Combs Ford Surgery Patient Information Screen January 2014

Welcome to the Surgery!

Winter Health Please read carefully the following slides regarding your health this winter – help us to help you….

Winter Months During the winter months it may not always be necessary to see a GP During the winter months it may not always be necessary to see a GP Please give as much information to the receptionist as possible so we can book you the most appropriate appointment Please give as much information to the receptionist as possible so we can book you the most appropriate appointment Self help leaflets are available in reception Self help leaflets are available in reception

Self help leaflets Leaflets are available to help you manage a variety of minor problems such as Coughs and colds Coughs and colds Indigestion Indigestion Constipation Constipation Athlete's foot & fungal nail infections Athlete's foot & fungal nail infections Vaginal Thrush Vaginal Thrush Head lice and threadworms Head lice and threadworms

Choose well Get the best out of your NHS this winter. Always choose the best care for you and your family when you need the NHS. Be treated in the right place at the right time.

10 Top Tips to prevent falls and fractures Be positive, enjoy life, keep active physically and socially Take regular exercise Ask for a medication review Get outdoors as often as possible – Vitamin D comes from sunshine Enjoy your food and eat a healthy diet Drink more water Take alcohol in moderation and give up smoking Use footwear that fits – not sloppy slippers! Have your eyes tested yearly Make your home safe

Have you got cold symptoms? Did you know that on average cold symptoms, i.e. cough and nasal discharge symptoms may last 2 weeks OR MORE? Did you know that on average cold symptoms, i.e. cough and nasal discharge symptoms may last 2 weeks OR MORE? Ear ache – 4 days Ear ache – 4 days Sore throat – 1 week Sore throat – 1 week Cold – 1.5 weeks Cold – 1.5 weeks Runny nose / mucus – 2.5 weeks Runny nose / mucus – 2.5 weeks Cough – 3 weeks Cough – 3 weeks

How To Help Relieve Cold Symptoms Take regular paracetamol Take regular paracetamol Take hot water drinks with lemon and honey Take hot water drinks with lemon and honey Steam inhalation may help Steam inhalation may help Consider Echinacea Consider Echinacea and Vitamin C

Antibiotics Unfortunately, antibiotics will not help to get rid of your cold! Unfortunately, antibiotics will not help to get rid of your cold! “Get Well Soon” Without Antibiotics

SEASONAL FLU CLINICS Its not too late to have a flu vaccination Don’t delay Book an appointment with the Nurse today

MINOR ILLNESS CLINICS Rachel Clarke, Nurse Practitioner will continue to run regular Clinics on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. In the New Year, Rachel will be supported by Practice Nurse Michelle who has recently trained to deal with minor illnesses and will run a clinic on Wednesday and Thursday. Appointments can be booked via reception or using the automated telephone system

Minor Illness Clinic for Coughs, sore throats, ear infections Coughs, sore throats, ear infections Urinary infections Urinary infections Children’s illnesses Children’s illnesses Sexual health problems Sexual health problems Contraception Contraception Minor injuries Minor injuries Malaria tablets Malaria tablets

Keep a well stocked medicine cabinet Paracetamol Paracetamol Paracetamol mixture for children Paracetamol mixture for children Oral hydration sachets Oral hydration sachets Antihistamine Antihistamine Cream or spray for insect bites Cream or spray for insect bites Antacid Antacid Plasters Plasters Thermometer Thermometer

Blood Pressure Check During January we have made a blood pressure machine available in the waiting area for patients to use themselves. Please follow the instructions Or ask for help from the receptionist

Blood Pressure checks Please make a note of the reading and hand in to reception or take to your appointment today We would welcome your feedback Was it helpful to be able to take your blood pressure today?

The Airway Code If you suffer from COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease- a disease which affects the lungs and airways – pick up the “airway code” leaflet The guide is easy to understand and will hopefully give you the confidence to take action at an early stage to try to prevent you from having to go to hospital.

Patient Survey During January we are asking patients to complete a short survey This will help us to improve our service to you, the patient Your feedback is important

Patient Survey We would be very grateful if you would take 5 minutes to complete and either give to reception or post in the box in the waiting room, thank you. The survey is also available online via our website

Updating Patient Records In addition to the survey we would also be grateful if patients waiting could update their records by completing the form available by the reception window. This will help us contact you in an emergency and to keep all our records clinically up to date. Thank you

Practice Training The Practice will be closed on the following afternoons for staff training Thursday 16 th January Wednesday 12 th February

The Doctors, Nurses, Management, Dispensers and Administration staff would like to thank our patients for the gifts so kindly given over the festive period. We wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year

Contact Us We welcome constructive feedback! Combs Ford Surgery Combs Lane STOWMARKET IP14 2SY Tel – (not to be used for prescription orders) – d83079.nhs.uk d83079.nhs.uk Please do not for clinical matters.