery if you have forgotten your smear.

Free NHS Health Checks

If you are over 40 and haven’t done your free NHS Health Check, yet, hurry and book it before you forget it. Contact your GP surgery and ask for a Free NHS Health Check appointment.

Free NHS Chlamydia Screening Home Testing Kit

If you are under 25 years old and concerned about Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease, text REACH followed by your full name and address to 80010.

 

 

New Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service in Bracknell

Why is Pulmonary Rehabilitation so important?

emphysema_and_copd_ARTNICE guidelines specify that patients with moderate to severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD, Chronic Bronchitis) should have pulmonary rehabilitation every 18 months. So far services for patients in Bracknell and Ascot CCG have been not meeting this target.

Patients, who receive pulmonary rehabilitation get more confident, fitter and more independent again. They will be less sick and have to be admitted to hospital less often. They will have a higher quality of life and will be less fatigued, tired and housebound.

We are very happy to announce we started a new service at the Bracknell Open Learning Centre while continuing the existing service at Heatherwood Hospital.

So what is changing?

  1. GPs can now directly refer to this service (before only hospitals could)
  2. All patients with moderate to severe COPD will get timely access
  3. There will be maintenance classes for motivated patient (nationally a new trial to learn about the benefit of more continued intervention)
  4. Patients in Bracknell have more local access to services
  5. Waiting times have been reduced from 6 months to 3-6 weeks depending on urgency
  6. All patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD will now get timely pulmonary rehabilitation
  7. NICE guidelines are now being met

“I have COPD, how can I access this service?”

If you have been recently admitted to hospital with an exacerbation you should have been referred automatically. Otherwise, please ask your COPD nurse at your practice to be referred during your next visit / annual review. She will do a score called MRC score. If you qualify you should be referred.

Dr M Kittel, August 2015