WINTER 2011

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations

Seasonal Flu vaccinations are now available.  You are entitled to a free flu vaccination if you have one or more of the following chronic conditions:

• Respiratory Disease (such as bronchitis or asthma)

• Heart Disease

• Diabetes

• Kidney Disease

• Liver Disease

• Neurological Disease

• Or you are Over 65, pregnant, a carer or immunisuppressed.

Appointments can be made with our Healthcare Assistant for your vaccination.  If you are eligible and have not yet had your vaccination you can make an appointment at reception or book on-line.

Staff from Prudhoe Medical Group inspect the new facility at Prudhoe Hospital

For many years the doctors at Prudhoe Medical Group have been proud to provide GP care to residents and patients at Prudhoe hospital. Over this time we have seen many changes both to the service and to the site itself but none perhaps as exciting as the current new-build.

"Ferndene" is the name of the new £27 million development at Prudhoe Hospital which will provide 40 beds, combining learning disability and mental health care for children and young people. This will be the first such integrated service in the UK and it is hoped the new centre will be opening later this Summer 2011.

Each doctor at Prudhoe Medical Group will work into a different ward at Ferndene and our Practice Nursing Team will also visit weekly offering their skills and expertise to the residents. This close working relationship has developed particularly in the last 12-18 months and we look forward to playing our part in making this venture a success.

TOILET TWINNING

In January and February this year Prudhoe Medical Group raised money to twin their staff loo with a toilet in Burundi, Africa!

We're proud to have supported the building of a latrine for a small village in South East Burundi with which our loo is now officially twinned!

This is in support of a project organised by the charities Tearfund and Cord - Toilet Twinning - a unique way to help transform lives in poor communities across the world. Over 40% of the world's populations don’t have somewhere safe and hygienic to go to the loo and this leaves children at risk of diarrhea illnesses and women risking sexual assault as they go the toilet in the open at night.

Since its launch, more than 1,600 latrines have been built in Burundi – providing safe loos for nearly 10,000 people!

If you would like to pay a visit to our African loo then go to Google Earth and put in the co-ordinates:
Latitude: 4 01 41 S
Longitude: 30 07 06 E

To find out more about the project visit the website at http://www.toilettwinning.org/

Think Pharmacy first

A new campaign, Think Pharmacy First, started on 1 April 2009 and is available to adults who are entitled to free prescriptions on the grounds of low income and their children. People over 60 are also entitled to use the scheme. The scheme enables people who receive free prescriptions to get free treatment and medicines for minor ailments directly from their community pharmacy.

The Think Pharmacy First campaign will give patients the choice of going to their pharmacist for a consultation where they will be given advice and free over the counter medicine, where appropriate.

They will be referred to a GP where necessary.

The Think Pharmacy First campaign will give these patients the choice of going to their pharmacist for a free consultation where they will be given advice and free over the counter medicine, where appropriate.

There is no charge for this service and no appointment is necessary.

FREE treatment and advice is available for the following:

Bites / stings
Chickenpox
Coughs and colds
Conjunctivitis
Constipation / Diarrhoea
Cystitis in women
Dermatitis / eczema
Ear wax
Fungal and yeast infections (incl thrush)
Muscular aches and pains
Hay fever
Head Lice
Heartburn / Indigestion
Mouth ulcers
Threadworms
Warts / verrucae