Wickford PCN

Wickford PCN Wickford Primary Care Network is a group of practices working together to serve the healthcare needs of its local population.

The practices we cover are Robert Frew Medical Partnership, Swanwood Partnership and London Road Surgery.

Meet your Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) Care CoordinatorSometimes managing your health and care needs can feel ove...
10/06/2026

Meet your Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) Care Coordinator
Sometimes managing your health and care needs can feel overwhelming โ€“ especially if you're receiving support from different services. Our INT Care Coordinator is here to help bring everything together.
They work closely with GP practices, hospitals, community services and local organisations to help ensure you receive the right care, at the right time, from the right people.
They may be able to support you if you:
๐Ÿ’™ Are living with frailty or dementia
๐Ÿ’™ Have complex health or social care needs
๐Ÿ’™ Need help accessing community services
๐Ÿ’™ Have recently been in hospital
๐Ÿ’™ Need support coordinating care from multiple services
Their role is to help you stay well, remain as independent as possible and ensure you have the support you need.
If you think this service could benefit you or a loved one, please speak to a member of your GP practice team to find out more.

Carers Week will take place from 8โ€“14 June 2026, and this yearโ€™s theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities๐Ÿ’™Across the...
10/06/2026

Carers Week will take place from 8โ€“14 June 2026, and this yearโ€™s theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities๐Ÿ’™

Across the UK, thousands of individuals and organisations will come together to help ensure unpaid carers are better understood, recognised and supported in everyday life ๐Ÿ™Œ

From schools and universities to workplaces, health and social care services, businesses and community groups, we all have a role to play in making our communities more carer friendly ๐ŸŒ

Even small changes can make a big difference to carersโ€™ daily lives and future opportunities ๐Ÿ’ซ

Letโ€™s work together to create real, lasting change and support those who care for others every day ๐Ÿ’™

Find out how you can get involved:
Carers Week 2026: www.carersweek.org

08/06/2026

Looking to make healthier choices but not sure where to start? The NHS has you covered ๐Ÿ’™

The NHS Healthy Living website is packed with trusted advice, tools and support to help you take control of your health and wellbeing. From eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, to getting active, improving sleep and boosting your mental wellbeing, everything is in one place ๐Ÿ‘

Itโ€™s all about making small, simple changes that can make a big difference over time. Whether you want to move more, eat better, drink less alcohol or quit smoking, thereโ€™s guidance and support to help you every step of the way ๐Ÿ’ช

Youโ€™ll also find helpful tools like fitness apps, weight loss plans and mental wellbeing support to keep you motivated and on track ๐Ÿ“ฑ

Start your journey to better health today ๐ŸŒฑ

Explore here:
NHS Healthy Living: https://healthyliving.nhs.uk

05/06/2026

Worried about how much screen time is too much for your child? Youโ€™re not alone ๐Ÿ’™

New UK guidance helps parents and carers build healthy screen habits for children under 5 in a simple, realistic way ๐Ÿ‘

For younger children:
โ€ข Under 2s โ€“ avoid screen time where possible, except for shared activities like video calls or looking at photos together
โ€ข Ages 2โ€“5 โ€“ aim for no more than 1 hour a day, and less if possible โฑ๏ธ

Itโ€™s not just about time, but how screens are used. Choosing slow-paced, age-appropriate content and watching together can support learning and development ๐Ÿ“บ

Too much screen time can take away from the things that matter most at this age, like sleep, play, and time spent talking with parents and carers ๐Ÿงธ

Try setting simple boundaries like no screens at mealtimes or before bed, and swap screen time for activities like reading, playing, or chatting together ๐Ÿ“š

Find out more:
Screen time guidance for under 5s: https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/

03/06/2026

Think that insect bite might be infected? Your pharmacy should be your first stop ๐ŸฆŸ

With the NHS Pharmacy First service, you can get expert advice and treatment for infected insect bites without waiting for a GP appointment ๐Ÿ’Š

Pharmacists can assess your bite and recommend the best treatment to help it heal quickly and safely ๐Ÿ‘

Watch out for signs of infection like increasing redness, swelling, pain, or if the bite is getting worse after a couple of days ๐Ÿšจ

This service is available for adults and children aged 1 and over, making it quick and easy to access care when you need it ๐Ÿ‘จโ€โš•๏ธ

Search: Pharmacy First infected insect bites ๐Ÿ”

Enjoying the sunshine? Make sure youโ€™re protecting your skin properly โ˜€๏ธSunscreen is important, but it shouldnโ€™t be your...
01/06/2026

Enjoying the sunshine? Make sure youโ€™re protecting your skin properly โ˜€๏ธ

Sunscreen is important, but it shouldnโ€™t be your only line of defence. Wearing suitable clothing, spending time in the shade, and avoiding the sun when itโ€™s strongest (11amโ€“3pm) can all help reduce your risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage ๐ŸŒค๏ธ

When choosing sunscreen, look for:
โ€ข SPF 30 or higher to protect against UVB rays
โ€ข At least 4-star UVA protection or a UVA symbol in a circle
โ€ข Broad-spectrum protection covering both UVA and UVB โ˜€๏ธ

Donโ€™t forget to apply sunscreen generously about 20โ€“30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours, especially after swimming or sweating ๐Ÿ’ง

Even water-resistant sunscreen needs reapplying, as water and towels can remove it more easily than you think ๐ŸŒŠ

Find out more:
NHS sun safety advice: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/
Choosing the right sunscreen: https://patient.info/features/skin-conditions/how-to-choose-the-right-sunscreen

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and support is available to help you every step o...
31/05/2026

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and support is available to help you every step of the way. The NHS Quit Smoking app provides a free, structured 28-day programme with practical tools, encouragement and personalised advice to help you stop for good. ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿšญ๐Ÿ“ฑโœจ

Using the app can help you:
โ€ข Track your progress and stay motivated ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ’ช
โ€ข Manage cravings and triggers with practical tips ๐Ÿง โœจ
โ€ข See how much money youโ€™re saving ๐Ÿ’ท๐Ÿ’™
โ€ข Get daily support and encouragement when you need it most ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ“ฑ

With the right support, quitting becomes much more achievable, and even small steps can lead to lasting change. ๐Ÿšญ๐Ÿ’™โœจ

Get free NHS quit smoking support: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
Download the NHS Quit Smoking app: https://nhsquitsmoking.app.link/better_health_quit_smoking

Staying active as you get older is one of the best ways to maintain independence, improve wellbeing and reduce the risk ...
27/05/2026

Staying active as you get older is one of the best ways to maintain independence, improve wellbeing and reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke. Itโ€™s never too late to start, and even small amounts of movement can make a difference. ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธโœจ

For older adults, the NHS recommends:
โ€ข Being active every day, even with light activities ๐ŸŒฟ๐Ÿ’™
โ€ข Aiming for around 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, such as brisk walking ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธโœจ
โ€ข Doing strength exercises at least twice a week to keep muscles strong ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฉบ
โ€ข Including balance and flexibility activities to reduce the risk of falls โš–๏ธ๐ŸŒฑ

Activities like walking, gardening, swimming or gentle exercise classes can all help improve physical and mental wellbeing, as well as reduce loneliness and support independence.

Find out more about staying active as you get older: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-older-adults/

Looking to connect with others who understand life with Crohnโ€™s or Colitis? ๐Ÿ’œJoin one of our upcoming virtual social eve...
23/05/2026

Looking to connect with others who understand life with Crohnโ€™s or Colitis? ๐Ÿ’œ

Join one of our upcoming virtual social events โ€“ a friendly and supportive space to meet others, share experiences, and connect from the comfort of home ๐Ÿ’ฌ

๐Ÿ“… Young Adults โ€“ Tues 26th May at 6.30pm
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/young-adults-virtual-social-event-tickets-1987064938722?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

๐Ÿ“… North of England โ€“ Mon 1st June at 6.30pm
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-of-england-virtual-social-event-tickets-1987058184520?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

๐Ÿ“… Friends & Family โ€“ Wed 10th June at 6.30pm
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/friends-and-family-virtual-social-event-tickets-1987603565770?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

๐Ÿ“… South West โ€“ Mon 15th June at 6.30pm
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/south-west-virtual-social-event-tickets-1987617982892?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

๐Ÿ“… It Takes Guts โ€“ Sun 21st June at 10.30am
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/it-takes-guts-virtual-social-event-tickets-1988079623672?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

Whether youโ€™re looking for support, friendship, advice, or simply a chance to chat with people who get it, weโ€™d love to see you there ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’ฌ

22/05/2026

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health and wellbeing. Even small changes can make a big difference, helping to reduce your risk of serious conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. ๐Ÿ’™โš–๏ธโœจ

Losing just a small amount of weight, around 5โ€“10% of your body weight, can have significant health benefits, including improving blood pressure, cholesterol and energy levels.

Simple ways to work towards a healthier weight include:
โ€ข Eating a balanced diet and making healthier food choices ๐Ÿฅ—๐ŸŒฟ
โ€ข Being more active and moving regularly ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ’ช
โ€ข Setting realistic, achievable goals ๐Ÿ“Šโœจ
โ€ข Making small, sustainable changes over time ๐Ÿ’™๐ŸŒฑ

The NHS Better Health programme offers free tools, apps and a 12-week plan to help you build healthier habits and stay on track.

Start your journey to a healthier weight: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

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