Aldborough Surgery Newsletter

Transcription

1 Aldborough Surgery Newsletter Autumn / Winter 2017 Patient Health and Wellbeing NHS Health Checks Don t miss life s precious moments! Are you aged 40 74? If so you could be eligible for a free NHS Health Check. We can advise you on how to prevent Heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes and Kidney disease all within a 20minute appointment with one of our Health Care Assistant s. If you would like to book an appointment just contact Reception who can arrange one for you! Long Term Health Conditions If you have been diagnosed with a long-term health condition, you are called in once a year to meet with one of our Nurses to have an Annual Review. This applies to you if you have: Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Problems, Lung Problems, Mental Health concerns or High Blood Pressure. Although we try to keep on top of arranging appointments for our patients, we would like to kindly ask that anybody who has one of the listed conditions to please note when you are due your review, and call the Surgery roughly 1 month beforehand to book your appointment. If you are unsure when you are due your review, please ask Reception who can let you know! Norfolk Healthy Child Programme Do you have a child aged 3 ½ years old? As part of Norfolk County Council s commitment to the development of children, we are now offering a School Readiness Health Check to children aged 3 ½ registered at our practice. The aim of the check is to help us identify, with you, if your child needs any additional support to help prepare them for starting school.

2 We can advise you where to get help for your child with communication, socialising, physical exercise, nutrition, dental health and continence. We will work with your Health Visitor (with your consent) to try and give your child the best possible start to beginning school. The new School Readiness Health Check will be part of the Pre-School Immunisation appointment and will take approximately an additional ten minutes to complete. To book your child s appointment speak to Reception who will happy to book you in! Winter Flu Clinic 2017 We are holding a number of flu clinics throughout the Autumn and Winter seasons on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. If you d like to check if you are eligible or book an appointment please contact Reception. People who should have a flu jab The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. This is to ensure they are protected against catching flu and developing serious complications. You are eligible to receive a free flu jab if you: are 65 years of age or over are pregnant have certain medical conditions are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility receive a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill. This excludes carers employed by outside agencies. Flu vaccine for children The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for: children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition children aged two and three on 31 August 2017 that is, born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2015 children in reception class and school years one, two, three and four Children aged between six months and two years of age who are eligible for the flu vaccine should have the flu jab. Children eligible for the flu vaccine aged between 2 and 17 will usually have the flu vaccine nasal spray.

3 Shingles Vaccinations Aged 70 years? You are eligible plus anyone in their 70s who was born after 1 September 1942 and has not yet had the vaccine. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, contact Reception who can let you know! Teaching Students Aldborough Surgery is a Training Practice for 4 th year Medical Students from the University of East Anglia and we are currently trying to recruit patients to volunteer to come and speak with our Medical Students on one of the following Four Modules (this is not a group participation with other patients): 1) Women s Health, Obstetrics & Gynaecology (for example if you currently have or have had in the past: Benign Breast Lumps, Breast Cancer, Mastectomy, Vaginal Prolapse, Ectopic Pregnancy, Menopause, HRT, IVF, Endometriosis, Caesarean Section, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Miscarriage, Bladder Problems, Currently Pregnant, Hysterectomy, Infertility, OR any other medical condition related to Women s Health not listed). 2) Babies / Children s Health & General Development (age range is from new born to 16 years of age this covers the general development of a child / and or any medical condition they may currently suffer or have suffered from in the past.) 3) Mental Health (for example if you currently have or have had in the past: Anxiety, Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Panic Attacks, Bipolar, Eating Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Phobias, Post-Natal Depression, OR any other condition related to Mental Health not listed). 4) Out of Module This Module covers any other medical condition which does not fit any of the above three Modules (for example a condition under the following specialities OR one that is not listed: Orthopaedic, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Cardiology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Renal Medicine, Urology, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Respiratory Medicine, Stroke Medicine etc). If you feel you could give an hour of your time to come along to speak to Medical Students please ask at Reception for Debbie, Our Practice Administrator, for more information.

4 You could win yourself 25 worth of Shopping Vouchers by way of a Thank You from the Surgery for taking part, if your name is drawn from the list of participants at the end of each Module. Feedback from patients who have come to speak to Medical Students in the past have been very positive and many patients come back year-on-year to speak with the new intake of 4 th Year Medical Students. We sincerely hope you could be one of them. What is Self Care Week? Self Care Week is an annual national awareness week that focuses on establishing support for self care across communities, families and generations. Empowering individuals to self care has many benefits for their short term and long term health and this is important since people are living longer. Helping people to look after their own health, and their family s health also helps to manage demand on health services. To help you on your way with self care this Autumn/Winter, NHS England have compiled some useful guides which we have included below. Fed up of having a runny nose? Sick of sneezing? Tired of having a sore throat? Here is a helpful guide on how long you can expect your symptoms to last, what you can do to get better and the warning signs to look out for which mean you may need to seek professional help. Treat yourself better this winter Did you know? Antibiotics are not an effective treatment for winter symptoms such as a cough, cold, sore throat, flu or nasal congestion. These symptoms are caused by viruses and antibiotics only work against bacteria. If you take antibiotics unnecessarily then they may not work when you need them to treat a bacterial infection. Why not save yourself a trip to your GP and pop into your local pharmacy first for expert advice? Over the counter medicines are available to help relieve your symptoms. Speak to your pharmacist who can help you

5 choose the medicine that will work best for you, advise you on whether you need to see a doctor and provide guidance on self-care and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I ve got a COUGH, when will I feel better? You can expect symptoms to last for up to 3 weeks What can I do to treat myself better? Try not to cough: You may be able to cough less often by trying not to cough. Our desire to cough can sometimes be influenced by our brain Home remedies: Try simple home remedies, such as honey and lemon just add freshly squeezed juice from one lemon and a teaspoon of honey to a mug of hot water. Drink at least 6 to 9 glasses of water in a day and suck lozenges. Stop smoking: Smoking is one of the most common reasons for a chronic cough. Stopping smoking, or at least smoking less not only improves your cough, but also benefits your health in other ways (reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and lung cancer, for example). I ve got a COLD, when will I feel better? You can expect symptoms to last for around 1½ weeks What can I do to treat myself better? Rest: Get some rest until you feel better we usually know when we re well enough to return to normal activities Diet: Eat healthily, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day Fluids: Drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost from sweating and a runny nose I ve got a SORE THROAT, when will I feel better? You can expect symptoms to last for around 1 week What can I do to treat myself better? Home remedies: You can relieve symptoms by eating cool, soft food, as well as sucking lozenges, ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets. Gargling with warm, salty water may also help reduce swelling and pain Smoking: Avoid smoking and smoky environments as much as you can Fluids: Drink at least 6 to 9 glasses of fluid (preferably water) every day particularly if you also have a fever I ve got NASAL CONGESTION, when will I feel better? You can expect symptoms to last for around 2½ weeks What can I do to treat myself better? Rest: Get some rest until you feel better

6 Face pack: Applying a warm face pack may help Saline solution: Wash out the nose with a steady stream of saline solution (available from your pharmacy) Fluids: Drink plenty of fluids to replace those lost from sweating and a runny nose Food: Eat healthily, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day What do I need to look out for? Most symptoms of a cough, cold, sore throat or nasal congestion will normally get better between 4 days and 3 weeks and won t be a sign of something more serious. You can treat yourself better during this time without needing to see your GP, and remember antibiotics will not work for these symptoms. If however, you notice any of the signs below, speak to your pharmacist or call your doctor s surgery. Some more top tips for keeping well this Winter: 1 Keep warm Heat your home to at least 18 C (65 F). You may prefer your main living room to be slightly warmer. Keep your bedroom window closed on a winter s night. Breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections. 2 Get financial support There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills. 3 Look after yourself Contact your GP to get your free flu jab if you are aged 65 or over, live in a residential or nursing home, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person. NHS Choices provides information about flu. Visit to learn more. Don t delay in getting treatment for minor winter ailments like colds or sore throats. Visit your local pharmacist for advice before it gets worse so you can recover more quickly. Layer your clothing whether you are indoors or outside. Wrap a scarf around your mouth to protect your lungs from the cold air. Wear shoes with a good grip if you go outside.

7 When you re indoors try not to sit still for more than an hour or so. Get up, stretch your legs and make yourself a warm drink. Have your heating and cooking appliances checked by a gas safe registered engineer to make sure they are operating safely. Contact your water and power suppliers for older and disabled people. For more winter wellness tips visit NHS Choices. Blue Disabled Parking Badge Applications Of late we have been asked on a number of occasions how to go about applying for a Blue Disabled Parking Badge, so to help you along your way we have included a guide which has been passed to us from NCC. How to apply: By telephone An experienced Customer Service Agent will assist you over the phone to complete an application form. Online Paper form these can be requested via our Customer Service Centre on or alternatively downloaded from our website above. Please Note: Norfolk County Council Blue Badge Unit are responsible for assessing and making decisions on all applications for Blue Badge Disabled Parking Badges. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEEK MEDICAL EVIDENCE FROM YOUR GP. The Blue Badge Unit MAY contact your doctor if further information regarding your disability (which affects your mobility) is required. You will be notified if this happens. A fast-track process is in place to provide a compassionate and efficient service for people who are terminally ill. Aldborough Surgery Dispensary Please may we remind you that the Dispensary requires at least two working days for prescriptions to be dispensed once your order is placed. Although we will try to dispense sooner this is not always possible. If you are approaching the last week of your supply of medication, please take the opportunity to place your order then so that you don t run out.

8 This will also allow us more time to fit in a medication or other review should one be needed. Orders for medication can be made by telephone to the Dispensary on Monday and Wednesday between 9:00am and 10:30am, and every weekday between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Please telephone: to make your request. If you are unable to call during the designated hours you can the dispensary any other time on: aldborough.dispensary1@nhs.net. Unfortunately at present there is no answerphone/messaging service for Dispensary. Please note: During peak times the Dispensary phone can be engaged so please be patient and refrain from calling Reception and blocking their phone line, as they will not be able to transfer your call to the Dispensary. Recycle your inhalers! If you suffer with Asthma or have any other medical need for inhalers, once they are empty bring them back to us! In the front entrance of the Dispensary there is a box that your used inhalers can be dropped in to when you next pop by to collect your medication. General Reminders Appointment bookings Please note that a standard GP appointment is for 10 minutes only. If you have more than one concern you need to raise, please inform Reception when booking so we can book the appointment duration accordingly. This prevents delays to other patients appointments, and allows us to provide a more efficient service. Appointments when booked are for one person only and cannot be shared with other family members. If they/you have individual concerns, please schedule a separate session with a GP, unless otherwise discussed. Surgery Waiting Room We have recently received feedback about the shorter supply of magazines in the waiting room and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, but due to hygiene reasons we cannot always keep a large quantity as they have to be regularly rotated and recycled. If you are anticipating a wait at the Surgery whether it is for your appointment or the Open Surgery, please feel free to bring along your own reading material that you can peruse at your leisure. Alternatively we have a wide range of information in our Surgery folders from advice on your health and wellbeing, to various programmes and clubs available in the local area to suit all interests!