Health & Wellbeing
2025
TOTAL TRIAGE
A NEW APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR BOOKING A GP APPOINTMENT
On 1st October 2025, Davenport House Surgery will be moving to a new improved way of access for patients called TOTAL TRIAGE.
The surgery has not taken this step lightly and have done considerable research working with other local practices who are already using this mode of access successfully to ensure that the new system will work well for our patients. Total Triage has been designed to facilitate equity of access to care.
The full announcement can be downloaded by clicking here.
Further information on Total Triage can be found below (please ignore the advertising that may precede the YouTube video).
How total triage works - How Total Triage works with Accurx - YouTube
How patients can submit online consult - Patient Flash Demo: How to submit a medical request in Patient Triage | Accurx Desktop
Feeling frazzled?
Frazzled Cafe (a space for people who
might be feeling “frazzled” to talk and
share their stories, while meeting
others in a safe, supportive - and non
judgemental - environment) is
launching in Harpenden. It’s an
initiative started by Ruby Wax,
which began as a drop in at M&S
cafes in London. Now, thanks to
funding from the Harpenden Trust,
we have been able to set one up
with fully trained and qualified
facilitators in Harpenden.
The cafe sessions are on Mondays (from 7.30pm - 8.45pm at the Eric Morecambe Centre). It takes place in the Foyer area.
Christina and Sarah (above right) are the two facilitators.
The link to sign up is https://bookwhen.com/harpendentrustxfrazzledcafe
More drivers than ever are switching off for cleaner air. ARE YOU AN IDLER?
Shock NHS medicines wastage revealed.
Did you know that 25% of NHS carbon emissions are from medicines,,,and at least 10% of prescriptions in primary care need not have been issued.
These statistics along with more astonishing facts have been confirmed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society following my visit to Manor Pharmacy in Harpenden who have displayed the huge amounts of returned medicines/prescriptions returned in just one week.
How can local residents help?
*Not to stockpile medicines, only
order repeats when you need then
and dispose of medicines you
don’t need appropriately, at your
local pharmacy.
*If patients find they are not taking
a particular medicines as
prescribed or are struggling with
side effects, in the first instance
then ask community pharmacist
to provide help and advice. They
may be able to offer a medicines
review or arrange one with
the GP practice.
What can Pharmacies do?
*They need to make sure that patients are taking medicines they prescribe, so ensuring they keep up with regular medicine reviews and optimise patients’ treatment.
*They need to highlight medicines waste and look into ways of reusing patient-returned medicines and into environmentally friendly alternatives for single use plastics, such as medicines spoons and syringes, associated with medicines.
*Additionally pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in all sectors are responsible for medication reviews. These are an ideal opportunity to work with patients to reduce medicines waste by addressing concerns, improving compliance and de-prescribing medicines the patient no longer takes or are not appropriate.
How does wastage occur?
Evidence shows that the number of items dispensed by primary care providers has doubled in recent years, from an average of 10 per person in 1996 to around 20 per person by 2020.
A recent report estimated that at least 10% of prescriptions in primary care need not have been issued... Adverse effects of medicines account for 6.5% of hospital admissions.
Every hospital admission and unnecessary prescription adds to the carbon footprint of the NHS, so we must work hard to prevent patient harm from medicines and associated waste in the system. The most environmentally friendly medicine is the one that is not required and not prescribed.
Repeat prescriptions make up an estimated 75% of all prescription items. Repeat prescription arrangements must ensure that patients’ requirements for medicines are checked at every issue. Medicines' waste occurs when every item on a repeat prescription list is automatically ordered but not all are needed. Patients should be encouraged to only order what they need.
Sustainable prescribing
Around 25% of NHS carbon emissions are from medicines.The majority of these emissions result from the manufacture, procurement, transport and use of medicines (20%), with the remaining 5% specifically from inhalers (3%) and anaesthetic gases (2%).
Evidence shows that the number of items dispensed by primary care providers has doubled in recent years, from an average of 10 per person in 1996 to around 20 per person by 2020.
NB. The RPS sustainability policy has a whole section on tackling medicines waste https://www.rpharms.com/recognition/all-our-campaigns/policy-a-z/sustainability-policy/policies
Would you like a cleaner, greener, healthier Harpenden?
HOW? By increasing access to cycling and walking initiatives, Herts County & SADC will help to improve health and air quality, as well as reducing traffic congestion.”
They have produced a technical report identifying key cycling and walking routes in the District where the potential demand is greatest and where changes will most benefit residents. A number of improvements have been put forward and costed for 72 priority routes across the district.
A travel survey has shown there is a strong desire among residents for improved walking and cycling routes to support people who want to choose eco-friendly transport.
Councillor Phil Bibby, HCC’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We want cycling and walking to be an easy and convenient choice for people using and visiting our city centres. Receiving feedback on our proposed cycling and walking plan for St Albans is key to helping develop a framework that provides a greener and safer way to travel.
LEARN MORE NOW. I have edited their 73 page report down to 16 pages with Harpenden related details here:
Cycling and Walking Infrastructure 2023 PDF.pdf
Mental Health and Gambling
I attended the Harpenden Society meeting on Oct 17 where many issues about mental health were discussed by Dr Alison Cowan .
I found her talk very informative and helpful.
Having worked with my local MP on gambling harm for 5 years. As a freelance radio presenter, I have interviewed children and adults affected by gambling harm. They have been in all walks of life, homeless, a child of a parent with a gambling addiction, an x army soldier, a once prosperous business man / woman, plus many more. It has been heartbreaking to hear these stories. .
Gambling is an addiction, affected by the dopamine in the brain. .
The NHS now as set up more clinics to cope with the demand for help..
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/03/new-nhs-gambling-clinic-opens-amid-growing-demand/
Unlike Drinking, Smoking and Drugs, it is a silent addiction that many look at as shameful. .and suffer silently. .
Singer with Steve Hackett (Genesis) released this single on Gambling harm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L58wWz9d47E
Sylvia Fountain
A new way to attain fitness in 2025 here in Harpenden.
New technology is constantly improving all aspects of our lifestyle with benefits we thought almost impossible a few years ago. Personal fitness via traditional gym membership is no different.
Rather than spending hours exerting yourself and your cardio vascular system, leaving you hot and sweaty, why not spend just 20 minutes on a muscle strength building session that leaves you on the start of journey to improved fitness at fit20 in Harpenden.
Fit20 is an extremely established franchise, using a scientifically proven model. The largest study ever done within sports and exercise science, where the strength gains of nearly 15,000 fit20 members over seven years, were analysed by Dr James Steele, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Solent University in Southampton.
The results, published by the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, showed that fit20 members were making significant strength gains in the order of 30 to 50 percent in the first year of training, regardless of age, gender, and fitness level. That is from one 20 minute strength training session a week!
There are 5 high tech machines set up in Harpenden. fit20 offer personalised high-intensity strength training sessions designed to build muscle, increase energy levels, and improve overall health—all in just one 20-minute session per week. . You can see progress on the screen in front of you and reference back to results via an App.
AND they want people to come in their work clothes and not have to worry about changing! -AS you can see from my visit below using a couple of the machines.
A trainer will work with you to devise a personalised weekly programme and monitor your progress on each visit. I chatted with the owners ( Liam Lawless and Alicja Szypryt and found them very helpful and informative.
They are based in the Forresters , just off the High Street.
My report here is based on a recent short visit so you may want to check details further on their web site.
1a The Forresters, Harpenden AL5 2FB
Nov 13. New. 4 week education programme to support people to optimise their health.
Called: 'Nourish, Balance & Sustain: Optimise your health whilst using Weight Management Medication'.
Programme Overview:
Nourish, Balance & Sustain is a supportive, evidence-informed course designed to help participants:
Manage common medication side effects
Protect and strengthen their gut and digestive health
Learn how to nourish their body effectively
Build sustainable habits for long-term wellbeing
Programme Details:
Starts: Thursday 13th November (12.30–2pm or 7.30–9pm GMT)
⏰ Sign-up closes: 9am GMT, Monday 10th November
Delivered via Zoom
Includes:
4 live guided sessions with expert insights
Weekly resources, trackers, and recipe links (vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free & dairy-free options)
Bonus fitness classes and educational videos
This programme is ideal for anyone who wants to feel confident, informed, and supported while using weight management medication, with an holistic approach to digestion, energy, and long-term health.
To sign up: https://www.thefoodteacher.co.uk/shop/nourish-balance-sustain/
Step Inside the Great Gut – London Hosts UK’s First Microbiome and Gut Health Festival, Sept 22-27.
Official Opening by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on Tuesday 23rd September.
Harpenden Expert Curates Festival on the Hidden World of Gut Health
Harpenden’s very own Katharine Tate, The Food Teacher™, (see photo below) has taken centre stage as Programme Manager of the UK’s first-ever Microbiome and Gut Health Festival, happening this September in London.
The event, titled Inside Out: Your Microbiome and Gut Health Festival, will transform Paternoster Square (next to St Paul’s Cathedral) into a unique health hub from 22nd–27th September. At its heart will be a spectacular giant inflatable walk-through gut, (see image below) giving visitors of all ages the chance to explore the fascinating hidden world inside our bodies.
Katharine Tate, an award-winning nutritional therapist, health coach, author and founder of The Food Teacher™ in Harpenden, has brought together over 25 high-profile medics, scientists, chefs and nutritionists including Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD), founder of The Gut Health Doctor®. They will all share the latest science around the microbiome and our health, practical tips and food demos.
Speaking about her role, Katharine said: “It’s a privilege to curate this unique event and bring so many leading voices in gut health and nutrition together. From live cooking sessions to expert talks on everything from mood and stress to childhood development, there will be something for everyone. I’d love to see lots of local residents come to the festival and experience the giant inflatable for themselves.”
Katharine added, “This festival is a chance to make the importance of our digestive health accessible, engaging and inspiring for everyone – adults and children alike.”
The Inside Out Festival is free to attend, and no booking is required. Funding has been provided by The City of London Corporation.
For Harpenden residents, it’s a brilliant opportunity to combine a trip to London with an educational and eye-opening experience. For the full programme and further details visit; www.ghcprojects.com/insideout
From Chance Meeting to Community Health Movement – Harpenden Duo Launch The Metabolic Way
Sometimes the best ideas begin with a simple conversation. For Harpenden residents Katharine Tate and Rose Butler, it was a chat at the Harpenden Society AGM that sparked a shared vision and now, just months later, the two are launching a brand-new health programme right here in town.
On Tuesday 30th September 2025, their creation, The Metabolic Way will begin its first 12-week journey to help local people take control of their energy, weight, mood, sleep, and long-term health.
Both women bring deep expertise to the table. Katharine, known nationally as The Food Teacher™, is a Registered Nutritional Therapist, Health Coach, Author, and Educator. Rose is a Registered Dietitian specialising in Metabolic Health, with a background in Applied Biology. Together, they’ve designed a programme that combines the latest science with practical, everyday strategies anyone can follow.
Rose explains; “Your metabolic health is how well your body turns food into energy.” “When it’s working well, your blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol and blood pressure are all in a healthy range. You’ve got steady energy, a better mood, and your body burns fat when it needs to.”
Unfortunately, poor metabolic health is more common than many realise, and can be linked to issues such as tiredness, sugar cravings, stubborn weight gain, poor sleep, inflammation, and can increase risk of chronic diseases.
That’s where The Metabolic Way comes in. Over six expert-led sessions (1.5 hours each) spread across 12 weeks, participants will learn a food-first, low-carb approach that works with the body, not against it. The course includes group support, practical activities, resources, and ways to track progress so participants can see real results.
Katharine says the idea is to make good health achievable for everyone; “This isn’t about fad diets, which I hear about time and time again in my clinic or unrealistic targets. It's about giving people the tools, knowledge and confidence to make changes that will last. And we’ll be there every step of the way.”
The programme has also been endorsed by Dr Anna Benson, Medical Director at Visage Medical in St Albans who added; "We are in need of good scientific advice and guidance for improving our health and wellbeing in terms of nutrition and metabolism. So many struggle with hormones, thyroid, pancreas and other metabolic problems."
For both Katharine and Rose, it’s all about community and making a difference. “We love Harpenden,” Katharine smiles. “Launching here first means we get to support our own community before taking it further afield.”
The Metabolic Way starts Tuesday 30th September 2025 in Harpenden. There is also a waiting list for a January 2026 daytime and evening course. More details and sign-up information are available at www.themetabolicway.com
Local Nutritional Therapist Meets HRH The Princess Royal at UK’s First Microbiome & Gut Health Festival and Launches Free School Programme
The festival, held in London from 22nd–27th
September 2025, brought together leading
experts, practitioners, and the public to explore
the cutting-edge science of the gut
microbiome. Highlights included a 37-foot
immersive inflatable gut, expert talks and
chef demos, offering attendees an engaging,
hands-on experience of how microbes
affect health, food, and the environment.
Local registered Nutritional Therapist Katharine Tate, founder of The Food Teacher™ and creator of the National Young Chef Awards for Schools, had the honour of meeting HRH The Princess Royal at Inside Out, the UK’s first festival dedicated to microbiome and gut health. Katharine worked with Global Healthcare Projects (GHP) as Education Project Lead, playing an instrumental role in the festival’s success.
Katharine Tate (above in green) commented, “It was such an honour to meet HRH The Princess Royal at Inside Out. As Education Project Lead, I was incredibly proud the festival was such a success, and I’m thrilled that The Micro Matrix can now bring this learning into schools, inspiring children to make healthy, sustainable choices from an early age."
Jola Gore-Booth, Founder and Director of GHP, added, “The success of Inside Out shows the growing public interest in gut health. Katharine’s leadership as Education Project Lead was instrumental in providing a fantastic range of expert speakers. With The Micro Matrix, we’re ensuring that this knowledge reaches schools and families across the country, encouraging positive change at a crucial stage in children’s development."
In conjunction with the festival, Katharine Tate has worked with GHP to launch The Micro Matrix, a free, curriculum-mapped programme for primary schools (KS1–KS2).
The six-hour programme empowers children with interactive lessons, assemblies, teacher guides, and make-at-home recipes all designed to link classroom learning to our understanding of our gut microbiome. Resources are fully aligned with the National Curriculum and available free online at www.themicromatrix.com.
Local schools in Harpenden and beyond are encouraged to deliver the programme and take advantage of this free resource.
