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Health Champions

We are a group of patients who are working voluntarily to introduce, organise and promote a programme of activities to support the wellbeing of the community. We work collaboratively with Grove Medical Centre to find new ways to improve the service and to meet the health needs of patients and the broader community. See below for our latest timetable of activities.

Please note that our activities are currently suspended but we continue to support and explore how to help our Practice:

– By volunteering at the Walron Vaccine Centre

– By joining forces with the John Evelyn Community Garden for the Watch It Grow project                      

VOLUNTEERING AT THE WALDRON VACCINE CENTRE

Three of our members have volunteered and joined forces with Dr Forgan who has set up the Covid Vaccine clinic at the Waldron Centre opposite New Cross Station.

 

           

Dr Forgan and Robyn, it is just a little scratch!

           

       Robyn in action!

           

      Nana makes sure the area is clean and tidy!

DIABETES AND ME   by Monica
Though Monica is not able to join the team at Waldron Centre,
she felt creative and wrote a poem and keeps being an amazing
champion, living with diabetes and enjoying eighty years on this
lovely planet.
Some eighteen years ago
I did not feel well
So off I went to the Doc
Hoping she would tell
After a simple blood test
The nurse declared: A diabetic you are
I said no , she said yes
Left the surgery feeling depressed
To start a new life of pills potions
And more tests
Eighteen years on nothing has changed
Not for the want of trying
Or truly understanding, but if you are older
So are your cells, worn and tired 
And not wanting to gel.
Insulin and tablets way down the road
Hoping for better , but alas
Cells beg to differ.
This is my story, wish it was different
But who knows next time it may 
It may be pleasant!
🌼🌺🌷🌸🌹
HEALTHY TIPS FOR SPRING   from Cressi
Also Cressi is not able to join the team at Waldron Centre
but she shares with us some lovely tips for Spring.

SPRING CLEANING🌺

Just like we get rid of clutter and put things together at home,

we can do the same with our minds. We can clear our minds

and check items off our mental checklist. 

GO GREEN🥑

It is time to forget the comfort food we had for winter.  Let us swap

for lighter dishes that better reflect the new season, like vegetables,

salads, fruit and fish.

GET OUT🏃‍♂️

Enjoy the nature that slowly wakes up with blossom, sunshine and

lovely breeze and have walks, picnics or cycle.

BE MINDFUL🧡

Try anything that relaxes you or makes you feel creative like art, journaling, 

stretching so to quiet your mind and step into mindfulness.

RECONNECT WITH OTHERS🌈

Text, email or call a friend you haven’t seen for a while or organise

a picnic or a walk and spend quality time to reconnect with loved 

ones.

  • We have joined forces with One Health Lewisham Social Presribers Team and we volunteer by phoning the vulnerable patients and checking their wellbeing. 
  • Also one of us had been volunteering for 2-3 days per week at the at Nightingale hospital at the excel centre/O2 supporting the clinical staff and induction for NHS staff.
  • For  patients that is important to check their oxygen levels using a finger probe and do not have a family member available to collect it, the Health Champions can drop off the oxygen probe at the patients address in a safe and protected manner. 

Our future plan

We have started a project with the John Evelyn Community Garden ‘Watch it Grow’ where we hope to use growing and nurturing plants to support the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff and patients. Small    growing kits are picked or delivered and they include instructions in how to grow the plants (mixture of edible e.g. beans, onions and flower). The hope is this can help people at this challenging time, improve links with  the local community, the garden and enjoy watching something grow!

              Our Health Champions at the John Evelyn Community Garden 

                The seeds in the pots ready to move to the bags and come to your home

   All the information you need to Watch It Grow

WiG_2 booklet_GMC_HC

*  We will try to adjust our activities to updated guidelines and support recovery from Covid19.

 JOIN US IF YOU LIKE, ALL ARE WELCOME AS WE ARE ALL IN THIS    TOGETHER!  

                   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Grove Health Champions Timetable (suspended)
Monday

10:00 – 11:00 Smoking Cessation ( Every Monday )

10:00 – 11:00 Diabetes Coffee Morning ( Last Monday of each month )

10:00 – 11:30 Health Champions Monthly Meeting ( First Monday of each month )

10:00 – 11:00 Walking Group, meet outside surgery ( Every Monday and Wednesday )

Tuesday

18:00 – 19:30 Meditation with Amanda ( 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month )

18:30 – 19:30 Kirtan – meditative singing with Virginie ( 2nd Tuesday each month )

Sessions will start soon, please keep checking on the website for updates..

Wednesday

10:00 – 11:00 Walking Group, meet outside surgery ( Every Monday and Wednesday )

10:00 – 12:00 Singing for Health with Robyn (1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month)

Thursday

18:00 – 19:00 Jogging with Wondwosen ( Every other Thursday at 19:30 and to confirm contact us )

Friday

Yoga ( with a fee, booking required via reception)   New timetable to be confirmed

Saturday

09:00 Parkrun, Southwark Park ( Every Saturday )

Sunday

18:00 – 19:00 Jogging with Wondwosen ( Every Sunday )

NEW YEAR – NEW START FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!

COMMUNITY WALKS

Meet and walk together. We meet near the surgery Mon and Wed 10am

and walk by the river and Greenland dock usually lasting 50 mins to an

hour.

DIABETES COFFEE MORNINGS

Image result for diabet3es

Very informative and a wealth of knowledge and personal experience

to be gained from each other.

JOGGING/RUNNING ACTIVITY

Would you like: – prevent or manage of disease, decreased stress

levels, strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular fitness and burn

plenty of calories.

Come and Join us and Jog/ Run at a pace that suits you with friendly

Health Champions.

 

KIRTAN MEDITATIVE SINGING

Image result for kirtan
Do you want to reconnect with yourself and be lifted up by the sound
of our voices? Then come and join us and try it for yourself.
Kirtan is a wonderful way to go into a meditative state by using our
voice and a beautiful instrument called the “Harmonium”.
You do not need to have a particular voice to join in this wonderful
practice.

 

 

MEDITATION

Image result for meditation images

 

Would you like to reduce stress, control anxiety, enhance self esteem.

improve your sleep and improve your emotional health?

Meditation can help with all the above and more.

 

SINGING FOR HEALTH

An informal singing workshop, learning about breathing techniques that

not only help you to sing but improve your capacity to talk or sing without

straining your voice.

Meeting new people, working together and singing in ways you’ve heard

but never tried. No experience necessary. This is a physical workshop so

please come ready to stretch.

 

 

YOGA

 

Yoga sessions by a qualified teacher for people with chronic physical and

mental health conditions.

 

THE SMOKING CESSATION CLINIC

 

 

Advise and practical help to quit smoking every Monday. Chats and sharing experiences and tips.

 

SOUTHWARK PARKRUN

The Health Champions and Grove Medical Centre are keen to promote the activities of Parkrun, to promote the health and wellbeing of staff and patients.

Grove Medical Centre is a Royal College of General Practitioners accredited Parkrun Practice:

http://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/our-programmes/clinical-priorities/parkrun-practice.aspx

Parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.

They are not races: walk, run, jog, volunteer or spectate. Parkrun is open to all, including those who are inactive or have health conditions or disabilities. Our closest Parkrun is Southwark Parkrun.

Meet at Southwark Park for a 09.00 start. You may wish to register at their website though it is not essential:

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/southwark/

For more information see the leaflet:

Parkrun printout

Dr John McGuinness has written a letter published in the British Journal of General Practice, explaining the benefits of Parkrun:

https://bjgp.org/content/69/679/64.1

Lewisham CCG are supporting Parkrun:

https://www.lewishamccg.nhs.uk/news-publications/Pages/GPs-prescribe-parkrun-.aspx

5K Your Way

Southwark parkrun host ‘5k your way’ event on the last Saturday of every month. This is a recent initiative where a local coordinator encourages people ‘living with and beyond cancer, families, friends and those working in cancer services’ to come along to parkrun.

For more information see their website:

https://5kyourway.org/

If you would be interested in seeking further information about our activities or would like to contribute to our work please email the practice at selicb.g85085-general@nhs.net.

 

Open days

There was lots of excitement around the new activities the Health Champions have organised-here are some pictures of the October 2019 Open Day.

The forthcoming is on Saturday the 14th of March. All are welcome!

 

 

 

 

One Health Lewisham Awards 2019

We are delighted that Grove Medical Centre has won two One Health Lewisham Awards this year!

Practice Best Quality Improvement Project – Health Champions Project

GP Trainee of the year – Dr John McGuiness (Parkrun Project)

The One Health Lewisham GP Awards set out to celebrate, recognise and reward the contribution of staff and practices across Lewisham.

 

Two of the Health Champions receiving the Practice Best Quality Improvement Project Award, presented by Damian Brady, Chief Operating Officer of One Health Lewisham

 

 

Dr John McGuinness receiving the GP Trainee of the year award, presented by Damian Brady, Chief Operating Officer of One Health Lewisham.