Stone Cross, Pevensey Bay and Westham Surgery Newsletter (www.stonecrosssurgery.co.uk) Volume 5 Issue 3 Autumn November 2015

Editors Comments Gillie Andrews, Practice manager Flu season

Dear Patients The Government recommends As ever, the practice has been that you have a seasonal flu jab busy over recent months. Ever every year. changing legislation and health campaigns constantly keeps us We would like to welcome Flu is not only unpleasant; it Dr Ilan Rajap who joined the on our toes. can also develop into Unfortunately, summer appears surgery in October as a new pneumonia, which can be part time GP for the surgery. to be over and we are rapidly serious. heading into the cooler (colder!) He has been very well received and will be working with us on weather and darker nights. Your jab will be free if: Many older people are Mondays and Wednesdays. He specialises in Dermatology. vulnerable to poorer health in * you’re 65 or over the colder months and * you receive Carer’s Allowance hopefully we can all make a or are the carer for a person Access to Appointments contribution to making them whose welfare will be at risk if more comfortable over the you fall ill coming months. * you have a condition such as Meningitis has also been in the We all know NHS resources diabetes, a chronic heart, lung, are over stretched and the news recently and there are kidney or liver problem, new schedules for vaccination demands of patients are forever Parkinson’s, or if you have had increasing. If we are to have against this disease for new a stroke born children and for any chance of delivering the access to services that we aim adolescents/schools leavers. For under 18’s, who qualify, The new programme makes for and that you our patients the Fluenz nasal spray is wish for, then we must have England the first country in the again available. world to offer a national,routine your support. and publicly funded Men B vaccination programme. Please attend your As always we would encourage appointments on time and if people to properly protect you need to cancel, please do themselves and their families so in sufficient time that the and follow the national appointments can be offered to guidelines for vaccinations. other patients. No one is more frustrated than Further information can be us when we can’t offer any found on the NHS more appointments and yet Choices website or, please ask we see so many being wasted. to talk to one of our experienced vaccination nurses. We want to deliver a good Ask your pharmacist for service, please help us to do the available products so. which relate to your condition Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Adults Please note that our doctors do not normally Everyone has the right to live in prescribe antibiotics for safety, free from abuse and coughs and colds neglect. Abuse and neglect can Call 999 in the case of occur anywhere: emergency www.stonecrosssurgery.c In your own home or a public o.uk place, while you are in hospital or attending a day centre, or in a college or care home. You may be living alone or with Patient Information leaflets others. The person causing the harm may be a stranger to you, but more often than not the person is known, and it can be Don’t forget you can access the case that you usually feel many online patient safe with them. Did you know? information leaflets for If you feel someone you know medical conditions; you can is showing signs of abuse, talk also go to your local library to them to see if there's As part of efforts to save money or ask your GP anything you can do to help. If within the NHS, can we they're being abused, they may encourage you to buy not want to talk about it straight treatments for minor ailments For example go to away especially if they've rather than have them become used to making prescribed? excuses for their injuries or http://patient.info/health change in personality. Some ailments can be dealt with over the counter products Don't ignore your concerns, at a pharmacy though. That could allow any You will not necessarily need to abuse to carry on or escalate. be seen by the Doctor for minor ailments. Call the local council and ask The following can be bought at for the adult safeguarding a reasonable cost over the co-ordinator or you can call counter at retail pharmacies: The Action on Elder Abuse Antihistamines, helpline, free and in confidence, Chloramphenicol eye drops, on: Aqueous Cream, Hydrocortisone, Doublebase, Medigel, 0808 808 8141 Aveeno, Aciclovir Cream & Oilatum. Fybogel Type products, In This Edition Colpermin, Dioralyte Sachets, Mebeverine, Loperamide, Page 1 Anusol Cream Editors Comments and suppositories, some thrush Flu Season Call 111 preparations. Welcome Dr Ilan Rajap Access to appointments Page 2 Abuse and Neglect of Vunerable Adults Did you know? Patient information leaflets

If you have any items of interest for our patients and for the next newsletter please send your ideas to the Practice Manager for consideration