Coronavirus - see 'News' for the links for latest advice

The latest advice for patients on Coronavirus can be found in the link below which is updated daily:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home if you have either:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you're staying at home.

Read the NHS advice about staying home, including how long to isolate for.

Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Use the 111 coronavirus service

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

  (Due to the volume of calls NHS 111 is receiving, you may need to dial several times.)

Please do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital until you have received advice from NHS 111.

For general information about the coronavirus, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

It's here - a new way for us to help you get the right support.  See 'About Us - a new way forward' for more

Find out about The Cornwall Link

The Cornwall link is an online portal where you can find information on a wide range of services, community groups and organisations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The aim is to provide individuals, families, carers, volunteers and healthcare professionals with access to services and community based activities that will reduce social isolation and improve health and wellbeing.  This platform has been designed in collaboration with Age UK Cornwall staff and clients, volunteers, GPs and supporting partners including, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, NHS Kernow, Cornwall Rural Community Charity and the Eden Project.

www.cornwall-link.co.uk

Staying healthy this winter - see 'News' for more info

It may be cold outside, but winter needn't be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family.

Here are five ways to make sure that, even when your body is telling you to hibernate, you can keep healthy and fit, no matter what the weather's like.

Banish winter tiredness

Many people feel tired and sluggish during winter. This is due to the lack of sunlight, which disrupts our sleep and waking cycles.

Try these tips:

• get outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible
• get a good night's sleep – go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
• destress with exercise or meditation – stress has been shown to make you feel tired

Eat more fruit and veg

When it's cold and dark outside, it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food. However, it's important to ensure you still have a healthy diet and include five portions of fruit and veg a day.

If you find yourself craving a sugary treat, try a juicy clementine or satsuma instead.

Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips can be roasted, mashed or made into soup for a comforting winter meal for the whole family. Explore varieties of fruit and veg that you may not normally eat.

Drink more milk

You are more likely to get a cold in winter, so make sure your immune system is in tip-top condition.

Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are great sources of:

• protein
• vitamins A and B12
• calcium, which helps keep our bones strong

Choose semi-skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk – rather than full-fat – and low-fat plain yoghurts.

Try new activities for the whole family

Don't use the cold winter months as an excuse to stay in and lounge around. Instead, get out with the whole family to try out a new activity –maybe ice skating, or taking a bracing winter walk on the beach or through the park.

Regular exercise helps control your weight, boost your immune system, and is a good way to break the tension that can build if the family is constantly cooped up inside the house.

Have a hearty breakfast

Winter is the perfect season for porridge. Eating a warm bowlful on a cold morning isn't just a delicious way to start your day, it also helps boost your intake of starchy foods and fibre.

These foods give you energy and help you feel fuller for longer, stopping the temptation to snack mid-morning. Oats also contain lots of vital vitamins and minerals.

Make your porridge with semi-skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk, or water, and don't add sugar or salt. Add a sliced banana, berries or other fruit for extra flavour and to help you hit your 5 A Day target.

For more information, visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/five-ways-to-stay-healthy-this-winter/

For students coming home from university - please book in for your Men ACWY if you haven't already

Measles - it's not just a kid's problem!  See 'News' for more

Teenagers, young adults and anyone who has missed their MMR vaccination can get measles.  Symptoms include high fever, rash (sometimes starting around the ears), sore red eyes, aching and feeling unwell.  If you think it could be measles, please telephone the surgery before arriving to minimise risk of infecting others.  If you know you haven't had your MMR vaccine and would like to, contact the surgery to make an appointment.

New arrangements for patients living out of practice area - see 'Surgery Information' page

Parents Guide for Feverish Children - see Latest News for the link