The Parish Magazine October 2025

32 The Parish Magazine —October 2025
HEALTH — 1
October health advice and action
By Anne Elgeti, SE Transition Plan Programme, deputy director, NHS England
October often feels like a month of transition as it offers fleeting moments of sunshine and
warmth amid the vibrant tapestry of autumn leaves, just before colder days and longer nights
settle in.
For many, this seasonal shift is a
welcome embrace of cosy jumpers
and hot drinks. Yet, the shorter days
and fading sunlight can also bring
challenges — particularly around
mood and wellbeing.
As daylight hours dwindle, feelings
of loneliness and seasonal depression
may become more common.
And with the sun’s strength
reduced, our natural intake of
Vitamin D can drop significantly,
putting everyone at greater risk of
deficiency.
This month let us be mindful of
the changes — both beautiful and
subtle — and take steps to support
our health and each other as we move
toward winter.
WINTER VITAMIN D
As daylight hours decrease and the
sun’s intensity fades, our natural
production of Vitamin D can take a
hit.
This essential nutrient plays a
key role in bone health, immune
function, and mood regulation.
Since the sun is not strong enough
in the colder months to produce
adequate Vitamin D, you should
consider the following to help
maintain healthy levels:
— Get outside when you can: Even
brief exposure to sunlight around
midday can help.
— Consider a supplement: public
health guidelines in the UK
recommend Vitamin D supplements
during autumn and winter, especially
if you spend most of your time
indoors.
— Eat Vitamin D-rich food: oily fish
such as salmon and mackerel, eggs,
fortified cereals and mushrooms.
This is especially important if you:
— Spend most of your time indoors
— Wear clothing that covers most of
your skin
— Have darker skin tones which
naturally produce less Vitamin D
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
is often referred to as 'winter
depression' because it tends to
become more noticeable and intense
during the colder, darker months.
While it is commonly associated
with winter, it is important to note
that some individuals experience
symptoms during the summer and
feel better in winter.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of SAD include:
— Persistent low mood
— Loss of pleasure or interest in
normal everyday activities
— Irritability
— Feelings of despair, guilt, or
worthlessness
— Lethargy (lack of energy) and
feeling sleepy in the day
— Sleeping for longer than usual
and finding it hard to get up in
the morning
— Craving carbohydrates and
gaining weight
The exact cause of SAD is not fully
understood, but it is often linked to
reduced exposure to sunlight during
the shorter autumn and winter days.
The main theory is that a lack of
sunlight might stop the part of the
brain known as the hypothalamus
from working properly, affecting the
three essential functions
— Production of melatonin (a
naturally produced hormone
which makes you feel sleepy)
— production of serotonin (a
hormone affecting mood,
appetite,
and sleep)
— disrupting the body’s internal
clock, the circadian rhythm. Your
body uses sunlight to time
various essential functions, such
as when you wake up, so lower
light levels during the winter
may disrupt your body clock.
TREATMENTS
There are a range of treatments
available for SAD some of which you
can try yourself before seeing your
GP, if you feel this is appropriate.
Lifestyle measures: getting as much
sunlight as possible, exercising
regularly and managing your stress
levels.
Light therapy: you can buy special
lights (light box) which simulate
exposure to sunlight. These are
available in some high street stores
and on-line. If you have a medical
certificate which states you have
SAD, you do not have to pay VAT.
The retailer’s customer service team
will be able to tell you how to claim
reimbursement. Check before buying.
Talking Therapies: You can selfrefer
to talking therapies for
counselling or therapy.
You should consider seeing your GP
if you think you have SAD and are
struggling to cope. The GP can check
your mental health and wellbeing
and may prescribe an antidepressant
medication such as selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
NHS VITAMIN D GUIDANCE
The Department of Health and Social
Care recommend:
Babies (0-1 year) should receive
8.5-10 micrograms daily if breast
fed, or if formula fed and consuming
less than 500 ml of infant formula
per day.
Children (1-4 years) should be given
10 micrograms daily throughout the
year
Adults (including pregnant and
breast feeding women) should
consider taking a daily supplement
containing 10 micrograms (400IU)
of Vitam in D3 (cholecalciferol),
which is the preferred form of
supplementation.
Further information from:
https://www.nhs.uk/
vitaminandminerals/vitamin-d
Blood transfusions
and Hepatitis C:
What you need to
know and do!
If you received a blood transfusion
before 1996, there is a small chance
you may have been given blood
infected with Hepatitis C, a virus
that can seriously affect your liver
over time
HEPATITIS C
Hepatitis C often has no symptoms
for years, but left untreated, it can
lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, or
even liver cancer.
The good news is, that modern
treatments are highly effective, easy
to take, and usually come with no
side effects.
CONTACT YOUR GP
First contact your GP surgery to
check whether you have ever been
tested for Hepatitis C.
Order a free, confidential home test
at hepctest.nhs.uk
If diagnosed, treatment is available
through the NHS and can often cure
the infection completely.
SAVES LIVES
Early detection saves lives, so please
share this message with anyone who
may have had a transfusion before
1996 — especially older relatives or
friends who might not be aware of
the availability of the tests.
OTHER VACCINES FOR
PREGNANT WOMEN
If you are pregnant, your midwife
of GP should offer the following
vaccines to help protect you and tour
baby when it is born.
Flu vaccines will be offered during
the flu season;
Whooping Cough vaccine around 20
weeks of pregnancy;
RSV vaccine from about 28 weeks of
pregnancy.
Measles warning
We are currently seeing a
concerning rise in measles cases
across England. In 2024 , there were
2,911 laboratory confirmed cases,
and outbreaks continue into 2025.
One measles outbreak in Liverpool
led to 17 people being admitted to
hospital, and there was the tragic
death of a child during the summer.
Measles is one of the most infectious
diseases in the world. It spreads
easily from person to person through
coughs and sneezes, and can cause
serious complications, including:
— ear infections
— seizures (fits)
— diarrhoea and dehydration
— in rare cases, meningitis and
encephalitis (inflammation of the
brain), which can result in long term
disability or death.
Please check that your family's MMR
(Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
vaccinations are up to date.
The NHS recommends the first dose
around 12 months, and the second
dose at 3 years and 4 months
If you are unsure of your, or your
child's vaccination status, contact
your GP.
Catchup vaccinations are available
and free of charge.
You can find the full vaccination
schedule at:
https://nhs.uk/vaccinations
Vaccination is the most effective way
to protect children, and the wider
community, from measles and its
complications,
Anne Elgeti works for NHS England SE Region. She has
over 20 years’ experience leading service transformation and
improvement in the NHS and is currently Deputy Director for the
Regional Transformation Programme.
Andrey Popov, dreamstime.com
The Parish Magazine —October 2025 33
WILL WRITING
Flynt, dreamstime.com
Have you been putting off writing
or updating your Will? Next month
— November — the charity Will
Aid’s ‘Make a Will Month’ will offer
you the opportunity to put your
affairs in order, secure your loved
one’s future and give to charities
helping those in need.
Participating solicitors are inviting
people to contact them now to book
appointments for November, when
they will prepare basic Wills without
charging their normal fee.
All that they will ask in return
is that clients consider making a
voluntary donation to Will Aid. The
suggested donation is just £120 for
a single Will, or £200 for a pair of
mirror Wills.
The money raised will be shared by
nine UK charities:
— ActionAid
— Age UK
— British Red Cross
— Christian Aid
— Crisis
—NSPCC
—SCIAF (Scotland)
— Trocaire (Northern Ireland).
As many as half of all adults in the
UK don’t have a Will. They have not
made any legally valid provision for
what they would like to happen after
their death. This can lead to a great
deal of stress and uncertainty, as well
as financial hardship, for those left
behind.
Even if you have a Will, it is
important to keep it up to date.
Experts recommend routinely
reviewing a Will every three to five
years, and making a new Will as soon
as significant family changes occur.
More at https://www.willaid.org.
uk/register. Please book early
as solicitors tend to fill their
appointments very quickly.