Health Information
Seasonal Flu and Pneumo Clinics
These vaccinations are recommended for all those aged 65 years and over AND people who are considered to be At Risk, i.e. those with chronic respiratory and heart disease, diabetes, serious kidney or liver disease, on repeat steroid medication or lowered immunity due to disease or treatment.
Please note that you only need one Pneumo vaccination in your lifetime, but flu is given annually.
The vaccines will be available from 29th September. Please call to make a 5 minute appointment in one of our flu clinics during our regular working day.
Extended times are being offered this year to help those who find surgery times difficult.
These are:
• Wednesday 30th September until 7:30pm
• Saturday 3rd October 9am to 1pm
• Thursday 8th and Friday 9th October starting at 8am.
The District Nurses will continue to visit patients who are not able to attend the surgery for an appointment. We are not able to give a vaccine to those patients who do not fall into the At Risk groups during the campaign.
Swine Flu
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include:
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Lack of appetite
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Pain in muscles and joints
• Headache and chills
• Some people with swine flu will also report vomiting and diarrhoea
Can I catch it?
The virus is contagious and can spread between people, although it is not known how easily. It can be caught:
- From person to person by coughing or sneezing
- From touching an object such as a door handle which has virus on it from someone infected with flu
What can I do to protect against infection?
- General hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
- Use a tissue whenever possible
- Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
- Maintain good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people
- Clean hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
- Stay at home if you think you may have the swine flu virus
- Make sure adults and children follow this advice
Much of the spread that we have seen so far has happened in schools.
We know that children are especially vulnerable to infections and can receive greater exposure than adults due to a number of factors, including their mixing patterns at school and lack of understanding about good infection control and the importance of respiratory and hand hygiene.
If you think you may have swine flu?
You should first check your symptoms on www.nhs.uk, look at the information on www.hpa.org.uk or call the Swine Flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.
If you are still concerned please do NOT go to your GP surgery.
Contact the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1513 100 or www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu. The operator or on screen instructions will advise you.
If you fall into one of the high risk groups ring your GP, who can provide a diagnosis over the phone. It is also important to make sure you follow basic hygiene precautions.
If your GP thinks you have swine flu an authorisation voucher for antiviral medication will given. You will need a flu friend (family or friend) to collect the voucher from the surgery and travel to the collection point to collect your antivirals. We may also make arrangements for a nose and throat swab to be taken.
When is antiviral medication given?
Antiviral medication does not cure the infection but reduces the development of the virus, lessens the symptoms and helps the body recover. It should be taken as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours of the infection starting. People who have the virus will be offered antiviral medication.
Antiviral medication will not be given to the contacts of swine flu.
However, treatment will be given to those belonging to a high risk group where there is close prolonged contact with the ill person. The contact will be treated if at particularly high risk of complications from influenza. This decision will be taken by the GP with the assistance of another appropriate experts where necessary.
The high risks groups are those with:
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- Patients who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years
- Pregnant women Children under 5 yrs old
- People aged 65 years and over
General Health Information
Your GP surgery is the best place to obtain information. The GP or nurse may have leaflets or may be able to print off information about your illness – please ask.
Library - There is a small library of books in the surgery waiting room which can be borrowed as in a normal library.
NHS direct is a useful source of information about a multitude of illnesses http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
NHS Choices has information about healthy living, illnesses and hospital choice
http://www.nhs.uk
Patient.co.uk is an independent source of patient information
http://www.patient.co.uk
Various information leaflets used in the surgery are available to download as pdf files. Go to Information Downloads.
Links
Mental health related
For information on mental health services and advice leaflets go to the mental health page
Pregnancy related
For advice on planning a pregnancy go to preconception advice.
If you think you might be pregnant and want to know what to do next go to the pregnancy page.
Sex related
Sexually transmitted disease or genital infections including local clinics.
Teenage related
Teenage advice including sexual health.
Violence - domestic
For advice at any age - domestic violence.