Nobody Needs to Feel Alone This Christmas
For some, Christmas isn’t all family photos, gifts and fun times. It can be a difficult time whether it be family problems, money issues or simply feeling alone, but there are people her to help and listen this Christmas.
If you are struggling, no matter what you are going through, you don’t have to go through it alone. The Samaritans are at the end of the phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – call for FREE on 116 123.
Have you got Enough Medication to Cover the Christmas and New Year Period?
During the Christmas and New Year period, the practice will be closed on the following dates:
- Tuesday, 25 December 2018
- Wednesday, 26 December 2018
- Tuesday, 1 January 2018
If you take any prescription medications, please make sure that you have enough or make sure you order a repeat prescription early enough to cover you for this period – please allow at least 48 hours (working days only) before collecting your repeat prescription.
What’s in Your first Aid Kit?
It is also a good idea to check your first aid kit is well stocked for Winter to help you self care for minor illnesses and injuries. There are a number of things you can have in your first aid kit for any such eventualities:
- Thermometer
- Painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen (or infant paracetamol for children)
- Cough medicine
- Cold and flu relief drinks or capsules
- Throat lozenges
- Diarrhoea relief
- Antiseptic cream
- Antihistamine tablets
- Plasters
- Tweezers
- Sterile gauze dressings
- Bandages
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
Your local Pharmacy is a great place to stock up on all the above items and you can find your nearest one and view their opening hours at NHS Choices.
Please remember to make sure your first aid kit is kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
Christmas and New Year Practice Opening Times 2018/19
Please find below a timetable of dates that your GP Practice is open/closed over the Christmas and New Year holiday period for 2018/19.
| Monday, 24 December 2018 | OPEN |
| Tuesday, 25 December 2018 | CLOSED |
| Wednesday, 26 December 2018 | CLOSED |
| Thursday, 27 December 2018 | OPEN |
| Friday, 28 December 2018 | OPEN |
| Monday, 31 December 2018 | OPEN |
| Tuesday, 1 January 2019 | CLOSED |
| Wednesday, 2 January 2019 | OPEN |
If during the times we are closed, you require medical advice or treatment you can:
Visit your pharmacy
Your local pharmacy can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints. A list of Pharmacies and their opening times can be downloaded here or you can visit NHS Choices.
Call NHS 111
If you need urgent medical advice and your condition is not life threatening, call NHS 111 for advice. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
A&E or 999
For a genuine medical emergency including; loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, persistent and or/severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Is Your First Aid Kit Ready for Winter?
Now is the perfect time to check your first aid kit is well stocked for Winter to help you and your family self care for minor illnesses and injuries. There are a number of things you can have in your first aid kit for any such eventualities:
- Thermometer
- Painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen (or infant paracetamol for children)
- Cough medicine
- Cold and flu relief drinks or capsules
- Throat lozenges
- Diarrhoea relief
- Antiseptic cream
- Antihistamine tablets
- Plasters
- Tweezers
- Sterile gauze dressings
- Bandages
- Alcohol-free cleansing wipes
Your local Pharmacy is a great place to stock up on all the above items and you can find your nearest one and view their opening hours at NHS Choices.
Please remember to make sure your first aid kit is kept in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
Antibiotics are not always the answer
Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them can make you become resistant to the, which means that antibiotics may not work when you really need them.
If you or a family member feel unwell, have a cold or flu and you haven’t been prescribed antibiotics, there are some effective self-care ways to help you feel better:
- Ask your Pharmacist to recommend medicines to help with symptoms or pain
- Get plenty of rest
- Make sure you or your child drink enough to avoid feeling thirsty
- Fever is a sign the body is fighting the infection and usually gets better by itself in most cases
- You can use paracetamol if you or your child are uncomfortable as a result of a fever
- Make sure you use a tissue for your nose and wash your hands frequently to avoid spreading your infection to family and friends
How long should my symptoms last for?
Here are a few guidelines to help you judge how long some common illnesses and symptoms should last for: Common illnesses Most people are better by Earache (middle ear infection) 8 days Sore throat 7–8 days Sinusitis (adults only) 14–21 days Cold 14 days Cough or bronchitis 21 days.
| Common Illnesses | Most people are better by |
| Earache (Middle ear infection) | 8 days |
| Sore throat | 7 – 8 days |
| Sinusitis (adults only) | 14 – 21 days |
| Cold | 14 days |
| Cough or bronchitis | 21 days |
If you’re not starting to feel better by these guide times, contact your GP or call NHS 111.
For more information, and what signs you need to look out for which may be symptoms of a more serious conditions, download Public Health Englands Antibiotics Leaflet
Help Us Help You to Stay Well this Winter
Winter conditions can be seriously bad for our health, especially for people aged 65 or older, and people with long-term conditions such as COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, diabetes or heart or kidney disease. Being cold can raise the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
It’s important to keep warm in winter
Keeping warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems.
- Heat your home to at least 18°C (65°F)
- Keep active when your indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour
- Wear several layers of light clothes, several layers trap warm air better than one bulky layer
- Close your curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to keep out any draughts
- Get your heating system checked regularly by a qualified professional
You may be able to claim financial and practical help with heating your home. Grants available include Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment.
Feeling unwell? Don’t wait – get advice from your nearest pharmacist
At the first sign of a winter illness, even if it’s just a cough or cold, get advice from your pharmacist, before it gets more serious. Act quickly. The sooner you get advice from a pharmacist the better. Pharmacists are fully qualified to advise you on the best course of action. This can be the best and quickest way to help you recover and get back to normal. If you can’t get to a pharmacist yourself, ask someone to go for you or call your local pharmacy.
Have you had the flu jab?
The flu virus strikes in winter and it can be far more serious than you think. Flu can lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and it can be deadly. That’s why the flu jab is free if you’re aged 65 or over, or if you have a long-term health condition. If you have young children or grandchildren they may also be eligible for a free flu vaccination. And if you are the main carer of an older or disabled person you may also be eligible for the free flu jab. Just speak to your GP receptionist or pharmacist.
All About Flu and How to Stop Getting It Leaflet
Help Us Help You Leaflet
Know your numbers
Do you know your risks of high blood pressure numbers?
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. The only way to know you have it is to have a blood pressure check.
The facts
- High blood pressure contributes to half of all heart attacks in the UK
- High blood pressure is the biggest cause of chronic kidney disease
- Those with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop heart disease
- High blood pressure causes 60% of preventable strokes in the UK
- High blood pressure increases the risk of vascular dementia
You can get your blood pressure checked at a number of places.
- Some pharmacies
- Your GP Practice (some practices even have a device in reception available to use)
- Some workplaces
- At home – you can now buy blood pressure monitors to use at home
If you are worried about your blood pressure, book your appointment at your practice.
You can find out more information about ‘Know Your Number’ week at their website.
Organ Donation Week
This week is organ donation week and this years campaign is aimed at encouraging people to share their organ donation decision with their families.
Many people don’t realise that family support is needed for organ donations to go ahead. Have you ever talked about organ donation with your family? If not, chat to them about it during organ donation week! It makes a difficult situation easier when families have already had a conversation about organ donation.
You can also register to become an organ donor at the organ donation website.
Migraine Awareness Week
This week is Migraine Awareness Week and aims to raise awareness of the condition and highlight the impact it has to people living with it.
A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Many people have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraine is a common health condition affecting around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood.
Simple painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be effective for migraine. However, be careful not to take too many painkillers as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.
You should make an appointment to see your GP if you have frequent migraines (on more than five days a month), even if they can be controlled with medication, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.
Practice closed for August Bank Holiday
Our Practice will be closed for the Summer Bank Holiday on Monday 27 August 2018. We will
re-open as normal on Tuesday 28 August 2018.
If during this time you require medical advice or treatment you can:
Visit your pharmacy
Your local pharmacy can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints. Opening times for local Pharmacies can be downloaded or you can visit NHS Choices.
Call NHS 111
If you need urgent medical advice but your condition is not life threatening, NHS 111 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
A&E or 999
For a genuine medical emergency including; loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, persistent and or/severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
