Spring Covid Booster Vaccinations
Eligibility for the covid vaccination are
Adults under 75 years and over
Residents in a care home for older adults
Individuals 6 months or older who are immunocompromised.
Eligible patients with recieve an invite for our clinic on 10th May.
If you are unsure if you are eligible please visit the .Gov website for information.
Blood donation
ENGLAND
Aged 17 to 65? Generally fit and well? Weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg) and less than 25st (158kg)? You could help by donating blood as stocks are critically low. If you’re able to donate, see if you can find an appointment here:
https://www.blood.co.uk/
https://www.blood.co.uk/who-can-give-blood/
Vaccinations
If you’re turning 65, or are aged 70-79, or are 50 and over, with a weakened immune system, you’re likely to be eligible for a free shingles vaccination. Shingles is an unpleasant illness that can have serious complications, and vaccination improves outcomes and reduces the severity of any outbreak.
If you have children, they receive free vaccination against common, vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination helps prevent serious outcomes for children who catch illnesses such as meningitis, mumps, German measles, diphtheria and tetanus. Serious complications can include:
- Blindness
- Encephalitis (an infection that causes the brain to swell)
- Epiglottitis
- Meningitis
- Deafness
- Severe diarrhoea and related dehydration
- Ear infections
- Severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia
- Paralysis
- Death
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/
Stress Awareness Month (#LeadWithLove)
The focus of Stress Awareness Month is ‘Lead with Love’. The central idea of this focus is that we’re ensuring that we approach others with kindness, compassion and from a place of support. This helps to reduce stress in others.
It’s also important to make sure we meet ourselves with kindness, care and compassion.
https://www.stress.org.uk/stress-awareness-month-2025/
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/tips-to-reduce-stress/
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Each year in the UK, 2,400 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is most likely to occur between the ages of 25 and 40. Symptoms of testicular cancer include a lump or swelling in a testicle, and pain, heaviness or a dull ache in the scrotum.
https://www.testicularcanceruk.com/
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
This April, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we’re being encouraged to ‘Pass It On’. Pass It On is an awareness campaign aimed at getting bowel cancer sufferers to share their own stories to raise awareness.
If:
- You have blood in your poo
- You’re bleeding from your bottom
- There are changes in how often you poo, or you’re regularly having constipation or diarrhoea
- You’re losing weight or feel tired all the time but aren’t sure why
- You have a pain or lump in your tummy
…these can be signs of bowel cancer or other health conditions. It’s really simple to find out whether you need further investigations with a simple at-home test.
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/symptoms/
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/
IBS Awareness Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the most common disorder of the digestive system. On average, more women are affected than men. It’s thought that IBS may be caused by the brain and the digestive system communicating too much. Symptoms of IBS include constipation, diarrhoea, pain, bloating, wind, pooing mucous, tiredness, feeling sick, backache and bladder symptoms.
https://gutscharity.org.uk/awareness/ibs-awareness-month/
World Autism Acceptance Month
April is World Autism Acceptance Month. Autistic people face challenges and discrimination in their everyday lives. Autistic people may find some aspects of social communication and interaction difficult, they may have repeated or restrictive behaviours including a deep interest in some subjects, and they may also find they’re either over or under-sensitive to some sensory inputs like touch, feel or sound. We can help by allowing time for supportive communication, using clear and concise language, and being aware that each individual, whether autistic or not, will have preferred styles of communication.
https://waam.autism.org.uk/
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
An allergy is the body’s immune system reacting to normally harmless substances. Up to 21 million people in the UK are estimated to be living with an allergy, and between five and eight per cent of children in the UK are believed to have a food allergy. Allergies can range from mild hay fever to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
https://www.allergyuk.org/
World Health Day, 7th April
Each year, 7th April marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year, the focus is on ‘healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’ which is related to maternal and newborn health, as it’s estimated that there are over four million preventable deaths each year.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day
World Parkinson’s Day, 11th April
Can you light the country in blue? In 2024, over 150 landmarks and buildings were lit in blue to raise awareness of Parkinson’s. Can we beat this in 2025? Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disease that causes problems in the brain which get worse over time. Around 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s.
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/get-involved/light-blue
Haemophilia awareness, 17th April
Around 1 in 2,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bleeding disorders. This year, there’s a particular focus on women with bleeding disorders. Symptoms of a bleeding disorder may include heavy periods or frequent bruising.
https://haemophilia.org.uk/bleeding-disorders/
European Immunisation Week, 21st – 27th April
The focus of this year’s European Immunisation Week is ensuring equitable access to vaccination for every community. Vaccination improves outcomes from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination doesn’t just help improve outcomes for the individual but for the community as a whole.
https://www.who.int/europe/news-roo...ault-calendar/european-immunization-week-2025
Earth Day, 22nd April
The first Earth Day was held in 1970. 55 years on, the emphasis this year is on ‘Our Power, Our Planet’. Renewable and sustainable energy sources are the key to ensuring that we combat climate change, protect biodiversity and nurture our precious ecosystem.
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2025/
On your feet Britain, 24th April
Over two million people in the UK will be taking part in the Big Wiggle on 24th April. Office workers of the UK will unite in getting moving, standing and jiggling to show the importance of movement in desk jobs! There are many benefits to movement including improved wellbeing and increased motivation and concentration.
https://www.active-together.org/campaigns/on-your-feet-britain-28-april
World Immunisation Week, 24th – 30th April
The focus of this year’s World Immunisation Week is the importance of access to vaccination for all ages. Outcomes for vaccine-preventable diseases are much improved in those who have been vaccinated, and vaccinations protect both the individual and the community as a whole.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week
World Malaria Day, 25th April
Malaria is spread by certain types of mosquitos. Symptoms can be mild and flu-like, but symptoms can be severe and malaria can end in death. Worldwide, almost 600,000 died of malaria in 2023.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day
MS Awareness Week, 28th April – 4th May
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition where your immune system attacks your nerves by mistake. You can get MS symptoms in any part of your body and each person’s experience of MS is different. Symptoms can include tiredness, numbness and tingling, loss of balance and dizziness, along with vision problems and other symptoms.
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/get-involved/ms-awareness-week