Horizon Healthcare

03/07/2026

☀️ Staying safe in the hot weather

The recent heatwave is easing, but with more hot spells likely this summer, it's worth knowing how to stay safe and protect those around you.

🌡️ Know the signs of heat exhaustion:
Tiredness, dizziness or headache
Feeling sick or being sick
Heavy sweating with pale, clammy skin
Cramps in the arms, legs or stomach
A high temperature and feeling very thirsty

If someone has these symptoms, move them somewhere cool, give them water, and cool their skin with a damp sponge or fan. They should feel better within 30 minutes.

🚨 Call 999 if someone has signs of heatstroke, including a very high temperature, hot skin without sweating, confusion, a fast heartbeat, seizures, or loss of consciousness. This is a medical emergency.

👉 Heat exhaustion and heatstroke:

Find out about heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can happen if you get too hot during hot weather.

01/07/2026

🍎 Eating well doesn't have to mean overhauling your whole diet.

Small, simple swaps can add up to make a real difference to your health over time.

Swap sugary drinks for water, sparkling water or sugar-free options
Swap white bread, rice and pasta for wholegrain versions
Swap crisps for a piece of fruit, plain popcorn or unsalted nuts
Swap full-fat dairy for lower-fat options
Swap fried foods for grilled, baked or steamed

These small changes can help you manage your weight, lower your risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and boost your energy.

29/06/2026

👥 Could you be part of our PPG?

We welcome patients from all backgrounds, ages, and walks of life.

You might want to join if you:
→ Want to help improve local healthcare
→ Have a few minutes to spare to fill out surveys every so often
→ Are happy to share your views respectfully

We particularly welcome members from groups who are often underrepresented, including young people, working-age adults, carers, and patients from diverse communities.

To get involved, keep an eye out over the coming months; we’ll be publishing PPG-focused posts here to get your feedback.

25/06/2026

📞 Quick question for our patients

We'd love to know how you prefer to contact the practice.

Your answer helps us improve how we communicate and reduce waiting times on the phone.

It takes less than 30 seconds.

👉 Have your say: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUt39jXy2oV4uVchXCQEMfHGxX84fiB2kJ33uuWGPXj3PWlg/viewform?usp=header

22/06/2026

🤝 Did you know about Social Prescribing?
Taking care of your health involves more than just medicine. Social Prescribing is a free NHS service that connects you with local support and community activities to help improve your health and wellbeing.

It's available to any patient aged 18 or over who would like support taking control of their health.

A Social Prescriber can link you with:
Healthy lifestyle and active living support, including stopping smoking
Arts, music, outdoor and creative classes
Check in and chat, counselling and support groups
Housing, benefits and financial advice
Employment, training and volunteering
Education and learning
Local groups and community activities
Specialist services and support

The benefits can include better mental and physical health, meeting new people, learning new skills, increased confidence, and a better quality of life.

👉 To get started, speak to your GP or any member of the team at the surgery.

18/06/2026

You don't always need to call the surgery.

You can send your symptoms and requests through our website.

Tap it, type it, and we'll take care of it. Using our online form means:
No waiting on the phone.
A member of our team will review your request and get back to you.
Phone lines stay free for those who need them most.

👉 Submit a request through our website:
https://horizonhealthcare.nhs.uk/services/managing-your-health-online/online-forms/get-help-for-any-health-problem/

If your symptoms are urgent or you feel very unwell, please call 111 or 999 in an emergency.

16/06/2026

🫁 Do you know your asthma triggers?
Asthma affects around 1 in 12 adults and 1 in 11 children in the UK. Knowing what triggers your symptoms is one of the best ways to stay in control of your condition.

Triggers vary from person to person, so it helps to know what affects you.

How to stay on top of your asthma:
Carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times
Attend your asthma review with the surgery
Have a written asthma action plan

🚨 If you or someone else is having an asthma attack and the reliever inhaler isn't helping, call 999.

👉 Find out more about asthma and managing your symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/

14/06/2026

💙 It's National Diabetes Week

Around 5.8 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, and many more are at risk without knowing it. This week is a great time to learn more about the condition and what you can do to look after your health.
What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to become too high. There are two main types:

Type 1 diabetes, where the body cannot produce insulin
Type 2 diabetes, where the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn't work properly

Common signs to look out for:
Feeling very thirsty
Needing to p*e more often, especially at night
Feeling very tired
Unexplained weight loss
Blurred vision
Cuts or wounds that heal slowly

You can check your risk of Type 2 diabetes in just a few minutes using the free NHS tool:
👉 https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/
For more information and support, visit:

Know Your Risk Find out your risk of type 2 diabetes Use our free, quick and online tool to find out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It’ll only take a few minutes and you’ll get your results straightaway.  Find out your risk 3,516,497 COMPLETIONS What is Know Your Risk? Know Your Risk ...

12/06/2026

👶 Safer sleep starts here
Following a few simple steps can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and give you peace of mind at night.

The safest way for your baby to sleep:
✅ Place your baby on their back to sleep, for every sleep
✅ Use a firm, flat and waterproof mattress in a cot or Moses basket
✅ Keep your baby in the same room as you for the first 6 months
✅ Keep their head and face uncovered

What to avoid:
❌ Pillows, cot bumpers and loose bedding
❌ Sleeping with your baby on a sofa or armchair
❌ Letting your baby get too hot
❌ Smoking during pregnancy or around your baby

For trusted advice and support on safer sleep, weaning, feeding and more, visit the NHS Best Start in Life: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/

If you have any questions or concerns about your baby's sleep or wellbeing, please speak to your health visitor or contact the surgery.