Summer 2024 Newsletter

The PPG met on the 13^th June 2024 – you can see our latest news on our Patient Participation Forum page. Please contact our Practice manager Anne Cooper if you would like to be part of this group.

Cancer Awareness drop in session

We held a successful drop in session on the 6^th August, over 30 patients attended. The session focussed on the screening programmes available to patients in the local area.

We are offering individual telephone sessions with our IT lead, Victoria. If you need help with your online services please ring the surgery to book, every Wednesday 12 – 4pm.

Organised by our PCN at Hanwell Community Centre every second and fourth Tuesday of each month 10.00 – 12.00pm – please let Adina (our Social Prescriber) know if you  would like to attend 07943 191 305

Our GP Registrar, Dr Nur Gasmelsid completed her 6 months rotation with us and we now have Dr Nicole Joseph training with us through to the end of the year.

Usually, hair loss isn’t something you need to be concerned about. However, in some cases it can be a sign of something more serious. The usual and most likely causes of hair loss are illness, stress, weight loss and iron deficiency. Although this hair loss can be upsetting, it’s not permanent and can sometimes be treated. Some more serious cases can be caused by some cancers, but this is uncommon.
Treatments for hair loss can include steroid injections, steroid creams, light treatment, surgery and more. If you have unexplained hair loss and you’re concerned about your health, you should discuss this with your general practice team who will be able to offer you some guidance.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hair-loss/

Psoriasis is quite rare, but it can be difficult to deal with if you suffer from it. Signs of psoriasis can include red skin patches, dry skin, thick nails and stiffness. Psoriasis can be something you develop naturally or it can occur due to lifestyle choices, such as smoking or obesity. Psoriasis also increases your chance of developing diabetes, which is also difficult to manage and is usually a lifelong problem.

The causes of psoriasis are varied, but the condition itself entails the over-production of skin cells. This overproduction then leads to the visible patches on the skin. Often, psoriasis develops after a trigger, such as an injury or an infection. Often, Vitamin D cream is the first treatment offered to sufferers of psoriasis, so if you’re concerned about psoriasis whilst waiting for a GP appointment, you could try increasing your Vitamin D intake.

https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/

Erectile dysfunction is common in men over 40, and usually nothing to worry about. However, if you’re concerned, you can get in touch with your medical practice. Erectile dysfunction is described as being unable to get an erection, or having an erection that doesn’t last long enough to have sex.

Causes of erectile dysfunction can include tiredness, stress, hormone issues or diabetes and high cholesterol. Ways to improve or prevent erectile dysfunction can include losing weight if you’re overweight, eating healthily, increasing exercise and stopping smoking. You should seek medical advice if it’s a consistent issue, as it could be related to something else.

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesse…-reproductive/erectile-dysfunction-impotence/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/

As the summer holidays are approaching, and you may be spending more time with your children, it’s important to know how to deal with and prevent many situations that could occur.

Simple things like not giving your child hard sweets or nuts could prevent a potential serious choking episode. Sitting with your child whilst they’re eating can also help with the prevention of choking, as you’re there to aid if necessary.

Keeping plastic bags, nappy bags and other similar things away from your child can help to prevent the possibility of suffocation, and being mindful of where your child plays and sleeps can also prevent injuries.

https://www.rospa.com/policy/home-safety/advice/accidents-to-children

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/first-aid-and-safety/safety/baby-and-toddler-safety/

Now that it’s the middle of summer, BBQs are much more common and it’s important to know how to be safe around them. Some major things to keep in mind are to never leave a barbecue unattended, keep children and pets away from the barbecue, keep a bucket of water nearby, and ensure that the barbecue is completely cool before moving it.

Fire and burns aren’t the only risk when it comes to barbecues; carbon monoxide is also a dangerous side effect of having a barbecue. To avoid this, it’s important to never attempt to use a barbecue inside, and to stay out of direct range of the barbecue for long periods of time. For more information on how to stay safe whilst having fun, use the link below.

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/cooking/bbqs/

https://humbersidefire.gov.uk/your-safety/safety-in-the-home-advice/barbecue-safety

Mindfulness can help you to focus on what’s going on in the moment, allowing you to become more self-aware. Practising mindfulness can help to improve your day-to-day wellbeing, whilst working on yourself. There are many ways in which you can access guidance on mindfulness, one of those being the Mind website, which includes a detailed description and videos that can help you to get started.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/mindfulness/about-mindfulness/

Choosing to be an organ donor is an important decision, and could mean that you play a part in saving somebody’s life. Being an organ donor means that in the event that you have passed away, or are in end-of-life care, you can choose to donate your healthy organs to someone who needs them. Usually, the people who require organ donations are people who have been on waiting lists for a significant amount of time, or are potentially in a fatal condition.
The staff who are looking after you will always keep your health and wellbeing as their priority. Organ donation will only be considered if you are the end of life. It can be important to discuss and share your wishes with your friends and family. Everyone is automatically an organ donor; however, you can opt out of being a donor if you don’t want to be one. It’s important to think carefully about what you’d like to do, and to ensure you’re making the correct decision. To find out whether organ donation is right for you, you can use the link below.

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/helping-you-to-decide/about-organ-donation/get-the-facts/

Going back to work after being on holiday or having time off can be hard, but there are some things you can do to help yourself ease back into normality. Organising your things the night before work can be helpful, to remove the stress that can come with an early morning. If you receive a lot of emails, you could try sorting through them gradually, instead of all at once.

Make the most of longer evenings in the summer, so that your whole day isn’t taken up by work, and do something you enjoy. Make sure you have breaks and downtime, to relax and do what you like doing; this will help to break up your day and make your free time more enjoyable. Try to exercise or go for a walk; this can help to clear your mind and reduce brain fog.

https://www.brita.co.uk/news-stories/dispenser/beating-the-back-to-work-blues

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/sep/03/beat-back-to-work-blues

Making sure you’re using the correct sun cream for yourself and your children is important, as burns can cause long-lasting damage. If you’re an adult, you should use at least SPF 30, and younger children and babies should use SPF 50. The SPF is the sun protection factor, so this indicates how much the sun cream protects you from UV rays. Your sun cream should also be UVA 4-star rated. You should also double-check that your sun cream hasn’t expired, as that would prevent it from effectively protecting you from the sun.

Sun cream should be applied when first going out in the sun, every few hours if you’re dry, or every time you leave the water if you’re at the pool or the beach. You should also cover up with clothing and take regular breaks in the shade. It’s also important to remember that the sun does not determine whether you burn; the UV rating does. You should always check the UV rating before going outside, as you can still get burnt in cloudy weather. For more information on how to properly use sun cream, see the link below.

https://www.nivea.co.uk/advice/sun/how-to-apply-sunscreen

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/