From your Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Every month the Academy Medical Centre Patient Participation Group raises awareness of some health and wellbeing campaigns.
The PPG would like to highlight the following campaigns in September:
- Suicide Awareness: "Creating hope through action" is the theme of Suicide Awareness Month this September. It serves as a reminder that there are alternatives to suicide and actions can help to encourage hope strengthen prevention. Help is available when you're feeling low, so reach out - see Breathing Space, Samaritans and Young Minds. Find out more on NHS Inform where a list of 24/7 services is available.
- Blood pressure: "Know your numbers" is the theme. The aim is to encourage everyone to measure their blood pressure, take the necessary steps if their reading is high, and raise awareness of the risks of high blood pressure. Knowing your numbers can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Find out more about high blood pressure (hypertension) on NHS Inform, including causes and how to prevent it. Or visit Blood Pressure UK - a charity dedicated to lowering the nation's blood pressure to prevent stroke and heart disease.
- Organ donation: There are many people on waiting lists for kidney, tissue donation etc. Make sure you know the change in the law regarding donations - you are deemed to agree to organ donation if you do not opt out. Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
You can get involved and raise awareness by talking about the campaigns, tweeting or sharing on social media, or by donating, fundraising and pledging your support.
About the PPG
The Academy Medical Centre PPG has worked with the practice since 2010 to enhance the delivery of primary care services in a number of areas.
You can make a difference to the Practice too! To get involved or find out more about the work and how the PPG assists the practice and you, the patient, see the Academy Medical Centre PPG page. Notes of our meetings are also available to give you a real flavour of what we're doing.
