Aberfoyle Medical Practice

🥗 Looking for reliable advice on eating well?

Making healthy food choices can support your health and wellbeing at every stage of life. The Public Health Dietitians – Eating Well YouTube channel provides free, evidence-based nutrition information from Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists working across Northern Ireland.

You’ll find helpful videos covering topics such as healthy recipes, eating well on a budget, food and mood, healthy weight, feeding children, nutrition during pregnancy, menopause, eating well as you age and much more.

🍎 Whether you want to improve your diet, learn more about nutrition or find practical ideas for healthier meals, take a look at the videos available here:

https://www.youtube.com/

☕ Coffee Morning for Foyle Hospice ☕

Join us tomorrow morning, Wednesday 7th October, for a coffee morning in support of Foyle Hospice 💙

🕤 From 9.30am

Come along, enjoy a cuppa and help support a great cause. We hope to see you there! 🍰

Breast screening can help detect breast cancer early 🎀 Breast screening uses mammograms (X-rays of the breasts) to look for signs of breast cancer, including cancers that may be too small to see or feel. Finding breast cancer earlier can improve the chances of successful treatment.

In Northern Ireland, women aged 50 to 70 who are registered with a GP are invited for breast screening every three years. If you are registered with a GP, you should receive an invitation automatically, so it is important to make sure your contact details are up to date.

Women over 70 are no longer automatically invited, but can contact their local breast screening unit to arrange an appointment.

Screening is for people without signs or symptoms. If you notice an unusual change in your breasts, please contact your GP, even if you have recently had a mammogram.

Find out more about breast screening in Northern Ireland:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/breast-screening-overview

We all have mental health, and taking time to look after our emotional wellbeing is just as important as caring for our physical health.

The Community Wellbeing Online Hub brings together a wide range of information, practical resources and support to help you look after your wellbeing.

You can explore:
🧠 Mental health and wellbeing information
📖 Self-help guides and toolkits
🌱 Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing
☎️ Information and helplines
🤝 Services and support
💷 Cost of living advice and support
🌍 Mental health resources available in a range of languages

Whether you’re looking for some practical wellbeing tips, want to learn more about your mental health or need additional support, the hub is a useful place to start.

👉 Explore the Community Wellbeing Online Hub:

https://communitywellbeing.info/

📢 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

The Pharmacy First Pilot Service for the treatment of shingles has been extended and will now continue until 31 December 2026.

If you think you may have shingles, participating community pharmacies can provide free and confidential advice and treatment, helping you access support without waiting to see a GP.

💊 Participating pharmacies in the area:

• Boots UK Ltd – Unit L7-9, Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry City, BT48 6XY
📞 028 7126 0432

• Belmont Health (NI) Ltd – Da Vinci's Complex, Culmore Road, BT48 8JB
📞 028 7136 3604

• Boots UK Ltd – Crescent Link Retail Park, BT47 6SA
📞 028 7134 5545

Waiting for a hospital appointment or treatment? If you have been referred to the Western Health and Social Care Trust, you can access information about average waiting times online.

The My Waiting Times NI service provides guidance for patients waiting for:
🏥 Outpatient appointments
🩺 Treatments and procedures
🔎 Endoscopy appointments

Waiting times can vary depending on the service you have been referred to and your individual clinical needs, with patients managed according to clinical urgency.

Please note that the Western Trust is currently unable to report updated average waiting times while implementing its new electronic patient record system.

👉 Find out more and view the available waiting time information here:

https://online.hscni.net/my-waiting-times-ni/whsct/

⚠️ IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION ⚠️

Please note that the practice will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd September from 1.30pm to 6pm for essential staff training.

Should you require urgent medical assistance during this time that cannot wait until the next day, please contact the surgery on the usual telephone number and follow the advice given.

We thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

If you are worried that someone may be thinking about su***de, reaching out and starting a conversation can make a difference. You don’t need to have all the answers – listening without judgement and helping someone connect with appropriate support can be an important first step.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999, attend your local Emergency Department, or contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Find advice and support:
https://westerntrust.hscni.net/health-and-wellbeing/emotional-health-and-wellbeing/concerned-about-su***de/

Northern Ireland also has long-term strategies focused on improving mental health, preventing su***de and self-harm, supporting people in crisis and ensuring people can access the right support. Protect Life 2 has now been extended until the end of 2027, while the Mental Health Strategy 2021–2031 sets the strategic direction for mental health services in Northern Ireland.

Read more about Protect Life 2:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/protectlife2

Read the Mental Health Strategy 2021–2031:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/mental-health-strategy-2021-2031

💚 You are not alone. Support is available.

Falls can happen to anyone, but there are simple steps you can take to help reduce your risk and stay confident on your feet.

Regular activity can help strengthen your muscles and improve your balance and coordination. Everyday activities such as walking, gardening and housework can all help you keep moving.

You can also make your home safer by:
🏠 Keeping floors and walkways clear of clutter
💡 Making sure rooms, stairs and hallways are well lit
👟 Wearing well-fitting footwear with good grip
🛁 Using non-slip mats and appropriate handrails
👀 Having regular eye checks
💪 Practising exercises that improve strength and balance

If you or someone caring for you thinks you may be at risk of falling, speak to your GP about whether a falls assessment may be appropriate.

Find more advice here:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/keeping-mobile-and-preventing-falls

🚭 Thinking about stopping smoking? Support is available.

Quitting smoking can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Stop Smoking NI provides information and support specifically for people in Northern Ireland who want to quit, including advice on different ways to stop and details of local stop smoking services.

Whether you’re ready to quit now or simply thinking about taking the first step, explore the resources below:

👉 Stop Smoking NI:
https://www.stopsmokingni.info/

👉 Explore different ways to quit:
https://www.stopsmokingni.info/ways-quit

👉 Order a Quit Kit:
https://www.stopsmokingni.info/quit-kit-order

👉 Find local help and support:
https://www.stopsmokingni.info/ways-quit/local-help-and-support

Taking that first step could make a big difference to your health and wellbeing. 💙