Spring Newsletter 2026

Welcome from West Meads Surgery

Welcome to our practice newsletter, and thank you for taking the time to read it.

In this edition, you’ll find handy tips to stay well this season, information about Menopause, and a few ways we’re working to make your visits even better. Our aim is to keep you informed about how we work, the changes in the practice, and the support available to you and your family. General practice is facing significant demand, and we continually review how we organise our services in order to provide safe, fair and timely care, whilst prioritising those most in need. Your understanding, feedback and use of services in a considerate way make a real difference to what we can offer.

New Faces in the Surgery

We are thrilled to introduce some new faces who have recently joined our surgery. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome as they become part of our dedicated team: Dr Hatfield (GP), Dr Shetty (GP Trainee), Asya our Mental Health Social Prescriber and Kristal our Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Caring for your Wellbeing

We have dedicated professionals that run clinics here at the surgery, offering a range of services to support your overall wellbeing. We encourage you to take advantage of their expertise and reach out if you feel they could assist you.

• Asya, our Mental Health Social Prescriber: Asya is here to support you with your mental health needs. She can help connect you with community resources, provide guidance on managing mental health challenges, and offer support tailored to your individual needs. Her role is to ensure you have access to the right support at the right time.
• Mikey from the YES Service: Mikey brings his expertise from the Youth Emotional Support (YES) to our surgery. He runs clinics focused on supporting young people aged 11-17 with their health and wellbeing, providing a safe space to discuss any concerns and access appropriate resources.
• Julie, our Health and Wellbeing Coach: Julie is passionate about helping you achieve your health and wellness goals. Whether you're looking to improve your diet, increase physical activity, or manage stress, Julie offers personalised coaching to guide you on your journey to better health.

Understanding the Menopause — and How We Can Help

For many women, navigating the menopause can feel confusing and overwhelming. There’s a lot of information out there, and not all of it is clear. We are lucky to have Dr Liz Leek, a BMS registered Menopause Specialist to help us navigate through this

First things first - Perimenopause vs Menopause: What’s the Difference?

• Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause. It can last from months to several years, usually starting in your 40s. This is when hormone levels can really fluctuate which is why symptoms can come and go.
• Menopause is actually the anniversary of your last period! It is defined as the point when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. The average age for this is around 51 in the UK.

Symptoms you may experience

Both stages can bring a variety of symptoms — physical, emotional, and mental — and no two women experience them in quite the same way.

Here is a list of the most common symptoms women experience as their cycles change:

• Hot flushes and night sweats
• Poor sleep
• Mood changes, particularly anxiety or irritability
• Brain fog and word finding difficulties
• Changes to skin and hair
• Marked and relatively sudden joint pains
• Vaginal dryness or discomfort

These occur due to the fluctuations in your hormones as the body transitions through this life stage. Some symptoms are due to the cycle by cycle change with peaks and troughs of our hormones and others are caused by the overall slow, gradual decline in the baseline levels. The good news is there is a lot YOU can do to help ease the symptoms, and a lot we can do too.

How We Can Help

At our practice, we offer personalised menopause care. This includes:

• A consultation about your symptoms, how they’re affecting your life, and what matters most to you
• Discussion of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) — tailored to your individual needs, preferences, and medical history
• Guidance on non-hormonal options if HRT isn’t right for you

A key point: a blood test isn’t always necessary. Your symptoms tell us a lot about what stage you’re in, so we often focus on your history and experience first.

What You can do - Lifestyle factors as a Foundation of Menopause Care

Hormone therapy is powerful, but it could be described as the ‘cherry on the cake.’ Lifestyle plays a crucial role in supporting your body through this transition and your health thereafter. There is a lot of evidence to show that lifestyle factors can play a large role in the severity of your symptoms.

Here’s a few suggestions on where to start:

• Exercise: Do something you enjoy! Ideally aim for a mix of strength training, cardio, and flexibility work — this supports bone health, metabolism, and mood.
• Diet: Eat plenty of colourful vegetables, good quality protein, and healthy fats. Cut down on ultra-processed foods and refined sugar.
• Alcohol: Keep it low — alcohol can worsen hot flushes, impact sleep, and affect mood.
• Stress: Practice stress-reducing habits daily — even a short walk, meditation, or journaling can make a difference

Small, consistent steps in these areas can significantly reduce symptoms and boost long-term wellbeing.

This transition is a significant part of a woman’s life and their wellbeing. It isn’t something you just have to “put up with.”

Support is available and we would be very happy to help.

Missed Appointments

From 1 January 2026 - 1 April 2026 we had a total of 214 missed appointments out of 16,467 appointments booked.

Breaking this down into clinical time

• GP Appointments- 21.95 Hours
• Nurse Appointments - 41.15 Hours
• Paramedic Appointment - 2.75 Hours
• Other Appointments -8.8 Hours

lease contact us if you know you are unable to keep your appointment by contacting reception or you can cancel it via the NHS App.

We send you a reminder of your appointment that also gives you a link should you need to cancel

Upcoming Clinics & Reminders

Keep an eye out for more information for the Spring Covid Vaccine.

The surgery will be closed 21 April from 12:30pm to 6pm for staff training.

Keep up to date with events by looking at our News and Events section on our website.

What is a Veteran?

A veteran is anyone who has served for at least one day in the Armed Forces, whether regular or reserve. It means the same as ‘ex service personnel’ or ‘ex forces’, although not all veterans know, choose or want to associate with the term ‘veteran’. This is particularly the case amongst younger veterans who often refer to themselves as ‘ex-forces’, due to the common belief that a veteran is someone who fought in the First / Second World War

Please let us know if you are a Veteran so we can add this to your medical record and offer you support.

Published: Apr 15, 2026