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HEALTH CARE ADVICE We encourage all our patients to share the responsibility for their health, both in preventing disease and in treating existing conditions. Many medical problems can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and by making use of the comprehensive range of clinics we have to offer. Most of the clinics are run by our fully trained practice nurses under the supervision of the doctors. Many minor illnesses are caused by viruses for which there is no cure. However, you can treat the symptoms. Most minor illnesses get better by themselves. A child with a temperature will not be harmed by being taken out to visit the doctor. If you make sure that they are suitably dressed, the fresh air may make them feel better. FAMILY MEDICINES ‑ Keep these at home in case of minor illness: PARACETAMOL syrups for pain and fever in young children (Calpol, Disprol, etc) ANTIHISTAMINE ‑ for allergies, bites and itchy rashes PAINKILLER for adults (but don't give aspirin to children under 12 and read instructions carefully to make sure the patient does not have more than the recommended dose of paracetamol).
Always keep medicines in a safe place well out of the reach of children. HIGH TEMPERATURE: a person with a high temperature will feel hot or cold, sweaty or shivery. Their temperature will be over 38.5degreesC (101degrees F). Give paracetamol syrup (children) or tablets (adults) according to instructions on the packet. Sponge children with tepid water to reduce temperature. Body fluids will be lost through sweating ‑ give the patient plenty to drink. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Do not overwrap small children. High temperature in children may result in a fit, if so do not panic, place the child on its side, call the doctor for advice and stay with the child until twitching finishes, then the child may sleep. Contact your doctor if the patient's temperature rises above 39.5degC (or 103degF) despite treatment to reduce it (see above). COLDS AND FLU: if you have a cold you will feel unwell, have a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and a 'scratchy' sore throat. You may also have a slight temperature. There is no cure, you can only treat the symptoms, treat the temperature (see above), drink plenty of clear fluids, take paracetamol, suck a throat sweet and use proprietary cough mixture. FLU: proper flu can last up to two weeks. It makes you feel awful, with a high temperature, aching limbs, a headache and a cough. The patient will feel hot and shivery. There is no cure for flu but you can treat the symptoms as for colds. However patients over the age of 65, those with heart disease, diabetes, asthma should have a flu jab. SORE THROATS are usually caused by a virus and normally clear up in four to five days. Adults should gargle with half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water four times a day or gargle with soluble aspirin or paracetamol. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO EXCEED THE STATED DOSE OF PARACETAMOL. Children should be given paracetamol for pain or temperature. Consult your doctor if your throat is so swollen that breathing is affected, if the sore throat is still getting worse after three days or if the patient has earache or a high temperature (39.5degC or 103degF). COUGHS: treat with steam inhalations. Consult your doctor if coughing persists for more than a week or two or produces blood or if coughing is accompanied by pain in the chest or difficulty in breathing. EARACHE: treat with paracetamol but consult the doctor if earache persists for longer than 24 hours or if there is a discharge. Earache in children: Contact your doctor if, despite a painkiller, the child is still in pain after 12 hours, if the child has a runny ear or if the child becomes drowsy. SICKNESS AND STOMACH ACHE: sickness is often caused by a virus or by eating or drinking too much. Do not eat but drink water or squash at regular intervals. Do not drink milk. When the sickness has passed, eat a dry biscuit or breakfast cereal without milk. Consult your doctor if sickness lasts for more than 24 hours or if a vomiting child has a temperature of more than 38degC or 100'deg F. DIARRHOEA: stop eating for48 hours, avoid milk but drink plenty of fluids. If symptoms persist for more than 48 hours or if there is continuous pain rather than separate bouts of stomach cramp, or there is blood mixed in the stool then consult your doctor within surgery hours. Diarrhoea in babies and young children needs careful attention. Diarrhoea should be treated by taking the baby off bottle and milk solids. Cooled boiled water should be offered instead. Breast feeding should be continued. If symptoms carry on for 24 hours and there is also vomiting consult a doctor. TOOTHACHE: the most appropriate people to diagnose and treat toothache are dentists. If you are registered for dental treatment, call your dental surgery for advice (NHS dentists are required to provide out‑of‑hours cover for their registered patients, generally until 1 1.00pm). Even if you are not registered for dental treatment, some dentists will see patients out‑of‑hours (usually on a private basis). Telephone numbers for dentists in your area can be found in Yellow Pages. Generally, if pain is a throbbing type, cool drinks or ice may help, as may keeping upright rather than lying with your head down. If the pain is constant, painkillers are needed. Take paracetamol. If the pain subsequently returns, take a further dose of painkillers e.g. Ibuprofen. HOWEVER, DO NOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S DOSE FOR YOUR AGE OR HEALTH. If you experience heavy bleeding that does not stop, have dental problems following facial injury or experience increasing facial or oral swelling, it is advisable to contact your nearest casualty department. Even if your toothache improves overnight, it is advisable to seek dental treatment as soon as possible as it is probable that the pain will return. RASHES: are very common and usually harmless. Sometimes they are caused by common childhood illnesses. If your child has a rash but is otherwise well then just keep an eye on it. Try to think if it could be due to heat, or a change in washing powder. Do not let a child scratch spots or rashes because of a risk of scarring and infection. Treat with calamine and see the doctor during surgery hours. CUTS: press the edges together on a cut for 3‑4 minutes to stop the bleeding, clean with antiseptic and apply a plaster. Consult your practice nurse if the cut needs more treatment than this. Check to see if you are up to date with your tetanus vaccination. BURNS: minor bums and scalds can be treated at home. The affected part should be treated with cold water until the heat has gone from the bum (about 20 minutes). Consult your doctor if the burn is deep or is larger that the size of the person's hand, the skin is broken or if a burn later becomes infected. CYSTITIS: stomach pain from cystitis can be eased by a hot water bottle. Drink plenty of fluids ‑ lemon barley water or cranberry juice. There are some over‑the‑counter medicines, which can be bought from the pharmacist. Consult your doctor during surgery hours if you pass blood or symptoms do not improve. MENINGITIS is not common but it needs to be treated very quickly. A person with meningitis usually looks and feels unwell. They may complain of sickness and diarrhoea, a headache and want to avoid light. They may slowly develop a temperature. If a person with these symptoms develops a stiff neck and a reddish blue or violet rash, which does not disappear if you press on it, then you should contact your doctor immediately. Children may become floppy and sleepy and not react to their surroundings. Adults can become drowsy and confused. It is vital that meningitis is treated quickly, so a doctor will usually want to examine the person to rule it out. Meningitis can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages because the symptoms are similar to many common minor conditions. Not all of the symptoms appear with meningitis; if you are concerned, contact your doctor so that they can assess the situation. It is vital that meningitis is treated quickly ‑ if the patient's condition suddenly gets worse get help immediately. GOING ABROAD? Travel abroad is so common nowadays that it is often easy to forget the necessary precautions. Make sure you don't turn your holiday into a horror story. Please also consider the following. • Take a small first aid kit. • Personal hygiene is essential. • Beware bites from insects and animals. Many diseases are insect‑borne and rabies is widespread in animals abroad. • Be careful with raw vegetables, salads, fruits, shellfish and ice‑cubes. • Respect the power of the sun, use sun creams regularly. • Sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS) are a major health threat throughout the world. Condoms offer some protection. • If you need to take anti‑malaria tablets remember you need to start one week before departure and continue for four weeks after your return. • If you take regular medications, don't forget to take enough supply! USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERSLocal Hospitals Mount Vernon Hospital 01923 826111 Hillingdon Hospital 01895 238282 Watford Hospital 01923 244366 Northwick Park Hospital 020 8864 3232 Harefield Hospital 01895 823737 Northwood and Pinner Cottage Hospital 01923 824182 Social Services: Hillingdon 01895 250111 Hertfordshire 01895 779455 Brent & Harrow 020 8863 5611 Northwood & Pinner Emergency Dental Service020 8907 0120 Local ChemistsBoots, Maxwell Road 01923 825365 Carters 01923 825753 Dallas 01923 820841 Ross Pharmacy 01923 821596 Sharmans Chemist 01923 825288 Tesco 0208 2187749Loomrose 01923 827577 Health Visitors & District Nurses01923 827744 ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY The practice operates a zero tolerance policy. If you are violent or abusive towards any member of the practice team or its premises you may be removed from our practice list. NHS DIRECT NHS Direct is an emergency advisory service which can be accessed by telephoning 0845 4647 or alternatively they can be contacted online at www.NHSdirect.nhs.uk
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