Welcome to this week's waffle, in which we chat Men's health in the lead up to Men's Health Week and in our 'community notices' section at the bottom a lovely volunteering initiative from a local Winchester charity.
Ooh, and we are hiring! If you know of any one who would be perfect for our patient liaison team - super professional, organised, genuine people person, nifty with IT - our ad should be going live on Indeed in the next few hours Reception and Administration Assistant. :-)
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Forgive the generalisation, but men tend to be more reluctant to visit the doctor than women. We see it in our clinic lists, and hear it regularly from the wives, partners, mums and daughters who call on behalf of the men in their lives.
It's not that men don't have health concerns. Of course they do. Common issues include:
• Persistent tiredness
• Poor sleep
• Weight gain
• Stress or burnout
• Reduced libido
• Concerns about blood pressure or cholesterol
• Urinary symptoms
But, whether due to 'put up and shut up' societal conditioning, time pressures, pride or embarrassment, it is still far harder to get men into the consultation room.
Sometimes, what's needed is a neutral start point - and luckily we have one! Our Enhanced Wellness screens. These include comprehensive blood testing, including those that form a core part of many men's health diagnostic work-ups, followed by an unhurried GP appointment. It's a collaborative discussion, in which your doctor will review your results, explore any concerns you have, and together you can put a solid plan to optimise your health for the long term.
Please be assured, this is NOT a pass or fail exam- there will be no 'telling off' here! Your doctor will meet you where you are at, and be just as keen to celebrate the things that are going well, whilst also supporting you in addressing any areas where some attention might be needed.
Our doctors recommend repeating an Enhanced Wellness Screen annually to take a proactive approach to your health. And, forgive some stereotypically masculine parallels, if your boiler or your car is worth it, then surely, you are too! Last little sweetener, annual health checks are fully tax deductible as a business expense - you can see the HMRC guidance for that here.
To book, simply call our fabulous reception team or, even easier, book part one of the wellness screen (blood tests, ECG, height weight and blood pressure) directly online- and we will then call you to arrange your follow up appointment and payment.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
Gemma, Dr Tom Willsher & all at Winchester GP x
Community notices- (fun events, and local stuff we would like to support!)
Looking for a volunteer opportunity? We just learned of the local Winchester charity Friends of the Family who are hosting a volunteer open morning this very Sunday at Rick Steins- click here for more info.