Maternity News
As a positive update to our last item in Clare Focus: we can report a major victory for a change. With strong support from the Patients Forum we had an intense meeting with Miss Michelle Judd, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, and Mrs Patricia Davis, Head of Maternity Services.
They listened carefully to all our concerns and have agreed to re-instate Antenatal Clinics at the Guildhall Surgery from July 2009. This will be a boon to all our ladies who currently have been made to travel to Sudbury or Haverhill to see a Midwife. Clinics will run on Monday afternoons as before, and will also be available to women registered with other Surgeries who live in Clare District area.
We are grateful for the sustained support received from the Patients Forum, a group of patients and staff which meets every 3–4 months. This result shows what ‘people power’ can achieve. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 2nd July. Please contact the Practice Manager if you wish to attend or submit topics for discussion.
Staff News
After 8 years service as Practice Nurse at the Guildhall Surgery Mrs Joy Chamberlain has formally retired – although she still fills locum sessions for us during periods of leave. We thank Joy for her cheerful disposition during her busy time here and wish her well for the future.
In her place we welcome Mrs Jo Baines, who joined us in June for two days per week, transferring from Ixworth Surgery. Jo has experience of working as a Nurse Practitioner and will, in due course, undertake patient reviews as well as performing ‘traditional’ nursing duties.
Mrs Marilyn Garnham and Mrs Claire Gregory continue as before and complete the Practice Nurse cover throughout the week. Health Care Assistant Mrs Julie Edwards has increased her sessions from two to four mornings each week, extending the number of appointments available to patients at the Guildhall Surgery.
Finally we offer congratulations to another Jo who has been working in administration at the Surgery for many years. After her recent marriage she now carries the formidable name of Mrs Joanne Lumley. We hope she has her namesake’s remarkable influence in persuading the Government to see the errors of its ways.
Swine Flu
At the time of writing community spread has become established in urban parts of London and the West Midlands. This is not the case in Suffolk ‑ yet. The disease remains mild for the majority of patients, worsening if there are existing health problems. As with all surgeries the Guildhall has been supplied with equipment for safe and effective diagnosis of suspected cases; and receives updates from the Health Protection Agency.
The main message to patients remains: if there is any reasonable suspicion of Swine Flu DON’T LEAVE THE HOUSE. Contact the Surgery by phone: after discussion you will be seen at home for examination and appropriate tests.
A Weighty Issue
Just as smoking seems to be coming under control as a public health issue, the problems of obesity (with resultant diabetes and heart / stroke disease) look set to get worse for the foreseeable future.
A recent BBC programme called ‘10 Things You Need To Know About Losing Weight’ did what it said on the tin: outlined 10 simple but scientifically proven facts which can help in the difficult task of losing weight.
Being overweight implies eating more calories than the body needs, the excess is put into storage (fat). Losing weight therefore must involve consuming fewer calories than the body needs, slowly using up the stored fat. We become overweight and stay overweight because we continue to get this balance wrong. The principle is to be able to satisfy hunger with fewer calories, and this interesting programme examined proven research that can be helpful in this difficult struggle:
1. Don’t skip meals (this reduces the urge for unhealthy snacks)
2. Use smaller plates (so you’ll eat smaller portions quite happily)
3. Count the calories (be aware of which foods are high or dense in calories)
4. Don’t blame your ‘slow metabolism’ (you’re probably eating more than you realise: see 3)
5. Increase protein proportions within meals (protein foods satisfy hunger for longer, the Atkins Diet takes this to an unhealthy extreme)
6. Eat more meals as Soup (the stomach empties more slowly, so hunger is deferred)
7. Restrict choice within meals (or more food overall will be eaten)
8. Low-fat dairy reduces fat absorption (dairy calcium works to block some absorption)
9. Exercise burns fat for up to 24 hours (ie beyond the time of the exercise itself)
10. Increasing activity in daily life burns significant calories (useful to know if you’re unable to engage in more vigorous exercise)
