If you’re suffering from anxiety, depression or low mood, your job – or lack of one – can be a major factor in your recovery. For many people too, work is the source of the stress that made them unwell in the first place, with the prospect of returning a real barrier to better mental […]
Category: Merton
Is it time you booked a cervical screening test?
If you think you may have missed your regular cervical screening appointment (smear test), contact your GP now. NHS figures reveal that the pandemic saw a small reduction in the numbers coming forward for cervical screening. According to Dr Vasa Gnanapragasam, lead GP for Merton, “Cervical screening is a really effective test for picking up […]
NHS services in south west London over the May bank holiday weekend
South west Londoners needing urgent mental health care over the bank holiday weekend are being reminded help is on hand. The local NHS is telling people that if they are struggling with their mental health, they should seek help. In Merton, Wandsworth, Sutton, Kingston and Richmond people can call the crisis line on 0800 028 […]
Wimbledon Centre Court’s new vaccine centre puts young visitors at ease
Visit Centre Court’s new COVID-19 vaccination centre in Wimbledon and you’ll be greeted with children’s art, a book corner and plenty of rainbows. The clinic moved locations within the shopping centre earlier this month, the same time as it began offering vaccines to children aged five to 11. Centre Court matron, Christiana Pena said: “We […]
Do I need a spring booster – and how do I get one?
Those over 75 are eligible to receive the spring booster COVID-19 jab. The spring booster jab is also being offered to people who have weakened immune systems or who live in care homes. To get the most benefit from the spring booster, you are advised to have the jab six months after your previous vaccine […]
Sew, a needle pulling thread …
Did you know that the global fast fashion industry creates more CO2 emissions than all the world’s international flights and maritime shipping combined? Thousands of tons of perfectly good clothes are chucked away each year, often when they’ve only been worn a few times. But in a little corner of Merton, a dedicated group of […]
The Merton Community Hub is here to help
When single mum Lexie* ran out of money while she was self-isolating during the pandemic, she was facing real financial hardship. She had a small child to care for but no food in the house and no money for gas or electricity. Her next Universal Credit payment was not due until the end of the […]
Virtual consultations help empower new parents
Bringing home your new baby is a time of great joy. But for many first-time parents, it’s a huge worry too, especially after a pandemic pregnancy. NHS figures show post-natal depression routinely affects more than one in ten new mothers, with fathers and partners reporting problems with their mental health too, a situation made worse […]
Meet Matt – paramedic on a bike in primary care
If you’re out and about in Merton, keep your eyes peeled for Matt Kilner, the paramedic on a bike. Working with the South West Merton Primary Care Network (PCN) since October 2020, Matt’s brief as a trainee first contact practitioner is to work with GPs as part of teams providing same-day care. The PCN brings […]
Dinosaur-themed vaccine clinic helps put children at ease
The Wilson Hospital COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Mitcham has been given a prehistoric makeover, with the aim of putting young children at ease when they come for their jab. Throughout February, the Wilson has been running clinics for children aged five to 11 who are eligible for vaccination because they are clinically extremely vulnerable or […]