Welcome to the Ask The Surgery website. This is a free website for visitors who have health related questions they would like answered by staff at NHS GP surgeries, in England.
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Latest medical questions
There are a lot of awareness campaigns on bowel, prostrate, and testicular cancer and I wondered if I could book one appointment with a GP to have a full cancer screening for all of these? As a typical man I don’t go to the GP often but know these are important checks so would like to get them all done at once?[Click to show/hide answer]
It is unlikely that a GP would be able to screen for all of these in one appointment however; screening programs for bowel cancer are available to patients aged 60-69 years routinely every two years. Your GP will be able to arrange a blood test and examination to screen for prostate Cancer and they will also be able to provide education regarding assessing for testicular lumps. In all instances, if your GP thinks you are at risk for any, or have symptoms of any of the above, they will be able to arrange the necessary investigations to screen for these types of Cancers. You could also make an appointment with your practice nurse for a general health check which would include advice and support in making lifestyle changes to improve your health and well being.
I am considered to be in the 'risk category' for flu and therefore entitled to the flu vaccination. With all the negative press last year about the vaccination I am concerned about having it this year, what is the difference with this year’s vaccination and is it safe?[Click to show/hide answer]
The flu vaccination this year has the same strains as last year and this includes the H1N1 strain otherwise known as the swine flu (the big scare in 2009). It is important that at risk people do have the jab as they are more at risk of getting complications if they do get the flu such as pneumonia and may be fatal.
The side effects of having the jab are usually minor and also minimised by the nurse or GP asking you health related questions before giving it. She / He will only give it if satisfied that you are well enough to have it. No medical procedure is totally free of risk, flu vaccines are generally very safe. The most common reaction to the jab is a sore arm, or you may feel hot for a day or two after the vaccination. This is easily treated by Paracetamol. It is not the flu but a reaction to the injection.
I am diabetic and definitely have the flu jab every year and have been free of flu since I have been having it.
I think the terminology used by the NHS can be really confusing. If I need to see a doctor outside of my surgery opening hours I’m not sure if I should go to a walk-in centre or clinic, call an out of hours telephone line, phone NHS Direct, use the online symptom checker, or simply pop into the A&E department at King’s College Hospital – or do something else. Could you please clarify this for me?[Click to show/hide answer]
If you are unwell and your GP Practice is closed you do have a number of options. Although it may seem confusing, the aim is to provide good access to healthcare for everyone at any time of the day or night. Which service you use will depend on the medical problem troubling you, but there is a goldmine of information about the types of NHS Services available on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk
I would like to stress that major A&E departments, such as the one at Kings, are for treating patients with serious illnesses or injuries. Examples would be severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness or bleeding that cannot be stopped. You should only go to A&E in a genuine emergency or if advised to by a healthcare professional.
If you are unsure which services to use, a good place to start is by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). They will assess your medical problem and can provide you with some medical advice or direct you to the most appropriate service in your area. Tools such as the symptom checker at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk can also help you work out which is the best service for you.
All GP practices provide an out-of-hours GP service; in Southwark this is SELDOC on 020 8693 9066. You can also find their phone number on your GP Practice's answerphone message. This service is for problems you would usually see your GP about, which cannot wait until your practice reopens. Alternatively NHS walk-in centres can help if you have a minor illness such as a rashes, sprains, cuts and bruises or burns. A well stocked medicine cabinet can help with many common illnesses and your pharmacist will be able to advise you.
Since my father passed away at the beginning of the year I am now caring for my elderly mother. This will be the first winter that I have dedicated my time to caring for her and I am worried about the impact a very cold winter will have on her. What recommendations do you have for keeping her healthy over this period?[Click to show/hide answer]
Winter poses a particular threat to older people – yet taking a few simple precautions over this period could prevent illness. If you’re mother is over 65, I recommend she considers having her flu vaccination as she is considered at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Ensure that she keeps warm at home, elderly people should wear lots of layers of clothing inside the house at winter – this is a vital way of protection against the cold. Make sure she is eating at least one hot meal a day and topping up with hot drinks will insulate her body against the cold and keep her fluid levels up. Elderly people should take part in light activity daily if possible, even if it just means going for a walk, this keeps circulation going and your body temperature up. For specific health concerns about your Mother I advise you to speak to your doctors’ surgery in more detail. Further advice and support can be found on the NHS Choices website, www.nhs.uk, through caring organisations such as Cross Roads Care, www.crossroads.org.uk, or Age UK www.ageuk.org.uk.
As your mother’s main carer you are also entitled to a flu vaccination.
I have just moved into Southwark from another country and have a 3 year old child. They have not had the MMR jab and I am nervous about giving it to them. Does my child have to have the jab before they start school next year?[Click to show/hide answer]
It is very important to have the MMR vaccine. MMR vaccination protects your child against three diseases Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Measles, mumps and rubella are highly infectious, common conditions that can have serious complications, including meningitis, swelling of the brain (encephalitis) and deafness. They can also lead to complications in pregnancy that affect the unborn baby and can lead to miscarriage. The vaccine is completely safe with children only having minor side effects such as mild fever and a rash between 7 and 21 days after the vaccination.
You should see the practice nurse at your local surgery with a record (if any) of the child’s previous immunisations. The practice nurse will advise what vaccines are required. Usually they receive a pre-school booster and MMR at this age (3 years and 4 months).
No vaccination in this country is compulsory, however if you have any concerns about them please make an appointment to see one of the nurses or a GP to discuss it further.
As a serial yo-yo dieter I really struggle to keep at a consistent healthy weight throughout the year. The worst time is clearly during the festive period when over indulgence is expected! What do you recommend to keep better control of my weight?[Click to show/hide answer]
I find it very helpful to keep a detailed food diary. When I am struggling to lose weight, I find that writing down how much I ate, when I ate, what I ate and why I ate it helps me to understand my behaviour pattern of eating. We often eat things when we don't even realise and we also eat in response to certain emotions. By keeping a diary, it enables us to identify certain patterns in an effort to be able to change those eating patterns.
I provided my registered patients double appointments to discuss weight management if they are interested. Alternatively you can find very useful advice on NHS Choice at www.nhs.uk