Health

Well, it’s that time of the year again when many of us once again get involved in the often disappointing and usually downright futile ritual of making New Year resolutions to try and improve our lives. Christmas seems long gone, you have overindulged and so your thoughts turn to a new year, a new beginning […]

New Year! How exciting! New beginnings, new opportunities, new adventures, New You! Or should I say…’ True You’ or ‘Real You’ Just the sound of the two little words, ‘True You’; so empowering and thrilling; full of promise and optimism. New Year! New You! True You! Yes! Because you want to be ‘More You’. Express […]

Increase your use of fresh vegetables and fruit When making a sandwich, always add some lettuce, tomato, cucumber or other salad ingredients. If having an occasional takeaway, add a small side dish of your own cooked vegetables or a mixed salad. Fresh vegetable juices are a great way of boosting nutrient intake. Use a variety […]

Have you recently been diagnosed with dementia? Perhaps you are caring for someone with dementia? It can often be difficult to ask for support, and sometimes it feels that we burden our family and friends. Well, now there is someone else you can talk to. Dementia Oxfordshire offers advice and guidance on dementia to everyone, […]

The Foscote Private Hospital in Banbury has undergone a breathtaking transformation following its’ sale to Harley Street maxillofacial surgeon, Professor Kaveh Shakib. The hospital, which has been established in Banbury for over 40 years, was put up for sale in 2018 by the charitable trust that had been managing it, as it required major investment […]

New-born babies in Banbury are being kept cosy and warm, thanks to a donation of hand-knitted hats and blankets by residents at a local care home. Residents from the ‘Knit and Natter’ group at Care UK’s Highmarket House, on North Bar Place, got their pins and needles out to create a range of hats and […]

  A care home in Witney is helping to create a dementia-friendly community by hosting a series of free dementia awareness events over the coming months. On Thursday 15th August from 2pm-4pm, the team at Care UK’s Millers Grange on Curbridge Road, will open the doors to the community for one of its popular ‘Dementia […]

Invisalign has revolutionised orthodontic treatment, allowing teeth to be transformed discreetly and comfortably so you can have the smile you dream of. It uses a series of virtually invisible custom-made aligners to gradually straighten your teeth. Each aligner is worn for around two weeks, for between 20 and 22 hours a day, and they should […]

How we as a country fund support for the elderly is very much in the news at the moment. Political debate has included a hastily backtracked ‘death tax’ and currently includes considering funding a universal care entitlement with a potential privately funded ‘care supplement’, a new form of insurance to pay for improved service levels […]

This month marks the 80th birthday of the swimming pool. It is amazing to think that it opened just before the outbreak of WW II and has played a part in the lives of many people since then who have fond memories of it. The exact date of opening was 23 May 1939 after £7,900 […]

When we planned this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), we chose ‘body image’ as our theme, because of some earlier research we had done that showed many people seem to have uncomfortable feelings and thoughts about their bodies. Something like one third of women and one quarter of men in the UK said […]

Well it’s that time of the year again when many of us once again get involved in the often disappointing and usually downright futile ritual of making New Year resolutions to try and improve our lives. Christmas seems long gone, you have over indulged and so your thoughts turn to a new year, a new […]

Marie Curie is appealing for local volunteers to help host their hugely successful daffodil collections within Bicester. Last year, the Marie Curie Nursing Service Oxfordshire cared for over 260 patients during the night, providing expert care and support to people living with any terminal illness, and their loved ones, helping them make the most of […]

Looking after our joints is important so we have asked Mr Kordas, an Orthopaedic Consultant at Horton Treatment Centre to give us his top tips for staying healthy this Summer. Maintain a healthy weight Keeping your weight within the normal range is the best thing you can do for your joints. Weight-bearing joints, such as […]

A lot of teens and pre-teens are finding life a bit tough right now.  They have the pressure of exams, the pressure of friendship groups, social media and – let’s face it – parents too telling them how to look and behave.  School, friends and the exam system don’t always help alleviate stress either, often […]

Is your mind full or are you mindful? Mindfulness first came to the attention of many people when it began to be included in the recommendations that GPs made for patients suffering from stress, anxiety, or depression.  The NHS decided to offer patients mindfulness because the scientific tests showed that it was as effective as […]

Professor Xavier Griffin – Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Foscote Hospital, Banbury discusses hip pain and the medical help that is available. In my clinical practice, I treat many people who have developed wear and tear in their hip joints and also those who have injured them. A broken hip is the commonest fragility fracture […]

Prince Harry shocked the world by discussing his own counselling experience. He said he ignored the feelings of the loss of his mother for 20 years and was very close to a complete breakdown more than once before going to counselling. There can be a time in life when seeking help to talk about one’s […]

What are superfoods? Are they really super? There is a lot of press about superfoods, but what are they? Superfoods are essentially any food item that contains a large amount of vital nutrients. Whether that be vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols, good fats or other health properties that help to prevent or lower the risk of […]

Christmas is now a distant memory and the focus is now on our aspirations for the new year. For many people this aspiration is to lose weight. Last year over 60% of the UK population attempted to lose weight. With many people having several attempts throughout the year. When this happens repeatedly over several years […]

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is known to give uncomfortable sensations in your legs as well as an intense urge to move them. Unfortunately, it occurs most frequently at night, particularly when trying to sleep. It affects 1 in 12 people in the UK. But can diet help actually reduce RLS? It is widely recognised that […]

As many as two-thirds of people experience shoulder discomfort at some point over the course of their lives. The most mobile joint in your body, the shoulder is made up of bones held in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They’re all designed to work together to allow the shoulder to move freely in many […]

Is there a good kind of pain? Have you ever considered a deep tissue massage? Your Letterbox Charlotte Gunn certainly has, so she’s lifts the towel with a recent visit whilst a friend gets a treatment – exploring the ‘good kind of pain’! After arranging to visit David Lucas, based at his practice near Bicester […]

Opening in 1939, the Woodgreen Lido has been at the heart of Banbury, providing a summer attraction for thousands of swimmers and sunbathers each year. The pool had closed for renovation works back in 2002, but since significant investment from Cherwell District Council and the takeover from Parkwood in 2009, the pool is now looking […]

Did you know that 75% of the population are dehydrated? So what? Do you want dry skin or to age prematurely? Are you often tired or struggle with abdominal bloating? How do you know if you are feeling the effects of dehydration? Discover the importance of water and what it can do to help improve […]

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Mr James Owen, has run the Oxfordshire Knee Clinic at The Foscote Hospital in Banbury for the past 15 years. Following studies at Cambridge University and specialist training in the UK, USA and Australia he has gained extensive experience in treating all types of sports knee injuries and provides a comprehensive range […]