Caddington Surgery News

Last Updated: 28 October, 2009
	Chlamydia Screening
	Save your GP!
	Do something Amazing - Give Blood
	We have joined 10:10
	How to Become a Donor
	Don't give up giving up!
	Don't cross YOUR fingers
	Swine Flu

Chlamydia

How do I know if I've got it?

It's a girl thing isn't it?

1 in 10 sexually active young people have Chlamydia
Chlamydia is the most common curable STI in the UK
If left untreated in women it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, infertility and childbirth complications
If left untreated in men it can lead to infertility or painful infection of the testicles.

Thankfully it is easy to test for Chlamydia using a urine sample and its simple to treat with free antibiotics.

Caddington Surgery is taking part in a national screening programme to test people under 24 for Chlamydia, so you may receive a kit in the Post giving you the opportunity to do your own test at home if you wish.

For more information see www.under-cover.org.uk

10:10

Caddington Surgery has joined the 10:10 campaign!
This means that we are committed to trying to reduce our carbon footprint by 10% in 2010. For example, we are turning the heating down a little.
Please will you help us?
Whenever possible, come to the surgery on foot, by bicycle, or on public transport, and leave your car at home.

This will benefit :

your health,
your pocket,
and the planet.

Thank you.

So how much will Corporations really value your Family's Health?

Lots of us see the same doctor while we are growing up. As our GP builds up a personal medical record and a special knowledge of us, so we come to know and trust them too. Very often, the same GPs look after whole families; our children, our parents, even our grandparents. So they really get to know us and our medical history over the years.
However this may all be set to change.
Despite the fact that British General Practice is seen as one of the best in the world, the Government plans to set up "new clinics” covering large numbers of the population, in direct competition with your local GP surgery. What’s more, big private national and international corporations can bid to run these clinics, in fact, they are already running general practice in some parts of the country. We are worried that this may result in your local practice not having sufficient patients or funds to keep running.
What does this mean?
In simple terms, you could lose your family doctor forever.

How can you make a difference?

We can only save General Practice if we all do something about it now. So if your local surgery is important to you and your family, if you feel your GP deserves your support, then please act today to help our cause and to make your voice heard. Click here to sign petition on the Save My GP web site

Hearing Aid Batteries

Hearing aid batteries are now available from reception.

Save a life – Give blood.

Blood stocks need a boost. Do something amazing today and give blood.

How to Become a Donor

According to the NHS web site, today more than 5,500 people in the UK are waiting for an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their life. Most are waiting for a kidney, others for a heart, lung or liver transplant. But less than 3,000 transplants are carried out each year.

Transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine. But they depend entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to make this life-saving gift to others.

There is a desperate need for more donors. Last year nearly 400 people died while waiting for a transplant. One in ten people waiting for a heart transplant will die and many others will lose their lives before they even get on to the waiting list.

The more people who pledge to donate their organs after their death, the more people stand to benefit. By choosing to join the NHS Organ Donor Register you could help make sure life goes on.

If you've not signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, you can do so by calling the NHS Organ Donor Line: 0845 60 60 400. Click here to find out more.

Don't Cross YOUR Fingers

For information on sex and relationships, how to look after yourself and where to go to get help locally, click here

Don’t give up giving up!

Why wait until January and New Year Resolutions? The Giving up smoking website has all the advice, information and support you need to stop smoking and stay stopped.

Visit the Giving up smoking website.

Swine Flu

Swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), has arrived in the UK. The Department of Health is advising people to carry on with their daily lives as normal.
Swine flu, like seasonal flu, is easily spread by the tiny droplets in a cough or sneeze. You may sneeze into an empty space but you will leave germs on a surface that another person will pick up simply by touching that surface.
By taking a few simple steps you can help to reduce the risk of getting swine flu and to stop the virus spreading.

Prevention - CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT.

To reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus you should:

cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
wash your hands regularly with soap and water
clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product

NHSDirect has an on-line tool that helps you to identify the symptoms of flu - click here for details

What to do:

Catching swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), will feel like seasonal flu, so:

stay at home and rest
take medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol (following the instructions – children under 16 should not be given aspirin or ready made flu remedies)
drink plenty of fluids
check your symptoms by following the link below to the NHS symptoms checker site

When to contact the doctor

Contact the Surgery (or NHSDirect) if you develop complications, like a shortness of breath - but don't go to the surgery yourself, either telephone or ask your ‘flu friend’ to go for you.

Other sources of information

If you would like to download the Government's swine flu information leaflet (in PDF format) click here.
For details on how to wash your hands (one of the best ways of avoiding the disease) click here.
NHS symptoms checker
The swine flu information line will be updated regularly - Call 0800 1 513 513
Swine flu Q&A from NHS Choices

Copyright ©2003-2008, Caddington Surgery, 33 Manor Road, Caddington, Luton, LU1 4EE Telephone 01582 725673
If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this web site then please contact us at the address above. We are not able to deal with patients' medical problems by e-mail.
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