It is National Self-Care Week and we can all make small changes to improve our health and wellbeing.
Self-Care Week is a national annual event that raises awareness of what we can all do to help our physical health and mental wellbeing. This year, Self-Care Week runs until Sunday 19 November 2023 and the theme is ‘Mind and Body’.
At this time of year, we see spikes in colds, flu and even sickness bugs. However, you can help keep yourself and your loved ones well by doing a few small steps during these colder months such as keeping active, eating well, connecting with others, keeping up to date with your vaccinations and having a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
Your community pharmacy team has highly skilled clinical staff offering COVID-19 and flu vaccinations as well as providing help and advice for common conditions such as coughs, colds and flu, aches, pains, infections and fevers, and can recommend the most effective medications to safely treat symptoms at home.
Self-care is part of the Think Which Service campaign, which aims to help you to know where to go to get the right advice, support and treatment for your health needs as quickly as possible.
Please remember, 999 and our emergency departments are for emergency, life-threatening illnesses only.
You can also visit NHS 111 online or call 111 if you need urgent medical help or consider visiting your local Minor Injury Unit in Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry and Whitchurch. These can provide rapid treatment for injuries and illnesses that don’t require emergency hospital care.
For more information about where to get medical help in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, please visit: thinkwhichservice.co.uk
This week we are also celebrating Advanced Practice Week, where we recognise the contribution that Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) make to care that our patients receive.
ACPs come from a range of professional backgrounds such as nursing, pharmacy, paramedics and occupational therapy. They are healthcare professionals educated to Master’s level and have developed the skills and knowledge to allow them to take on expanded roles and scope of practice caring for patients.
Keep an eye out on our social media channels where we will put the spotlight on some of our colleagues such as Kim Humphreys and Maria Houghton who have recently started new roles as ACP Educators within our Trust. This hybrid role encompasses clinical working, clinical education, education strategy and planning, supported by Post Graduate Medical Education.
Thank you to all ACPs as they are such important roles supporting other colleagues in our Trust.
Finally, a special thank you to a father who raised nearly £3,000 for a ward at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) by riding his 1967 50cc moped for 230 miles across the 10 highest roads in Wales.
Ian Mair was inspired to embark on this challenge for the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) Charity and raise money for Ward 23 (Haematology) at PRH after they cared for his daughter and grandson. He said that my colleagues had saved his daughter’s life.
His daughter Kathryn was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was six months pregnant. Chemotherapy was started immediately and, after two rounds, her son Idris was born fit and well in the Maternity Unit. She then had the remainder of her treatment and is now in remission.
I would like to thank Ian for his kind and generous donation, which will be used to improve the patient facilities on Ward 23, and wish the family well.