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Caversham Practice Newsletter - January 2025
Welcome to one of our new GP Partners and our new Deputy Practice Manager
Dear Caversham Patient,
We have a few new appointments in the team and over the next couple of months we will be introducing them all to you. This edition we are focussing on one of our new partners Dr Frances Blackmore and our new Deputy Practice Manager, Dawn Williams-Powell.
Hello, my name is Frances Blakmore and it’s been my privilege to be a GP at the Caversham Practice for the last 12 years.
It’s wonderful to work with such a dedicated and caring team so I am delighted to extend my role and become a partner. I trained and worked in Bristol before moving to London to do my GP training and now am happy to call north London home!
At the Caversham I have a focus on contraception and training, and I am the safeguarding lead. I enjoy the wide variety of interactions I have at work and developing relationships with patients and colleagues.
I keep myself busy outside work looking after my family and love being active and outdoors.
Hello, my name is Dawn Williams-Powell, and my whole NHS career has been in Primary Care, until 2018 when I moved into Practice Management.
As Deputy Practice Manager, I oversee the day to day running of the practice alongside the Practice Manager Fay Saunders, looking after our staff and ensuring we provide a seamless service to our patients.
I look forward to joining what I feel is a great team at 'The Cav' and getting to know my colleagues and patients better in the coming months and years. I am keen to use my skills and experience to help deliver a first-class primary care service for our patients.
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking for family and friends at dinner parties. I also work in my local community where I volunteer at a Care Home, also supporting foodbanks and feeding the homeless.
Flu and Winter Virus
Please protect yourself with a flu vaccine which is free to all patients 65 and over. If you’re over 65 and would like to book a vaccine please call us on 020 7428 5700 to request an appointment as soon as you can.
Hospitals and the wider health care system are at extremely high capacity due to people suffering with flu and other winter viruses in London and all the A&E departments near us are very busy. If you think you or your child have flu, you can contact our triage team at the practice between 8am and 10:30am or 2pm and 4pm, or visit 111 online or call 111 before presenting in A&E.
What's going on @ The Cav?
We all benefit from taking time to do something we enjoy like gardening, walking, connecting with others. There are lots of opportunities locally and here @The Cav to get involved in all sorts of activities that could benefit your health and wellbeing.
River of Hope Festival
The River of Hope festival running until March offers lots of different ways to connect to your local area. Have a look at the calander of events here.
Social Bike Ride
The Cav in collaboration with Kentish Town Pedals host a social bike ride, the first Saturday of every month. The group meets at 10am outside The Peckwater Centre & they have a couple of bikes you can borrow if you need one. If you would like a quick chat about the ride before joining, learn more or sign up here
Walking Group
Maybe you enjoy a walk, did you know that the Cav has a walking group? They meet every Wednesday at Parliament Hill Café and welcome new walkers.
Other Activities
March will be busy as we will be piloting mind/body exercise classes for people with neurodiverent conditions that month and launching a cooking programme Circle of Soup. The cooking will happen in collaborative group sessions using fresh ingrediants to produce flavourful, good value, nutritious meals.
Patient Involvement
We rely on you our patients getting involved in the life of the practice. We are always looking for enthusiastic gardening volunteers to help us maintain our Listening Space garden or join our Patient Participation Group (PPG). The PPG were successfully nominated for a London Medical Committee (LMC) award and will attend the award ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in February.
Get Involved
If you would like to get involved in any of the activities mentioned above then please contact us and one of our Social Prescribers, Jo or Jackie will get in touch.
Steps you can take to manage your own health & wellbeing in 2025
Weight management
Maintaining a healthy weight is really important, but in a world where we are surrounded by food, it’s not always easy to lose or keep off those extra pounds or kilos. If you need support with weight loss there are two free programmes available, that you can self-refer to:
Arsenal "Shape Up" programme
A free 12 week programme run for both men and women focuses on eating and exercise advice in a group setting.
Camden Get Active
Every Tuesday the surgery hosts Camden Get Active Specialist, Nicki Krajnovic who will work with you to set your own personal plan of action to fit physical activity into your daily life. If you are interested in being referred to the programme please contact us.
Blood pressure
One in three adults have high blood pressure in the UK, but many don’t realise it because it doesn’t have any symptoms. All adults should check their blood pressure annually. We have two blood pressure monitors in our waiting room for patients to use. Give the reception team the machine printout and they will ensure your record is updated with the result. Think of a blood pressure check as part of an MOT for your body.
Published: Feb 21, 2025
Providing NHS Services
The Caversham Group Practice
4 Peckwater Street
London
NW5 2UP
Telephone: 020 7428 5700