Nunwell Surgery has a very well established Birthday Clinic process.  This is how we look after patients with long term medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.

Patients attend for an initial appointment for an annual review, in the month of their birthday with a healthcare assistant, for a blood test, blood pressure check, height and weight monitoring and other investigations needed for their specific conditions.

Depending on the outcome of your initial appointment and your conditions, you may require a second appointment with a Practice Nurse, Pharmacist or GP to go through the results of these tests and give advice. This may be by telephone or face to face. All of your medication will be reviewed as part of this service.

Birthday clinics are a critical part of reviewing patients with long term conditions to reduce the risk of long term complications and ensure medications are prescribed safely.

We please ask that you promptly book your birthday clinic appointment around your Birthday—we will send a reminder if you forget! The investigations carried out during your birthday clinic help inform our clinicians as to whether any alterations are required to your current medication or to ensure it is appropriate to continue prescribing. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions you have regarding your condition.

Active participation in your healthcare journey is vital, therefore attending your birthday clinic appointment ensures we can continue to provide you with the highest standard of care.

Please find the article below completed by a member of our Patient Engagement Group in October 2024

Life style support

We are fortunate to have a Health and Wellbeing Coach, based at Nunwell Surgery every Thursday,  also a drop-in service at Bromyard Community Hospital on Friday, (9am-12pm clinic room 3).

I thought it might be helpful to interview Mark Smith to explore what his role is and how support from him might benefit you. This is what I discovered.

A Health and Wellbeing coach works alongside you to identify life changes you might want or need to make to improve your health, for example weight loss, dealing with social isolation, quitting smoking, selecting and taking part in suitable exercise, improving your diet etc.

They then support you to make those changes.

We all know how difficult it can be to take that first step to a healthier you, and how hard maintaining change can be. Primarily, Mark will strengthen your motivation by helping you identify specific actions, broken down into manageable tasks that you can achieve. Equally, he may help you identify any barriers that prevent you making progress that you need to address, and will then explore options to overcome these challenges. Having a Health and Wellbeing coach means having someone who will be there to encourage you, celebrate your successes with you or even help you hold yourself to account if you are not following through with what you planned.

Having someone firmly committed to the changes you have agreed is often the difference between success or failure. We all need someone in our corner, and it can be helpful if it is someone outside our family and friends who has a clearer, not biased perspective and no hidden agenda. Those that love us most may find it difficult to encourage us to change.

You may be referred to Mark by your GP or other health professionals, but if you feel you could benefit from having time with a coach you can refer yourself via the surgery reception. You will jointly decide how many sessions you need, typically around 6, and may have follow up phone calls to help you maintain progress.

In short a Health and Wellbeing Coach is someone who works alongside you helping you to make healthy lifestyle choices and behaviour changes.  

RSV Vaccination Programme

As of September 2024, Nunwell Surgery will be offering RSV vaccines to patients aged 75 to 79 years old. Please read the following information about RSV and vaccine campaign carefully.

What is RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is most common over the winter period, typically October to February. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually, and for 20 to 30 infant deaths.

RSV can also be severe in older adults, causing pneumonia and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions. It causes around 9,000 hospitalisations in those aged over 75 in the UK each year.

The symptoms of RSV

RSV may cause a cough or a cold, wheezing, shortness of breath, tiredness and fever. Most cases are not serious and clear up within 2 to 3 weeks.

You can find out more about the symptoms of RSV at NHS – RSV

RSV can also cause bronchiolitis in infants, which can make it difficult to breathe and feed. RSV bronchiolitis symptoms may include difficult, fast or noisy breathing and being unsettled or difficult to comfort.

RSV vaccination

From August 2024 in Scotland and September 2024 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, pregnant women at week 28 or later and everyone aged 75 to 79 or turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September will be offered a vaccine to protect themselves or their babies against RSV.

During the first year of the campaign, patients who turn 80 between 2nd September 2024 and 31st August 2025 will be able to receive the vaccine up until 31st August 2025

This is a one-off vaccine that can be given all year round.

Maternal

• From September 2024, pregnant women can have a vaccine to help protect theirbabies against RSV
• You should get your free RSV vaccine when you reach 28 weeks of pregnancy.
• You should speak to your maternity service or GP surgery to get your vaccine
• Studies have shown the RSV vaccine is very safe for you and your baby
• A vaccine is needed in every pregnancy to give your new baby the best protection

Older Adults:

• A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection.
• Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine.
• The vaccine will also be offered to those who are already aged 75 to 79 years on 1 September 2024

Booking an appointment

Our September RSV vaccine clinics are now full. In order to focus on the Flu and COVID vaccine campaign during the month of October, our next clinics will be available mid-late November.

If you would like to book an appointment for your RSV vaccine, appointments will be available via your online services provider (such as NHS app or Patient Access). Look for the appointment type “RSV Vaccination”

Alternatively, please contact Reception on 01885 483412 between 2pm and 6.30pm (Monday – Friday).

If you would like to decline this offer, please email nunwell.admin@nhs.net and include your name, date of birth & the first line of your address. Alternatively, you can write to us at

Nunwell Surgery, 10 Pump Street, Bromyard, HR7 4BZ

Social Prescribers connect people to non-medical community-based activities, groups and services that meet practical, social and emotional needs, including specialist advice services and the arts, physical activity and nature. At our practice, you may see a Social Prescriber for:

– Support to identify and connect with community activities to improve health and combat loneliness
– Guidance to services that can provide financial advice and support
– Assistance with accessing social care support

COVID-19 Spring Booster 2025 Clinics Now Available!

We are pleased to announce that our GP surgery will be holding clinics for the COVID-19 Spring Booster 2025.

Who’s Eligible?
The Spring Booster is available to individuals who are:

• Aged 75 and over
• Residents in care homes for older adults
• Immunosuppressed individuals, including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, or individuals with conditions such as HIV or certain autoimmune diseases

Booking Your Appointment
The NHS National Booking System will go live on 25th March 2025. To book your appointment, simply visit the NHS National Booking System online or call 119. Follow the prompts to select your preferred time and location.

Reception will not be able to book this appointment for you.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to protect yourself and others. The Spring Booster is an essential step in staying safe.

If you would prefer to decline the Spring Booster vaccine, we completely respect your decision. Please write to us or email nunwell.admin@nhs.net with your full name, date of birth, and address to inform us of your choice.