SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2000
Click on headings: Doctor News | Cholesterol | Hypertension | Saturday Morning Surgeries
Hayfever Medication | Holiday Appointments | Sun Care | Primary Care Groups
We have a new doctor who will be working with us on Monday afternoons - Dr Van Zon. He will be covering Dr Elliot’s surgery. Dr Elliot has been appointed as clinical tutor, which means that he is going to supervise the education of the other GPs in Darlington. Dr Van Zon will also be coming to the surgery to release our doctors to look at the service we offer and improve different areas of care - such as blood pressure and cholesterol. He is a fully trained GP who will be working closely with all doctors in the practice to make sure all our patients receive the best care possible.
Cholesterol is the amount of fat that is circulating in the blood. Some people have more than others. This can be because of diet, smoking, lack of exercise, but is also related to family background. A high level of cholesterol in the blood on its own is not dangerous, but if you are someone who suffers from angina or heart disease, or has a family history of early heart disease then it is more important that it is kept to a normal level. We are increasingly testing patients for cholesterol blood levels but if patients have no other risk factors for heart disease it is not so important to know what the cholesterol level is.
High blood pressure is a common condition that usually causes no symptoms. This is why the doctors in this practice will try and check your blood pressure every few years. If your blood pressure is raised on several occasions you will be offered treatment because blood pressure over many years can damage the circulation and make you more prone to strokes and, sometimes, heart attacks. However, it is important to note that raised blood pressure for a month or two will not cause any serious harm and we are keen not to give people too much treatment by checking too often. It is known that coming to a doctor’s surgery will raise your blood pressure which could lead to getting extra treatment that may not be necessary. This is why you will be offered checks for about a month after a change in medication. Also if your blood pressure is reasonably stable it is not necessary to check it more than once, or at most twice, a year as it is most unlikely that it would suddenly rise to a very high level.
We would like to point out to patients there is always an emergency surgery on a Saturday morning but the surgery closes at 11.00 am.
As we go into the hayfever season we would appreciate it if people who require hayfever medication would leave notes - if people insist on appointments this is likely to overwhelm the emergency surgery which is really for urgent problems. Most of the medication is available in the short-term over the counter so it would be appreciated if patients could do this whilst prescription requests are being processed.
As the doctors begin to take their annual leave we apologize in advance for the inevitable exaggerated wait for appointments. This is because that not only do the doctors on leave lose appointments but the doctor covering emergency surgeries also have to cancel their own booked surgeries.
Please remember to take great care in the sun. We know there is more UV damage being caused. Not only is there the immediate danger of sunburn but also the rapid rise in skin cancers. Please use a reputable suncream and keep children covered with tee shirts and hats.
Darlington general practice is now run by a board which is represented by a GP from most practices and top people from nursing, social services and the health authority. The board needs doctors to help in the running to improve services for the whole town. Doctors from Whinfield have been involved in work on antenatal care, confidentiality, IT, learning disability and GP training. So on occasions doctors are out of the practice fulfilling these duties. We feel it is important to contribute to this new way of working but this may mean that you see a new face in the surgery from time to time.