The Elms Medical Practice

31/07/2026

Do you know your heart age? ❤️

Your heart age may be older than your actual age depending on factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, weight and lifestyle ⚠️

The NHS Heart Age Tool is a quick way to learn more about your heart health and understand your future risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke 💙

Small healthy changes can make a big difference over time 🚶‍♀️🥗💧

Take a few minutes to check your heart age today 👍

Search: NHS Heart Age Calculator 🔍

30/07/2026

29/07/2026

Pregnancy screening tests are offered during pregnancy to help check the health of you and your baby 💙👶

These tests can help identify the chance of certain conditions early on, allowing you to access the right care, support and information throughout your pregnancy 👍

Screening tests offered during pregnancy may include checks for:
• Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome
• sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
• infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis
• physical conditions identified during ultrasound scans 🩺

You’ll also be offered ultrasound scans during pregnancy, including the dating scan and the 20-week screening scan 👶

It’s important to remember that screening tests are your choice. Your midwife or healthcare team will explain each test, what it looks for and what the results may mean so you can decide what feels right for you 💫

If you have any questions or concerns, speak to your midwife or maternity team for advice and support 💙

Find out more:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/screening-tests/

27/07/2026

Have you changed your phone number, address or email recently? Keeping your contact details up to date with your GP practice is really important 💙

Having the correct contact information helps us:
• contact you about appointments or test results
• send important health updates and reminders
• make sure you receive screening invitations and vaccination information
• avoid delays in your care 👍

Incorrect or outdated details can sometimes mean missed appointments, missed messages or difficulty contacting you when needed ⚠️

If your details have changed recently, please let us know as soon as possible so we can make sure your records stay accurate 📞📧🏡

Thank you for helping us keep your information up to date 💙

27/07/2026

🎉 Incredible news! The latest GP Patient Survey results are in, and The Elms Medical Practice scored an impressive 84% for overall patient experience!

This is higher than our previous years, and it is all thanks to our hardworking team and wonderful community.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared their feedback.

We are so proud to keep improving our care for you! 🩺❤️

25/07/2026

What's happening this summer and autumn for Crohns and Colitis?

Big Summer Skip Challenge ☀️ Ready to skip your way through summer? Take on the Big Summer Skip Challenge and help raise vital funds for people living with Crohn's and Colitis. Whether you're skipping solo, with friends or as part of a team, every skip helps support life-changing research, services and campaigning. Find out more and sign up today:
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/challenges/big-summer-skip-2026

Run 60 Challenge 🏃 Challenge yourself this September! Take on the Run 60 challenge by running 60 miles throughout September while raising money to support everyone affected by Crohn's and Colitis. Whether you're an experienced runner or just getting started, every mile makes a difference. Find out more and register:
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/challenges/run-60-miles-in-september-challenge

Cake & a Cuppa 🧁 Bake. Brew. Make a difference. Gather your friends, family or colleagues for a Cake & a Cuppa fundraiser and help support people living with Crohn's and Colitis. The best part? You can hold your event at any time of the year, making it easy to fit around your schedule. Find out more and download everything you need to get started:
https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise/cake-a-cuppa

24/07/2026

Are you getting enough sleep? 😴💙

Sleep debt builds up when you regularly miss out on the amount of sleep your body needs. Even losing a small amount of sleep over time can affect your mood, concentration, energy levels and overall health ⚠️

Poor sleep can also increase your risk of health problems including stress, anxiety, high blood pressure and weight gain 🛌

The Patient Info Sleep Debt Calculator can help you understand how much sleep you may be missing and encourage healthier sleep habits 👍

Good sleep habits can include:
• keeping a regular sleep routine
• reducing screen time before bed
• avoiding caffeine late in the day
• creating a calm sleep environment 🌙

Try the sleep debt calculator here:
https://patient.info/healthy-living/sleep-debt-calculator

22/07/2026

A painful rash, tingling or burning sensation could be shingles ⚠️💙

Your local pharmacy may be able to help through Pharmacy First, meaning you may not need to wait for a GP appointment 👍

Shingles symptoms can include:
• pain or tingling on the skin
• a rash on one side of the body
• itchy or fluid-filled blisters

Getting treatment early can help reduce symptoms and complications 💊

Speak to your pharmacist for advice if you think you may have shingles 💙

Search: NHS shingles pharmacy first 🔍

20/07/2026

Measuring your waist can help you understand more about your health 💙

This video explains how to measure your waist so you can calculate your waist-to-height ratio 📏

Your waist-to-height ratio is another way to check whether you may be carrying too much weight around your tummy, alongside your Body Mass Index (BMI). Carrying excess weight around your middle can increase your risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease ⚠️

It only takes a few minutes to check and can help you make informed decisions about your health and wellbeing 👍

Calculate your waist-to-height ratio here:
https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-waist-to-height-ratio/how-to-measure-your-waist

15/07/2026

Dehydration can happen more easily during hot weather and it can affect anyone, but babies, young children and older adults are especially at risk ☀️💧

Common symptoms of dehydration can include:
• feeling thirsty
• dark yellow, strong-smelling urine
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• tiredness
• a dry mouth, lips or tongue
• peeing less often than usual ⚠️

Dehydration can happen if you have been in the sun too long, have a high temperature, have been sick, exercised heavily or are not drinking enough fluids 💦

The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink fluids regularly, especially during warm weather or when exercising 👍

If you start to feel unwell, try taking small sips of water regularly. A pharmacist can also offer advice and support 💙

Find out more about dehydration symptoms, prevention and treatment here:
https://ow.ly/IVCW50ZmQgO
https://ow.ly/VXXc50ZmQgI