Sources of community support
There are a number other sources of community support. Below are a few of the more commonly used resources. There are however, many more available.
Well person clinics
Well person clinics are often run by your local health centre. They are not a replacement for seeing your GP of you feel unwell.
The range of tests and health checks may vary between clinics, but any of the following may be assessed:
- your lifestyle, including diet, exercise, alcohol and smoking
- medical history
- weight and height
- blood pressure
- cholesterol
- a urine test for diabetes or kidney infection
- hearing and vision
- lung function
- an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check for heart problems
- a chest X-ray, if you are a heavy smoker
Here for Health
The Here for Health Centre is here for you to drop in, for information and advice on healthy living and how to reduce your risk of ill health.
The Here for Health Centre is a Health Improvement Advice Centre for patients, staff and visitors.
The public are welcome to drop in for a 'mini health MOT', information and advice on healthy living and wellbeing, and how to reduce your risk of ill health.
They offer a range of support methods, to help people change their behaviour to:
- manage their weight
- give up smoking
- reduce their drinking
- become more active
- eat a healthier diet.
The team can offer you a consultation tailored to your individual needs, to make it as easy as possible to adopt small, sustainable and realistic lifestyle changes to improve your health and wellbeing.
They have a wide range of resources to help you access a variety of community services, and have referral pathways set up to make it as easy as possible to get involved.
This includes free weight management support, physical activity incentives and free smoking cessation support.
Healthwise Coordinators
Healthwise is a 12-week physical activity programme that introduces individuals to the benefits of physical activity to help reduce risk factors for chronic disease and manage existing medical conditions.
The programme is designed to encourage people of all abilities to become and remain more physically active, help increase fitness levels and improve health and wellbeing. Healthwise provides a welcoming, safe, affordable and accessible service to those who may not have entered a leisure centre before.
If you ask your GP about this you may find there is a centre in your community to which you can be referred.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a technique you can learn which involves making a special effort to notice what is happening in the present moment (in your mind, body and surroundings). You do not have to be spiritual to try it.
It aims to help you:
- become more self-aware
- feel calmer and less stressed
- feel more able to choose how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
- cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts
- be kinder towards yourself.
Mindfulness can be practiced by children, young people and adults.
There are different ways to practice mindfulness. Group courses run to practice mindfulness in person and there are online courses too where you can learn through self-directed practice at home. You can use books or CDS to practice Mindfulness and it is now frequently used in schools to encourage children to cope with complications and stressors of life. It is a really important skill.
Oxfordshire Mind run courses too please look at their website to find out more.
Survivorship/ Thrivorship
The good news is that you are now twice as likely to survive for at least 10 years after a cancer diagnosis than you were 40 years ago.
However, people who have treatment for cancer often are left with ongoing needs and side effects. Even when they have finished treatment you may find you are struggling to cope with every day life. UCARE does not believe that support should end when treatment ends and there are some simple interventions that can enhance your life significantly post treatment.
Look out for our Survivorship events that we run for those people that have had cancer. We also encourage you to bring your carers/ partners or a good friend with you.
Alternative therapies
Acupuncture, Massage and Aromatherapy are all alternative therapies.
All of these therapies are really important and can complement your treatment. Please discuss whether they will interfere with your specific type of treatment.