Health & Wellbeing
2026
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
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.
“My residents give me hope.” Care worker with stage 4 cancer describes the daily joy his job brings
A care worker from Harpenden has credited the residents he looks after with giving him hope as he navigates life with stage 4 cancer, the most advanced form of the disease.
AJ Villagracia was diagnosed with metatastic pheochromocytoma in 2024, an extremely rare cancer that affects the adrenal glands. As hospitality team leader at Harpenden Springs, which opened on Grove Road in March, AJ makes sure residents at the 75-bedroomed care home are entertained and able to enjoy the lifestyles they choose. They celebrated the Macmillan Coffee Morning together on Friday 25th September, enjoying cupcakes along with friends and family, and raising money for the cancer care charity.
While it is AJ’s job to make residents happy, the 31 year old says they give him just as much back.
“It’s important for me to give the residents here a great experience,” he said. “In return, they give me hope. We have cancer-survivors here, people limited by age or other health conditions and they remind me to make the best of every day. I might be living with cancer, but I feel very blessed.”
AJ moved to the UK from Seattle in the United States after marrying his partner, Toby. He started having abdominal pains in 2024, but initial scans and blood tests showed nothing of concern. When the pain wouldn’t go away, he was referred for a CT scan which revealed a 10cm tumour on his adrenal gland. He had surgery but just two months later, the cancer had returned. He underwent a second operation and was in remission for several months before being told the cancer has now spread to his bones and liver.
A programme of chemotherapy has seen significant improvements in AJ’s condition, so much so that he’s no longer suitable for a clinical trial to develop a new drug treatment. His manager at Harpenden Spring, Luciana Dobos, said despite his health issues, AJ is a ray of light around the home.
“He has such a bubbly personality and always comes into work with a smile on his face,” she said. “He approaches everything with a positive attitude and when he’s here, the residents are his priority, he wants to make their day as good as it can be. We give him time to attend appointments and get the support that he needs because he’s a hugely valuable member of our team.”
AJ lives in Harpenden and has found great support in the community. He regularly attends Harpenden Trust’s Cancer Ribbon Support group on a Wednesday afternoon, where he’s the youngest member by several decades.
“There are no words for how lucky I feel I am,” said AJ. “I have a great husband, the NHS, friends and a wonderful family. They live in America, but they still make the effort to visit me here in the UK whenever they can and call me almost every day. Their support has inspired me in my work, especially in the care home sector, where we strive to create a warm, family-like environment for our residents.
“I was an administration officer for a private hospital, but it was too much of a constant reminder of other people’s cancer journeys, and I wanted my role to have more meaning. Here, I’m excited to come in every day. There are rainbows and sparkles, not the grey and sad environment I thought elderly care would be.
“I am really blessed.”
