Bradgate Surgery welcomes Young People

Bradgate Surgery is pleased to be part of the Bristol 4YP project. 4YP is a way for young people aged between 13 and 24 years to find free help and advice on sex, relationships and contraception.

Just inside the entrance to the building you will find a whole array of information leaflets. Chlamydia testing kits are available to take away or alternatively they can be ordered on the internet www.preventx.com . You do not need to be registered with the surgery to get a 4YP appointment.

You can also visit www.4ypbristol.co.uk for information about other local services.

Patient Participation Group

An active Patient Participation Group that works closely with the surgery to promote and improve the services has started at Bradgate Surgery. Next meeting is scheduled for March when Dr Victory will be giving a presentation on the role of research at the Surgery. If you are interested in coming along and hearing more about it please contact Julia Edwards on 9591919.

Stop Smoking meetings at Bradgate Surgery

At Bradgate Surgery we are always looking for different ways to approach the services we offer to our patients. Last year Lyn and Judith, healthcare assistants, trialled group meetings to support patients who wish to stop smoking.

Bradgate Surgery had one of its most successful years in helping our patients overcome their smoking addictions. In surveys of other surgeries, dental practices and chemists in this area we achieved very high quit rates. It is very rewarding for us to hear our patients say that they wished they had tried to stop smoking earlier as they feel so much healthier.

In 2011 we intend to offer a slightly different service, following feedback from our patients. On the first Wednesday of each month at 3pm, Lyn and Judith will host an informal introduction to the patients who would like to stop smoking. We will see up to 15 patients in this initial meeting. Places can be booked via reception at any time. The purpose of the session will be to give information only and to offer encouragement to our patients.

Lyn and Judith will talk about all of the different products and regimes to help patients over their addiction to tobacco. There are new products becoming available all the time as research improves, so even patients who have tried to quit previously are encouraged to have another attempt. Everyone will receive a warm welcome even if they have been before.

Never give up giving up! After the meeting patients can then make an informed choice about which treatments seem better for them. They can then come to the surgery to have specialist one-to-one appointments with any of Bradgate‘s support to stop smoking counsellors. We try to provide appointment times to fit in around work and home life. If you are a patient at the practice and would like help to quit smoking, please book a slot at the meeting held on the 1st Wednesday of the month. For patients not registered at Bradgate Surgery your practice will be able to help or you can contact the NHS Bristol Stop Smoking Service on 0117 984 1650.

Arthritis Care Volunteer

Salutations BS10.

My name is Sharon Blake and I am one of the many Arthritis Care volunteers working within South West England. I began working for Arthritis Care in 2008 after attending the 'Challenging Your Condition' course. My roles include giving out information about Arthritis Care and running information stalls, as well as giving information talks around the South West this ranges from local events to professionals,

community groups and the general public. I also deliver 'Challenging pain' workshops in and around the Bristol area. I completed the course as a participant in 2008. I found the course very rewarding to help myself to become a good self-manager of my long term conditions CFS/ME, Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis. The course helped me to discover ways to manage my everyday life through learning techniques such as – relaxation, recognition of symptoms, communication, managing pain & fatigue, problem solving, planning and working with your health care professionals. I also work with young people with arthritis across the South of England as part of the Young People's Service programme. I also sit on the South West Regional Committee and I am the volunteer health and safety champion for the south of England. Arthritis Care has a Free Confidential helpline 0808 800 4050. You can access lots of information via the website or the helpline. Arthritis Care 'Pain Management' courses are free to all participants and you don't just have to have arthritis. I have run courses for people with Parkinson's, CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia, Diabetes as well as other long term health conditions. Arthritis Care is a year older than the NHS, and has won awards for its website, helpline and booklets. For more information check out the Arthritis Care website www.arthritiscare.org.uk or feel free to contact me. My details are Shassblake@hotmail.co.uk or Mobile 0796 393 7383.

Bristol and District Tranquiliser Project

Are you taking tranquilisers, sleeping pills or antidepressants? Are you thinking about coming off, but unsure how to go about it? For free confidential advice ring our helpline on 0117 9628874 Monday to Thursday 10.00am to 4.00pm. Registered Charity.

New pharmacy services on your doorstep

Willow Tree Pharmacy has now been open since the beginning of May and has gone from strength to strength and in addition to free BP monitoring, a weight loss programme, free medicine reviews, dossette boxes, free delivery and supervised medication consumption, Willow Tree Pharmacy is now offering a free Minor Ailments Scheme together with Bristol PCT. If you live in Bristol and are suffering from any of the conditions listed below you can have a free consultation with a trained member of the team and be provided with information (if appropriate treatment), free of charge and without the need to see your GP (certain criteria apply to each condition). As long as you live in Bristol this service is open to you, even if you are not a patient at Willow Tree Surgery.

* Head lice

* Hay fever

* Athletes Foot

* Haemorrhoids

* Vaginal thrush

* Threadworms

* Cold sores

* Diarrhoea

We also offer free delivery to all patients, a collection service from Bradgate Surgery and medication in dossette boxes delivered to your door. Willow Tree Pharmacy is independent and we take pride in offering excellent customer service so give us a try and see if we meet our goal of “exceptional patient care’. You can find us in Willow Tree Surgery, 1 Trevelyan Walk, Henbury.

If you would like Willow Tree Pharmacy to pick up and deliver your prescriptions or have your dossette box made up then please contact us at Willow Tree Pharmacy (0117) 9508975 or visit the website www.willowtreepharmacy.co.uk

An apple a day - art and health

w is the wonderful season of the apple harvest. Apples really could keep the doctor away- rich in vitamin C, minerals, and fibre, and their sweetness is a good source of slow-release energy.

Traditionally they were carefully stored over winter, as this poem by John Drinkwater ( 1882-1937) reflects:

At the top of the house the apples are laid in rows,

And the skylight lets the moonlight in, and those

Apples are deep-sea apples of green. There goes

A cloud on the moon in the autumn night.

A mouse in the wainscot scratches, and scratches, and then

There is no sound at the top of the house of men

Or mice; and the cloud is blown, and the moon again

Dapples the apples with deep-sea light.

They are lying in rows there, under the gloomy beams;

On the sagging floor; they gather the silver streams

Out of the moon, those moonlit apples of dreams,

And quiet is the steep stair under.

In the corridors under there is nothing but sleep.

And stiller than ever on orchard boughs they keep

Tryst with the moon, and deep is the silence, deep

On moon-washed apples of wonder.

This is one of the poems included in this Autumn’s “Poems in the Waiting Room” pamphlet, which patients at the surgery can read and are welcome to take home. Poetry can help to reduce the anxiety of a visit to the doctor, and help people to understand and express their feelings about stressful life events such as bereavement and illness. There is a lot of evidence that creative activity of many sorts can promote well-being; we also have the Willow Tree Art Group, which meets at the surgery and is linked to the Community Art Group at Henbury School, which takes place on Mondays 4-6 pm, which is free and open to all.

Cooking is also a creative activity, so here is a recipe which can be adapted to any fruit according to season

Apple Cake

125g butter or margarine

1 cup dark brown sugar-molasses sugar is lovely

1^1/2 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon. baking powder

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon mixed spice

1^1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 egg

2 apples-chopped, or 1 cup other fruit- berries, plums, gooseberries…

grated zest 1 lemon or orange

Melt butter and sugar.

Add fruit, spice, and zest allow to cool slightly.

Add beaten egg

Stir in flour and raising agents.

Bake in 7-8 inch loose bottom tin for about 45 min at 180C/350F/gas mark 4- a bit longer for softer fruit.

Dr Marion Steiner

Willow Tree Surgery

New pharmacy opens its doors

A new pharmacy opened on the 1^st May at Willow Tree Surgery, Henbury, providing a much needed service to the patients of Henbury and the surrounding areas. The new Independent Pharmacy is run by Pharmacist, Simon Harris who has worked for all the multiple pharmacies in various roles. When asked why he wanted to open his own Pharmacy replied “ I want to provide excellent customer service with the personal touch, that only an Independent can provide. I am really enjoying meeting the patients and look forward to welcoming even more to Willow Tree Pharmacy”.

Simon has been busy since opening and has already set up a free prescription collection and delivery service available to any of his patients. He offers other services including free blood pressure checks, free medicines check-up and he even has a special machine at the Pharmacy where asthmatic patients can test out their inhaler technique! For anyone suffering from hay fever he is operating a service where you can see the Pharmacist and receive advice and your medicines free of charge if you do not pay for your prescriptions (certain conditions apply). The Pharmacy is also part of 4YP Bristol and you can collect free Chlamydia screening kits, free condoms with the c-card and free Emergency Hormonal Contraception for under 25’s. All this on top of what you would normally expect from a chemist!

Patients seem to love the new service as well:

“The service was fast and friendly, I will definitely be going back there”

“ I have a regular medicines box and Simon makes it up every week and delivers it to my door, it’s fantastic, I couldn’t ask for a better service. Thank you Simon”

All patients are welcome to use Willow Tree Pharmacy, not just those who are registered with Willow Tree surgery and Simon offers competitive prices on both private prescriptions and over The counter medicines as well. “If you find a product cheaper I will match the price” said Simon.

If you would like Simon to pick up and deliver your prescriptions or have your dossette box made up then please contact him at Willow Tree Pharmacy (0117) 9508975, or visit his website www.willowtreepharmacy.co.uk.

“I can’t wait to meet you” Simon Harris.

Henbury Football Club

In 1952 a boy’s football team was formed from young players from the new estates of Henbury and Brentry, they called themselves Passage Road Old Boy’s, and played in the federation of boy’s club league. In 1958-59 the club joined the Downs league and 4 years later Henbury Old Boy’s was formed from the reserve side of Passage Road Old Boys and played on the Down’s until the 1966-67 season when the club returned to its roots to play at Arnall Drive playing fields. During this time we continued to develop football at youth level. The backbone of the club were the hard-working committee of Ron Excell, Rocky Jones, Jack Fisk ( who was our local Councillor for over 40 year’s and Lord Mayor twice), Cliff Griffin (who at 93 still makes the tea and look’s after the referees), Charlie Spicer, Ron Braithwaite and Barry Hopkins.
The first team entered the Bristol and District league and progressed to the Premier Combination with the other team’s playing in the Church of England league. The committee selected each team until team managers took over this roll in the mid 70s. Early managers were Arnold Rogers, Billy Bond and Cyril Pritchard (who is now our President); they all made their mark with their own style of management and were all very successful.
We currently run 3 senior sides and have a strong youth set-up which was formed by Bob Terry and Ron Excell in 1995 and are running 11 sides from under 16’s, which involves over 160 youths and children, and this season for the first time we are running a girl’s team.
The youth team’s are very important to the communities of Henbury and Brentry. Just recently 2 members of Paul Elliott and Darren Sealy’s under 9’s have been invited to join Bristol City academy which is not only an indication of the hard work but also the dedication that goes into running these teams.
We believe Henbury Football club is a valuable asset to Henbury and Brentry as it is a place where all cross sections of our community can come together, and it is essential that Henbury Football Club continues to serve the community giving children of the area the opportunity to focus on a positive disciplined sport such as football.
We have no shortage of children that want to represent Henbury FC.
We have dedicated football coaches and managers who give their valuable time on a voluntary basis, training children the skills of football. The enthusiasm from the children is a credit to each and every child that turns up in all winds and weathers to play football. Sport steers children away from crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour whilst giving them a sense of purpose and worth.
Jean Sallabank, Rose Clarke and Gail Wright have been voted onto the committee in a fund raising capacity, and would welcome any advice on fundraising.
If anyone is interested in joining the club either as a player or social member, or would like to sponsor a set of shirts for any of the teams please contact the secretary, Bob Terry on 07973235455 / Jean Sallabank on 0117 3307172.

Henbury Football Club would like to thank Henbury and Brentry Community Council for the very generous donation of £1000.