UPDATE FEBRUARY 2010
Liquid Assets
The Guildhall Surgery is pleased to report an additional service available to patients with certain skin conditions. We now have the capacity to store and use Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) to treat particular types of skin lesions (lesion is the jargon word used for single defined areas of altered skin, including warts, moles (which contain pigment) and localised cancers).
When the Doctor is certain that a patient’s lesion needs removing and that it is not necessary to be viewed under the microscope it can be destroyed by freezing. When sprayed onto a skin lesion LN2 achieves a temperature as low as -196°C, killing the layers of cells in the lesion. The natural healing process involves healthy skin cells growing to replace the area formally occupied by the lesion. LN2 therapy has hitherto only been available in hospital Dermatology clinics.
And Now, The Travel News
In the early part of the year we begin to dream of travel to warm and exotic destinations. It is important to make health decisions early in the planning process, allowing at least three months for necessary immunisations to be given and achieve their full protective potential.
It must also be borne in mind that many of these are not supplied free by the NHS (unlike tetanus, diphtheria etc), so some financial planning e.g. for Rabies, Malaria protection, Yellow Fever etc (all available at the Guildhall Surgery) is also required, rather than this coming as an unpleasant shock shortly before departure.
Summary Care Record
Once again we approach the delicate topic of your computerised medical records, their care and distribution. You may already have heard that the Government’s original grand design (the SPINE) has been quietly shelved amidst problems of IT system incompatibilities, confidentiality and, of course, spiralling costs.
A pared-down version entitled the Summary Care Record (SCR) is due to be rolled out this year, to contain name, date of birth, address, current medication and any reactions / allergies. These data will be available to any NHS clinician (GP and Hospital) in England via their NHS computer. The proposed benefit is that accurate information is available quickly across the NHS, especially in an emergency.
NHS Suffolk will write to all patients (starting from mid-March) to explain this. You should realise that the SCR system assumes consent: you are automatically opted-in unless you let the Surgery know that you do not wish your records to be used in this way.
Swine Flu
Just as you thought it had completely disappeared, it is worth remembering that Swine Flu will continue to circulate, albeit at a low level. Although not as dangerous as first feared, there has been some serious illness and death particularly in children and pregnant mothers. The population percentages may be low but for the families concerned the loss is 100%.
We therefore continue to advise the vaccination of children under five and pregnant mothers, for their own future protection. Studies are bearing out the safety of the vaccine and we recommend it to parents.
Out Of Hours
You will have heard that Suffolk PCT (the NHS body responsible for the Out Of Hours service) have sacked the company Take Care Now (TCN) in the light of a number of incidents, especially the death highlighted in the recent Coroner’s inquest in Wisbech. Provision will pass to a company called Harmoni, who already cover North East Essex and several other areas, from 1st April 2010.
Early indications suggest the basic structure of out of hours care will remain unchanged: patients will need to call a central telephone number obtained by phoning the Surgery, followed by a consultation with the Duty Doctor or Duty Nurse. If examination is thought to be necessary this will occur at the bases in Haverhill or Sudbury, or at the patient’s home if they are housebound.
As soon as more details are announced we will let you know.
