Download Newsletter Winter 2012 - Lawley Medical Practice

LAWLEY MEDICAL PRACTICE
Telephone 01952 560011
Fax 01952 501502
www.lawleymedical.co.uk
Newsletter
Winter Edition
Welcome to Lawley Medical Practice’s Newsletter. These will be released quarterly to try
and provide patient’s of Lawley Medical Practice with information about changes,
anything new happening at the practice and any useful information.
Christmas and New Year Opening Times
Monday 24th December – Normal Opening Hours
Tuesday 25th – CLOSED
Wednesday 26th – CLOSED
Thursday 27th – Normal Opening Hours
Friday 28th – Normal Opening Hours
Monday 31st – Normal Opening Hours
Tuesday 1st January – CLOSED
Wednesday 2nd – Normal Opening Hours Resume
If you need urgent Healthcare when we are closed,
please contact Shropdoc on 08444 068888.
Flu Vaccines
If you are eligible for the flu vaccine and
have not yet had your vaccine this year,
please ask at reception about booking an
appointment.
Staff Update
We recently appointed a new GP, but
unfortunately this did now work out. This
has now left us with a shortfall of
appointments which we are trying to cover,
but at such short notice we are finding it
hard to cover all clinics. Please bear with
us as we work to resolve this situation.
Antibiotics and the common cold
Some people refer to a bad cold as flu; although a bad cold can make someone feel very ill, flu is a
different condition and different viruses cause flu and cold.
One or more of the following symptoms for a cold are present:
 Sneezing and Blocked nose (congestion)
 Runny nose (rhinorrhoea); beginning with watery fluid (mucus), then often changing to a
thicker yellowish discharge.
 Sore throat.
 Pain on swallowing.
 Mild fever or temperature.
 Tiredness.
 Headache
 Coughing
Antibiotics are not prescribed for the common cold because antibiotics do not work against viruses.
Exceptions to this may be if the cold leads on to sinusitis, ear infection, tonsillitis, or develops into a
chest infection.
To relieve the symptoms the following may help:
 Drinking plenty of fluids is important.
 It is important to avoid smoking as this irritates the nose and throat.
 It may be helpful to sleep with more pillows.
Other self help aids are decongestants, paracetamol or aspirin, vitamin c and or steam inhalations.
1
Keep Warm Keep Well
The following tips can help people to keep warm and well and stay out of hospital during periods of cold
weather:
 Ask your health or social care provider about staying healthy in winter and make sure you have
sufficient medication if winter weather is forecast


Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts and wear several light layers of warm
clothes (rather than one chunky layer)
Food is a vital source of energy, which helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you
have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day and keep active in the home if you can

Wrap up warm if you need to go outside on cold days

Keep your main living room at around 18-21°C (64-70°F), and the rest of the house at least 16°C
(61°F). Maintain your heating to the right temperature (between 18°C/65°F (bedroom) and
21°C/70°F(dayroom), so you can keep warm and keep your bills as low as possible. Use room
thermostats or other heating controls if you have them. Have a room thermometer so you can monitor
the temperature indoors. If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and
the bedroom just before you go to sleep

There are grants, benefits and sources of advice available to make your home more energy efficient,
improve your heating or help with bills. It’s worthwhile claiming all the benefits you are entitled to and to
access these before the winter sets in visit www.nhs.uk or www.gov.uk for more information

Watch out for icy conditions- icy pavements and roads can be very slippery. Take extra care if you go
out and wear boots or shoes with good grip on the soles. Make arrangements with friends and
neighbours about clearing ice and snow from in front of your house and public walkways nearby, if you
are unable to do this yourself. Find out more on how to safely clear icy roads at www.metoffice.gov.uk
Keep an eye on the weather- visit www.metoffice.gov.uk and be prepared


Look after yourself and check on older neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe, warm
and well
 Have your heating and cooking appliances checked. Carbon monoxide is a killer. Make
sure that flues and chimneys are swept and checked for blockages and ventilation points are not
blocked. If not connected to gas or electricity mains, and you use heating oil, LPG or wood
products as the main heating source, make sure that you have a sufficient supply to avoid running
out in winter. You should also fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm which is EN 50291-compliant,
but fitting an alarm should not replace regular maintenance of appliances.
Building Works for Care Home
There are currently ongoing works around the
practice for the new care home. If you have any
problems and would like us to pass these on to
the contractors then please speak to Reception,
as they are trying very hard to keep disruption to
a minimum.
Patient Questionnaires
We are currently circulating patient
questionnaires regarding appointment
awareness. If you would like to complete one
and have not yet, then please ask at reception.
The results will be out in the New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
From everybody at Lawley Medical Practice
2