DoctorNow

03/09/2026

September can be an exciting time filled with fresh starts and new beginnings. But it can be a lot, too 😮‍💨

For many of us and our families it’s back to work, back to school, or back to university. There are new routines, deadlines, and expectations to juggle.

Stress manifests in so many different ways. You might be…

📺 Struggling to switch off
💡 Finding it hard to concentrate
😢 Feeling overwhelmed or anxious
🥱 Sleeping poorly
⚡️ Feeling unlike yourself, and like something isn’t quite right.

If you are struggling, it’s ok not to be ok. You don’t have to wait until it becomes too much, to ask for help.

A simple conversation can be a first step, and our GPs at our Thame and Beaconsfield clinics can support you with expert, personalised care, including options for video consultations, making it easier to get support around your life 🧠

Where appropriate, we can also help you access specialist mental health support.

Find out more 🔗 https://doctornow.org/services/psychiatry/

Photo ALT text - picture 1 is a photograph of a central London street scene. Tower Bridge is just visible between two large buildings. People are walking along the pavement. Picture 2 is a photograph showing students walking in a historic university quadrangle in Oxford. Picture 3 is a photograph of three children walking to school via a crossing.

Photo credits (unsplash) - picture 1 by ‘visuals of lukas’, picture 2 by Ben Elliott, picture 3 by Jon Torres.

30/08/2026

What actually happens in a DoctorNow Lifestyle Medicine Consultation in Beaconsfield or Thame? 🩺

Lifestyle medicine isn’t about being handed a long list of things you should be doing differently, or making you feel guilty, or under pressure. It starts with understanding you.

Here’s what you can expect in your first Lifestyle Medicine Consultation with one of our friendly GPs:

1) A thorough initial assessment. Your initial assessment will last 30 minutes. We’ll discover your medical history, lifestyle, and health goals. This gives us the foundation for a plan that’s genuinely tailored to you 🤵‍♀️

2) A personalised lifestyle plan.

Together, we’ll identify the areas that could make the biggest difference to your health and we’ll make a plan.

You won’t be expected to change everything overnight. We’ll agree realistic, manageable steps, building gradually over time.

3) Ongoing support and adjustment.

Change takes time. That’s why your care doesn’t end after one appointment.

Follow-up appointments give you the opportunity to talk about what’s working, what isn’t, overcome barriers and adapt your plan as your circumstances and health change 🔬

If you’re ready to take a more proactive approach to your health, we’re here to support you 🔗 https://doctornow.org/services/lifestyle-medicine/

Image ALT text - a photograph showing Dr Katie Hannaford carrying out a consultation at DoctorNow.

23/08/2026

If you knew it could improve your health for years to come, what would you change?

Perhaps you’d like to…

⚡️ have more energy
🛌 get better sleep
🏋 feel stronger
🌱 improve your relationship with food
👟 be more active
🩺 reduce your risk of future illness.

Sometimes, looking after your health isn’t about treating a problem once it appears. It’s about understanding what you can do now, to protect your health in the future.

This is where our Lifestyle Medicine Service kicks in. It’s an evidence-based approach that helps you make meaningful, sustainable changes across the areas of life that influence your health from nutrition and movement to sleep and mental wellbeing.

At DoctorNow, we take the time to understand your individual circumstances and help you create a realistic approach to your health goals.

Small changes can make a meaningful difference. You don’t have to work it out alone 🙌

Link in comments 🔗

Image ALT text - a photograph showing two men walking their dogs in Bernwood Forest. There are trees in the background and it’s a sunny day.

21/08/2026

Some emerging health news, following new advice from the Food Standards Agency 🗞️

Children under five, pregnant women, over-65s, and people with health conditions should avoid runny or undercooked eggs when eating out, due to a salmonella outbreak 🍳

Choose eggs that are thoroughly-cooked when ordering from cafes, restaurants and takeaways, and avoid freshly-prepared foods containing raw egg such as mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce. There is currently no evidence that UK-produced eggs are affected.

If you develop severe diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or signs of dehydration, seek medical advice 👩‍⚕️

The advice also applies to the over-65s and others with underlying medical conditions amid salmonella outbreak.

16/08/2026

What is lifestyle medicine?

Lifestyle medicine is an evidence-based medical speciality. It’s one we wholeheartedly believe in at DoctorNow, and one of the many services offered in our Thame and Beaconsfield clinics 🩺

It harnesses lifestyle changes to help prevent, treat, and reverse chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease🫀

It’s easy to focus on individual symptoms or wait until something goes wrong. Lifestyle medicine puts you in control and looks at the factors that influence your health every day, including:

🥗 Nutrition and diet
🏃‍♀️ Movement and exercise
😴 Sleep and rest
🧠 Mental health and wellbeing
⚖️ Weight and metabolic health
🌿 The environment and habits around you

Improving your health isn’t usually about making one big change. It’s about making sustainable changes and having the right support along the way 💪🏼

Find out more about at DoctorNow 🔗 https://doctornow.org/services/lifestyle-medicine/

Photo credit - Sander Traa 📷

14/08/2026

When should you be concerned about a mole or skin change? 🔎

With this summer’s scorching weather, and more time spent outdoors with friends and family, it’s important to not only take care of your skin but keep an eye for any changes, too 🫶

Dr Fleur Paxton (pictured), a GP based at our Beaconsfield Clinic, says to seek medical advice if you notice:

1) A new mole or skin lesion, or a change in an existing one
2) Changes in size, shape, colour or border
3) A mole that starts bleeding, crusting or itching
4) A sore, scab or area of skin that doesn’t heal
5) A persistent or unexplained rash, particularly if it’s worsening or accompanied by other symptoms
6) Any skin change that persists, evolves or concerns you

A useful way to remember what to look for in moles is the ABCDE rule:
A - Asymmetry
B - Border
C - Colour
D - Diameter
E - Evolution (change)

Know your skin and pay attention to change.

Most moles are harmless, but a changing or unusual lesion is worth getting checked ✅

Patients can contact us if they are worried about a new or changing skin lesion, persistent rash, unexplained skin changes, eczema or other ongoing skin problems.

We can assess the problem, advise on treatment and, where appropriate, arrange further assessment or referral.

Find out more 🔗 https://doctornow.org

11/08/2026

And we have a winner… 🥁

Congratulations, Hayley Scanes ✨ 🎉

Hayley, please kindly DM us with your contact details. We’ll share these with the ball organisers who can give you your tickets! 🎟️ 🎟️

Huge thanks to everyone who took part and supported this raffle. It’s really not long until the Shabbington Ball, now, and we cannot wait!

Shabbington Village Community Trust 🙌

🎉 Win two tickets to the Shabbington Ball 2026 🎉

As proud sponsors of the we're delighted to be giving away a pair of tickets to this fantastic, fully sold out, community event near Thame on Saturday September 19 🎟️🎟️

Each ticket is worth £100, and includes a sparking reception with canapés, a gala dinner with table wine, live music, and so much more 🥂

To enter, take any of these actions and your name will be added to the draw:

✨ Comment with the phrase, ‘A night like no other’ on this post.
✨ DM us with the message - ‘A night like no other’.

Entries close at midnight on Sunday August 9. One winner will be chosen at random, and contacted shortly after the closing date.

We're proud to support events that bring our community together and can't wait to celebrate with you!

The event will help raise money for local charities, the Shabbington Village Community Trust and the River Thame Conservation Trust. Good luck 🍀

Terms and conditions: Free to enter. Open to UK residents aged 18+. One entry per person (regardless of the number of post likes or comments). The winner will be selected at random and contacted via direct message by August 14, 2026.

05/08/2026

Summer adventures with the family are great. Insect bites? Not so much 🦟

Whether you’re exploring the Chilterns, picnicking in the park, camping, or enjoying countryside walks during theholidays, insect bites are often an unavoidable part of being outdoors.

The good news is that most bites can be managed at home, but our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mia Murray has shared some advice 🫶

1) Try not to scratch. It’s tempting, but scratching can break the skin and increase the risk of infection.

2) Ease the itch. A mild hydrocortisone cream and an antihistamine tablet (if it’s suitable for you and there are no medical reasons you shouldn’t take one) can often help reduce itching and irritation.

3) Keep an eye out for signs of infection, including:
• A bite that’s becoming larger rather than settling down
• If a bite is becoming yellow
•Redness spreading away from the bite
• A fever or feeling generally unwell

⚠️ If you think a bite is becoming infected, visit your GP 🧑‍⚕️

Don’t forget about ticks, too.

If you’ve been walking through long grass or woodland, check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks when you get home. Removing a tick promptly reduces the risk of Lyme disease. If you develop a spreading circular rash (sometimes described as a “bullseye”) or flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical advice.

If you would like to find out more about our services in Beaconsfield and Thame, head to our website 🔗 https://doctornow.org

04/08/2026

There's still time to throw your hat in the ring to win two tickets to the Shabbington Ball 2026 🍸

Entry is free, and open until midnight on Sunday 🤞

Find out more, plus how to enter in the post below. Don't miss out on your chance to enjoy a night like no other... 🪩

https://www.facebook.com/DoctorNOWGP/posts/pfbid02iipHf6RbuqqUx9NuctWUGFQsT9e6wPqgaUSnsipJY2zu8KTJbbMsjLs134amRB4rl

02/08/2026

Life can be incredibly busy, especially juggling family and work over the summer holidays 🏖️

When was the last time you had a proper check-in with your health?

It’s easy to put your wellbeing on the back burner when things are hectic. However, taking some time for our health screening service can be a great chance to understand more about your health, identify any potential risks early, and give you greater peace of mind 🧘‍♀️

At DoctorNow, our Health Screening Service can help assess your overall health and identify risk factors or early signs of conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular Risk
• Cancer Risk
• Other health concerns, based on your presenting symptoms.

Our experienced GPs take the time to look at the bigger picture. This includes a detailed medical history, a comprehensive clinical assessment and, where appropriate, diagnostic tests or further investigations 🔬

If something needs a closer look, we can help guide you through the next steps, including arranging referrals to appropriate specialists.

We've been providing this service in Beaconsfield for around 20 years. We also offer this service in our new Thame clinic.

📅 Interested? Get in touch with our team to find out more or book your appointment. 🔗 https://doctornow.org/services/health-monitoring-diagnostics/