We are pleased to announce that Arsenal’s next round of Shape Up weight management courses are now open for enrolment and begin in April. Arsenal are also running one further round of their Women’s Shape Up project.

You can self refer by contacting communityhealth@arsenal.co.uk. Alternatively, you can submit an online consultation and request a referral to the programme.

We encourage patients to watch Arsenal’s video to understand what the programme is: https://vimeo.com/856389052?share=copy 

World Cancer Day is observed globally every year on February 4th, bringing people together in the fight against cancer.

It’s an ideal occasion to raise awareness about cancer and share how we can all take steps to reduce the risk.

One important action we can take is to respond to NHS cancer screening invitations.

In England, there are three types of cancer screenings for adults that save thousands of lives each year: breast cancer screening, bowel cancer screening, and cervical screening.

To find out more about World Cancer Day, please visit the dedicated website.

National HIV Testing Week is an annual initiative by HIV Prevention England that highlights the importance of regular HIV testing. The campaign aims to reduce the number of undiagnosed HIV cases and those diagnosed late.

The UK government’s target is to eliminate HIV transmissions and HIV-related stigma by 2030. How can we make this happen?

Free HIV testing is simple and quick – just a finger-prick. Regular testing is essential because HIV can go undetected for years without symptoms. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Early detection allows individuals to begin treatment, stay healthy, and prevent transmission to others.

You can visit the Sexual Health London website to order a free home testing kit.

You can also speak to our staff in your local sexual health service, or your GP. 

Who should get tested?

• It’s recommended for everyone who is sexually active to get tested for HIV and other STIs at least once a year, even if there’s no obvious risk. If someone has multiple sexual partners, they should consider testing more frequently.
• Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) should get tested regularly for HIV and STIs, at least once a year, or every three months if having unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
• Black African men and women should have routine HIV and STI screenings if engaging in unprotected sex with new or casual partners.
• Trans men and trans women who have sex with men should test for HIV and other STIs regularly, either annually or every three months if having unprotected sex with new or casual partners.

How to protect yourself from HIV:

• The most effective ways to protect against HIV are using condoms and taking PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP is a highly effective medication for those at risk of HIV, and when taken as directed, it helps prevent HIV transmission. For more information, click [here](opens link).
• PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a treatment that can prevent HIV if taken within 72 hours after potential exposure to the virus. It’s available through sexual health services.

For registered patients at the practice, our local sexual health clinic is:

Archway Sexual Health Clinic

681-689 Holloway Road

Archway

London

N19 5SE

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is a national campaign led by Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity. It focuses on encouraging UK medical schools to introduce comprehensive eating disorder training.

Eating disorders can develop for many complex reasons. They occur when a person has a negative relationship with food and their body, which seriously affects their life.

These disorders may involve overeating or undereating, with a strong preoccupation with weight and body image, causing significant distress.

Eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality, or background. The good news is that treatment is available, and it’s important to reach out for support and advice from Beat or a GP (you can submit an e-consultation).

Recovery is possible, though it’s a journey that looks different for everyone.

If you think you might lose your home, don't wait - reach out to the Housing Aid Team today. The sooner you contact us, the better chance we have to help you and prevent you from becoming homeless.

Great Mental Health Day is an annual event in the UK, typically observed on the last Friday of January. In 2025, for example, this would fall on Friday, January 31st. The day is part of the larger "Great Mental Health" campaign, which aims to raise awareness about mental health and promote positive mental well-being for everyone.

The goal of Great Mental Health Day is to encourage people to take action to improve their mental health, whether through self-care, connecting with others, or seeking support when needed. The day highlights the importance of mental health and encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to focus on mental well-being and engage in activities that promote it.

This day is especially important in light of the winter months, which can sometimes lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other mental health challenges. Activities and events on this day often include raising awareness about mental health resources, promoting positive conversations about mental health, and supporting individuals who may be struggling.

For more information, you can visit Thrive LDN.

Cervical cancer claims the lives of 700 women annually in the UK, but this doesn’t have to be the case.

Cervical screening can detect the viruses that cause cervical cancer, and the NHS screening programme in England saves 5,000 lives each year.

The HPV vaccine also plays a crucial role in the fight against cervical cancer, offering significant protection against these harmful viruses.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, led by the charity Jo’s Trust and running until 28 January, aims to raise awareness of cervical screening and the HPV vaccine.

Anyone eligible for cervical screening is strongly encouraged to attend their potentially life-saving appointment.

The screening involves taking a small sample of cells from the cervix to check for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) that could lead to cervical cancer if untreated. People aged 25 to 64 who are eligible are invited every three to five years, or more frequently if HPV or abnormal cells are found.

Currently, a third of those invited for screening do not attend. If you’ve received an invitation but haven’t yet booked an appointment, contact your GP now.

For more information on cervical screening, visit the NHS website.

To learn more about Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, visit the Cancer Research UK website.

STIQ Day has been launched to get people thinking about their sexual health and encourage more people to get regular sexual health checks.  No one likes to think they’ve caught a sexually transmitted infection (STI) but without a test you just can’t be sure.

This year STIQ Day takes place on 14th January, a date chosen because many common STIs such as Chlamydia can take two weeks to be detectable. If your festive season included unprotected sex then you should be thinking about getting tested now. Also with just one month to go before Valentine’s Day anyone hoping to enjoy the celebrations to the full should do so knowing that they are infection free and will not be putting someone else’s sexual health in danger.

More and more people in the UK are catching STIs and each year the infection rate is rising. Regardless of how old you are, if you’re gay or straight, if you’ve had one partner or 100 – just one unprotected sexual encounter could have put you at risk of catching an STI.

Even if you feel perfectly healthy you could still be carrying something. Often getting routinely tested is the only way that people can detect an infection – and the earlier they are tested and treated, the less chance there is of long-term damage being caused.

Getting a sexual health check is easy and shouldn’t be embarrassing or shameful; sex is a normal part of adult life so sexual health checks should be to. It’s a quick, simple process that not only puts your mind at rest but could protect your fertility or even save your life – or that of your partner

So use STIQ Day to get smart about your sexual health

Do you want to get checked? You can do this at your local GUM clinic. The nearest GUM clinic to Partnership Primary Care Centre is:

Archway Sexual Health Clinic

681-689 Holloway Rd

Archway,

London

N19 5SE

Telephone: 020 3317 5252

You can book your child an appointment for their flu vaccination at one of our community clinics. Please see the flyer for more information.

As the new year begins, many of us set out on a path of self-improvement and personal growth. One increasingly popular resolution is ‘Dry January’: a pledge to go alcohol-free for the entire month.

In England, one in five adults (roughly ten million people) regularly consume alcohol at levels that significantly raise their risk of harm, exceeding 14 units per week (around six pints of standard beer or lager, or a bottle and a half of wine). For many, January presents an ideal opportunity for a fresh start.

A month without alcohol brings many clear benefits, such as increased energy, better focus, and an uplifted mood, as well as potential savings. But the advantages extend beyond that. Research shows that taking a month off alcohol can lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, decrease diabetes risk, and even reduce cancer-related proteins in the blood.

By utilising resources like Alcohol Change UK’s free Try Dry app or subscribing to coaching emails, participants are twice as likely to stay alcohol-free throughout January compared to those who try to go it alone.

For more information on how to join, visit the Alcohol Change UK website.

You can find more tips and advice to help you cut down on alcohol on the NHS website.

Shape Up is a 12-week programme to support patients who are overweight or obese to improve their nutrition, increase their physical activity, and reach a healthier weight through food education and enjoyable exercise. 

Shape Up participants will have access to weekly evening sessions of 90 minutes that include body composition monitoring, nutrition education and lifestyle behaviour change, and physical activity and reduction of sedentary behaviour.

Additionally, participants will have access to a remote support network and 12 months of support and monitoring after the 12-week intervention.

Click here to download the self-referral card