Practice Newsletter
20 September, 2006
** Changes **
Staff: We were sad to farewell our nurse Jane Grant whose husband transferred to the West Coast. However we are delighted to have Karen join the practice staff. A number of you will have already met her. She has been working in the UK for the last two years and brings a wealth of experience to the practice. With Bernice and Alison she completes the nursing team.
We also welcome Sharyn Cameron to the front desk, to share the administration and reception load that seems to continually increase with government changes. Being a keen sailor she has quickly picked up the ropes. Along with Lorraine and Jan, she is steadily getting to know you when you call in to reception.
Unfortunately our podiatrist Mathew Franken left to go to Australia. We have not been able to replace him, but are still looking.
Immunisations: The nurses would like to run an immunisation clinic one half day a week. We are going to trial this and would like feedback on how you feel it works. We do prefer that all immunisations are done in the morning because children tolerate it better. This also ensures that if problems arise you will be able to be reviewed in the afternoon.
Travel Vaccinations: These are now available from the surgery. Karen is available to provide advice and vaccinations. Please book an appointment with her for this. Prices are available on request.
Nurse appointments: The nurses are now able to see you for various problems without the need to see a doctor. This can include uncomplicated bladder infections and contraceptive advice. If you think the nurse may be able to help check with the receptionist when asking for an appointment.
Phone Advice: Should you want results or phone advice that are not urgent please contact the nurses between midday and 2pm as they do not have booked appointments at that time and it is easier for them to take the call directly.
** Meningococcal Vaccination Programme **
This is nearing completion but there are still a number of children that have not completed their full schedule. If you are unsure contact the surgery to get advice. We will try to send a reminder to all families that have not yet finished the course.
** Summer is coming **
People of all ages should protect their skin, but it is even more vital to protect children. Although skin cancer is rare in children, the amount of sun exposure during childhood is thought to increase the risk of developing skin cancer in adult life. Therefore, take extra care with children, and keep babies out of the direct sun.
How can I protect skin from the sun?
Avoid the sun as much as possible when the sun is strong
Stay indoors in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are at the strongest. Trees, umbrellas, canopies, etc, provide good shade.
Cover up
Cover up the body as much as possible when you are out in the sunshine.
- Wear wide brimmed hats with a brim that goes all around the hat to protect the face and neck. These are the areas most commonly affected by sun damage. Baseball caps are not so good as they shade the face but not the neck, lower face or ears. Young children should wear hats with neck protectors too.
- Wear loose baggy T-shirts (or even better - long sleeve tops) and baggy shorts. The material should be tightly woven to block sunlight.
- Wear wrap around sunglasses (your eyes can get sun damage too). Make sure the sunglasses are ones which protect against UV light.
You should apply sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Be sure to cover areas which are sometimes missed such as the lips, ears, around eyes, neck, scalp if hair is thinning, hands, and feet. You should not think of sunscreen as an alternative to avoiding the sun or covering up. It is used in addition. No sunscreen is 100% effective and so it provides less protection than clothes or shade. Ideally you should:
- Apply 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun (it takes a short time to work).
- Re-apply frequently, at least every two hours, and always after swimming or toweling (even those that say they are waterproof).
- Reapply to children even more often.
- Use a 'broad spectrum' sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB.
Why is physical activity good for health?
If you do some physical activity regularly you are less likely to develop diseases such as: heart disease, stroke, bowel cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and obesity. In addition, many people feel better in themselves. Regular physical activity is also thought to help ease stress, anxiety, and mild depression.
What sort of activity and how much?
Anything that makes your heart rate increase, gets you warm, mildly out of breath, and mildly sweaty will do. For example: brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, dancing, etc. You can even use normal activities. For example, fairly heavy housework or gardening can make you out of breath and sweaty. Consider a brisk walk to work, or to the shops, instead of using a car or bus. The activity does not have to be intense. (However, some evidence suggests that for preventing heart disease the more vigorous the activity, the better.)
The minimum to gain health benefits is probably 30 minutes in a day, at least five days per week. However, you do not have to do it all at once. For example, cycling each way to work for 15 minutes each way adds up to 30 minutes. Try to increase the amount to 40-60 minutes on most days if you can, especially if you are obese and aiming to lose weight.
Some other points about physical activity
- It is never too late to start doing some physical activity for health, no matter how old or unfit you are. If you have a concern about a medical condition, come in and see us. However, there are few reasons why physical activity would be harmful. A common wrong belief is that physical activity may be "bad for the heart". On the contrary, physical activity is good for most people with heart disease. If you are unfit, it is best to gradually build up your level of activity.
- Try and keep physical activity high on your list of priorities. If one kind of activity becomes boring, try switching to other types to maintain the health benefits.
- Some people set their goals too high. For example, aiming for a marathon run. This may take too much time and you may lose enthusiasm.