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Weymouth Bay Medical Practice
FacebookWinter Newsletter 2026
Autumn: Time to Think About Vitamin D
As autumn arrives and sunlight becomes weaker, our bodies can no longer make enough vitamin D from the sun. That's why taking a daily vitamin D supplement from October to March is a simple and effective way to support your health.
Vitamin D helps keep bones, teeth, muscles and the immune system healthy. During winter, vitamin D levels naturally drop, which can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness and an increased risk of falls if levels become too low.
Some people are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency, including those who spend little time outdoors, people with darker skin tones, adults over 65, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people living with obesity, and those who have had multiple fractures. These groups may benefit from taking vitamin D all year round.
Food sources of vitamin D include
- Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, trout, herring and tuna.
- Egg yolks, meat, liver and milk
- Fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals, margarines, yogurts and infant formula milk
Taking vitamin D during the colder months is a simple step that can help maintain your health throughout winter.
Diary dates
- Thursday 10th December: Closed from 3pm for Staff Training
- Friday 25th December: Closed Christmas Day
- Monday 28th December: Closed Substitute Boxing Day
- Friday 1st January: Closed New Years Day
SystmConnect - Easy Access to Your GP Practice
We have changed from eConsult to SystmConnect which is a secure online service that lets patients contact their GP practice, submit requests, and access help from any device. What can you do with SystmConnect?
- Complete online consultation forms and send them directly to your GP practice.
- Request appointments for yourself or on behalf of someone else.
- Access the service from our Practice Website
- Share documents, photos, fit notes, and questionnaires securely.
- Access self-help information, symptom checkers, pharmacy advice, and self-referral services.
- Track requests and communicate with your practice easily online.
Because SystmConnect is linked directly to your NHS medical record, information is stored securely and helps practices respond more efficiently, often reducing the need for face-to-face appointments. Simple, secure, and convenient healthcare access anytime, anywhere.
New Telephone System
We are pleased to announce that our new telephone system is now live.
The new system provides our team with real-time information on call volumes and queue lengths, enabling our Patient Services Team to monitor demand and respond quickly during busy periods.
A new callback feature is also available. Rather than waiting on the phone, you can choose to keep your place in the queue and receive a callback when you reach the front of the line.
We hope this improvement will make it easier for patients to access our services while enhancing the experience for both patients and colleagues.
Self-Care Week 2026: Looking After Your Mind and Body
16 to 22 November 2026
National Self-Care Week encourages everyone to take simple steps to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing. This year's theme, 'Mind & Body', highlights the strong connection between mental and physical health. Why self-care matters Self-care helps you stay healthy, manage existing conditions, reduce stress, boost energy levels and know when to seek professional support. Simple ways to practise self-care:
- Eat well with a balanced, nutritious diet.
- Stay active through regular exercise you enjoy.
- Prioritise sleep with a consistent routine.
- Support your mental wellbeing by taking breaks and making time to relax.
- Stay connected with friends, family and supportive communities.
- Keep on top of your health by attending screenings, keeping vaccinations up to date and seeking advice when needed.
Small, everyday actions can make a big difference to your long-term health and wellbeing
Find out more: Visit the Self-Care Forum for advice, resources and information about Self-Care Week.
Patient participation group
Are you interested in finding out how your GP practice works and about the health services it delivers?
Why not join our patient participation group (PPG)?
The PPG meet every three months, and information of interest is shared via email to its members.
If you would like to be part of the PPG, or would like further information, please ask at reception.
Have you had your Flu Vaccination?
Flu season is here once again, and we were pleased to have held three large vaccination clinics throughout October, at Wey Valley school delivering an impressive 6,856 vaccinations.
We would like to say a huge thank you to all our colleagues who supported the clinics, and a special thanks to our Patient Participation Group volunteers, whose help in managing traffic flow in the car park was invaluable. Your support helped ensure the clinics ran smoothly and efficiently for everyone attending.
Flu is a common winter illness that can be serious, especially for older adults, pregnant women, young children, and people with certain health conditions.
Many people worry that the flu jab gave them flu, but this is not possible because the vaccine does not contain a live flu virus. It takes around 1-2 weeks for the vaccine to provide protection, so some people may catch flu before it has had time to work.
The flu virus changes every year, which is why a new vaccine is developed each season. Having the flu jab annually gives you the best protection against the strains most likely to circulate that winter.
While the vaccine is not 100% effective, it can reduce your risk of severe illness, hospital admission, and complications from flu.
If you are invited for your flu vaccination, remember it helps protect both you and those around you.
If you have received a flu invitation and not yet received your vaccine, please contact the surgery to book your appointment.
Published: Oct 29, 2026