Wyndham House Surgery

• It may be getting colder outside, but winter needn’t be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family.

• Although our Flu Clinics are over, it is not too late to get the Flu Jab – please contact the surgery to see if you are eligible.

The Wyndham House Surgery Autumn/Winter 2016 Newsletter is now available to read. It includes information regarding our new registrar GP, the Memory Café, Balance Classes and lots more!

Read the newsletter here: newsletter_autumn/winter2016

Are you eligible for an annual Flu Jab?

Our Flu Clinics this year are on Tuesday 10th October in the morning and Friday 20th October all day at Silverton Community Hall.

There are many myths surrounding flu and the flu vaccine. Please click here to read 10 common flu myths and the truth behind them.

Call the surgery to book your appointment today!

On Friday 23rd September 2016 all staff members in Wyndham House Surgery will be ‘over doing it’ in denim to raise money for Jeans for Genes Day by wearing as many blue/denim items of clothing as possible! There will also be a selection of cakes for sale, all of which will be hand-made by the Wyndham House Surgery team!

The monies raised by schools and workplaces on Jeans for Genes Day fund a range of initiatives that improve the lives of children affected by a genetic disorder.

For more information on the charity, and how to get involved, please visit the Jeans for Genes official website: https://www.jeansforgenesday.org/

If you have visited the surgery in the last week you can’t have failed to notice have seen our swish new electronic noticeboard! Generously funded by the Friends of Wyndham House and Silverton Parish Parochial Trust (thank you!) this addition to the waiting room will be used to advertise all our services, as well as Devon and national NHS news and initiatives.

We hope this information board will improve your patient experience while waiting for your appointment. If you have any comments on the board or have any information useful to patients that you would like to have displayed then please contact the practice manager – Mark Flinton – on 01392 8600034.

Sun Protection Advice:

Children are more at risk of sunburn than adults so it is important that you take extra care to protect babies and children. If possible, cover them up with long sleeved clothing when the sun is at its hottest (between 11am and 3pm), or if on the beach, apply a high protection factor sun screen regularly to avoid burning. If your child is under 6 months old, they should be kept out of direct sunlight entirely. Some sun creams aggravate eczema, so if you or your child has eczema, apply the emollient or steroid cream 30 minutes before the sun cream to reduce irritation. If you do get sun burnt this summer, painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and ease pain, as well as cooling the area with cool water, aftersun and calamine lotion. Take extra care if you have lots of moles, and check for any changes in the moles due to sun damage. See your GP if you are concerned about any of the above.

See more at: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/skin/pages/sunsafe.aspx

Campsite Cooking and Fire Safety:

Cooking on a campsite is totally different to cooking at home. Open flames and tents do not mix well, so take special care when cooking near your tent. Ensure cooking equipment is supported securely, and cannot fall over while it is on. Do not use naked flames in a tent, and be very careful about cooking equipment or barbecues, as even after they are turned off they can produce toxic fumes. If you are unlucky enough to have a fire in your tent, get everyone to safety then, if it is safe to do so, smother the flames with a heavy material, like a coat or blanket.

See more at: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyholidays/Pages/Campingsafety.aspx

Bugs and insect bites:

Wasps cause most allergic reactions in the UK. If you get stung treat locally with an antihistamine cream, but see a doctor if you develop allergic symptoms such as breathing problems. Other insects that can bite or sting can also be irritating, and sometimes carry diseases. See your doctor if you are worried after being bitten by mosquitoes abroad or by a tick in the UK or abroad.

See more at: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/bites-and-stings/Pages/insects-bugs-that-bite-sting.aspx

Stay hydrated in hot weather:

Your body needs more water as the temperature rises so make sure you keep hydrated. If you are a carer of an elderly person or a neighbour who is more immobile make sure they have access to water on hot days. Ice lollies are a good way of getting more liquids on hot days and it is easy to make your own in the freezer using sugar free squash and a lolly mold (or use a plastic cup).

See more at: http://www.livescience.com/38553-staying-hydrated-in-the-heat.html

Silverton Street Market is held on the first Saturday of August each year. Along with a wide assortment of stalls lining the village’s narrow main street, there is entertainment and fun for all the family, ranging from bouncy castles and child-friendly activities on the village square, to a BBQ and pop-up bar for the adults! It has been called: “The best value day-out in Devon”, entry costs £2.50 for adults and 50p for children, and there is ample free parking available. The thousands of pounds raised is shared between various village organisations. This years theme is Silverton Jubilee and promises to be one of the best yet! Entertainment and Stalls are being arranged by the committee as we speak!

This week sees the establishment of a Memory Café in Silverton. It is being set up by our retired Practice Nurse Trish Jones.  It will provide an opportunity for participants to meet regularly with other people with memory problems and their carers. Its aim is to present a chance to exchange experiences and to give and receive emotional support.  Everyone is welcome and it also offers a drop in service for anyone who has concerns about their memory or the memory of a loved one or a friend.

The Memory Café will be run by trained volunteers with support from health professionals. It is due to open on Thursday 16^th June in St Mary’s Church Hall in Silverton from 2pm to 4pm and then will be open every Thursday afternoon.

This week is Diabetes Awareness Week.

Do you have diabetes or know someone who does? In all likelihood you do, as it is estimated that 3.5 million people in the UK have diagnosed diabetes, with a further 1/2 million undiagnosed. Of these, about 1 in 10 have Type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas has been attacked by the immune system and has stopped producing insulin, while the remainder mostly have Type 2 diabetes, where the body has lost the ability to utilise insulin properly, usually related to being overweight or getting older.

Find out more about Diabetes Week here.

If you think you may have diabetes then please visit your GP or see a Practice Nurse. The sooner you have it diagnosed the less likely you are to have complications and you can learn to control your blood sugar levels and lead a long and happy life.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges that carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.

The campaign is brought to life by the individuals and organisations who come together to organise activities and events throughout the UK, drawing attention to just how important caring is.

Get involved now by pledging your support, helping us to build Carer Friendly Communities and planning your own activities and events to make Carers Week count.