Well the temperature has definitely dropped recently but what a wonderful summer we have enjoyed!!
Forest Medical has been actively raising money for charities throughout the year and recently raised nearly £400 for Action for Ann by providing a book and cake sale, a car boot day, and adhoc donations accepted within the Practices.
We endeavour to continue our support for Cancer Awareness, Jeans for Genes, Heart Failure, Dementia Research and numerous other charities throughout next year as we have done in 2018 and wish to thank you, our patients, for your ongoing support.
MANSFIELD HOMELESS CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL
Once again Rosemary Street Health Centre will be acting as a drop off point for the Mansfield Homeless Shoebox Appeal this winter.
It has proven to be extremely successful in previous years and we hope our kind and generous patients and staff will do the same again this year.
Every Christmas, homeless people not only have to deal with the fact that they are homeless as well as other issues, but also have to deal with the “happy” part of the year, sometimes alone.
Again, I am appealing to you to give a small gift and a bit of hope to a homeless person in Mansfield and surrounding areas.
I ask please that you decorate a shoebox for either a male or female (adults) and include items such as:
Gloves Socks
Toothpaste / brush Deodorants
Razors Shaving foam
Shower Gel Shampoo
Sweets Biscuits
Chocolate Drink Sachets
Cup a soups Pot Noodles
Magazine anything else you can think of – no alcohol please
I also ask that you include a Christmas Card in each box.
Some homeless people have dogs therefore I also want to provide some doggy boxes for their pets this Christmas. Here are some suggestions – any or all of the following:
- tinned/sachet food- this is a key ingredient which goes very quickly
- bowl
- fleece blanket (fleece stays warm even when wet, so fleece is much better than a knitted blanket or quilt)
- lead/collar/toys
- treats
- coat/waterproof
- vitamin tablets/drops
- dental treats
- poo bags
- flea treatment
- worming pills
- doggy toothbrush/ toothpaste
All the boxes will then be taken and given to the people (and dogs) that need them before Christmas Day.
Please Please get involved!!!!!!
PPG FUNDRAISING
As you are aware we are always open to suggestions and comments from our patients. One such comment was regarding the waiting area seating arrangements at Rosemary Street Health Centre. The chairs are comfortable for most able bodied younger generations, however it was pointed out to me that elderly, and less able bodied, find them to difficult to sit down onto them and stand up off them.
Our PPG have therefore agreed that the funds they have raised so far, plus the funds we envisage to raise throughout our winter raffle, will go towards the purchase of a Bariatric Chair for the waiting room at Rosemary Street Health Centre. Oak Tree Lane Surgery has had such a chair for a few years now and I have seen how it benefits some of our patients.
Raffle tickets are now on sale and you will find PPG members and receptionist actively selling them at both sites.
At 50 pence per ticket, with the chance of winning some wonderful prizes, please dig out your loose change for such a good cause.
If you would like to know more about the Patient Participation Group (PPG) please email ppg_rshc@hotmail.co.uk
INFLUENZA VIRUS
Yes it is that time again and this year the Department of Health has put measures in place to ensure your flu vaccine works for you as an individual. There are three different types of vaccines this year, one for age 65 and over; one for patients aged under 65 patients who are pregnant or have a long term chronic conditions; and one for our under 5’s.
You can call into any of our surgeries at any time if you are eligible for a flu vaccine and for our under 5’s we are again holding a Fluenz Day to make the experience less traumatic for them – See our poster here inviting all our little patients –
OUR PATIENTS
Forest Medical are not just interested in your Health and Well-Being, we are also interest in you and your interests. If you would like to promote any kind of event that you think would be of interest to our other patients please contact me using the Contact Us form on this website.
For example, Jo Riley is actively involved in the CENTENARY OF THE GREAT WAR AMISTACE 1918 and is promoting the “Recruitment to Remembrance Event”
This event will take place at The Hive, Four Seasons (next to Thorntons) between 30th October and 11th November 10:30 – 16:30.
The theme of this event is based around the under age recruitment in our area. In 1914 Sir Arthur Markham, the Liberal MP of that time, discovered that children as young as 13 were being recruited into the war against Germany, posing as young men. There was no official military law stating a minimum age for recruitment until Sir Arthur Markham had this passed – from then the minimum age was set to 18 and proof of age had to be obtained.
Unfortunately by then there were many boys who had been recruited and had lost their lives.
This event provides evidence of those recruited enabling families members to come and reminisce or in fact gain information on relatives. There will be a ribbon of remembrance and a chance to embrace what was a poignant part of Mansfield history.
WILL IT SNOW?
Snow brings with it many hazards for our vulnerable patients especially those with frailty. Whether it snows, gets icy, or just extremely cold, I urge you to look out for your neighbours and ensure everyone is kept safe and warm this winter.
Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year
Kind Regards
Nicola