UPDATE 7TH October 2021 If you missed our 2nd October clinic please book into the next clinic, which may be our last if we run out of vaccine, on FRIDAY 15th October. You can really help up by please booking via your app or online patient access solution if you can as our phone lines are very busy at the moment. If you don’t have online access or an app please ask reception if you have to call us.

2021 Annual flu vaccination delivery delay

You will have seen on the News that there is a National delay in delivery of Flu vaccinations to GP Surgeries due to a shortage of HGV drivers. Many practices locally, including Marton Medical Practice are affected by this delay.

Unfortunately, this means that our planned clinics and all booked appointments must be cancelled. Please DO NOT attend your booked appointment between 8^th – 15^th September as these clinics are cancelled.

Please bear with us and do not telephone or call in at reception. Our staff cannot rebook appointments until we know our delivery date which will hopefully be before the end of September. We  will contact you when it’s time to re-book. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

Please keep your original letter and bring it to your rebooked flu vaccination appointment. This is important as it contains your barcode and is your ticket for the clinic.

You can watch our website for updates on flu clinic booking:  https://www.martonmedicalpractice.co.uk/ Booking your appointment via online Patient Access or via any of the booking apps will be available as soon as  updated information appears on our website so you wont need to wait for another letter, although we will send one if we know you haven’t booked.

To speed up the rebooking process it’s helpful if you would let us know your mobile telephone number (and your spouse/partners). You will receive information faster than in the post which will give you a better choice of appointment slots

Thank you for your patience.

Hay fever hits early as temperature rises | NHS Fylde Coast Clinical Commissioning Group

The hay fever season is usually worst for sufferers between late May and July but has come slightly early this year. As the pollen count goes up so does the demand for prescriptions for antihistamines that treat allergic reactions to things such as pollen.

The good news is that treatments for hay fever are easily available and cheap without going to see a GP for a prescription. In fact it’s so easy that GPs across the Fylde Coast will not routinely offer prescriptions for hay fever medications unless there is a real clinical need.

Visiting a local community pharmacy is your best option. You can speak to the pharmacist who is an expert in medications and can advise you on the best treatment. They can also offer advice on how to avoid hay fever triggers.

Speaking on behalf of the two CCGs Dr Neil Hartley-Smith, a Blackpool GP and Clinical Director for the two Fylde Coast CCGs said: “Fortunately, although it’s very irritating, hay fever isn’t serious and there are things people can do to help themselves. There is no need to spend time waiting to see a GP, you can buy very effective antihistamines at most supermarkets quite cheaply. If you are uncertain on what to buy all the advice you need is available from your local pharmacist.”

The NHS advises putting Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen, wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes and changing your clothes when you’ve been outside. More information on dealing with hay fever can be found at www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/

Public Health England is advising the public to ensure they have had 2 doses of MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed across England.
Between 1 January 2018 and 31 October 2018, there have been 913 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in England. This steep rise in cases (when compared to 259 lab-confirmed measles cases in 2017), was associated with outbreaks linked to importations from Europe that have led to some limited spread in the community, particularly teenagers and young adults who missed out on their MMR vaccine when they were younger.

The increase in measles circulation is mainly associated with travel to and from Europe where there are large ongoing measles outbreaks.

Young people and adults aged 15 and over who missed out on MMR vaccine when they were younger and some under-vaccinated communities have been particularly affected. Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes lead to serious complications and can be fatal in very rare cases.

Anyone who has not received 2 doses of MMR vaccine is at risk, but young people in environments with close mixing such as festivals are more at risk, as well as unvaccinated people. Anyone planning to travel to Europe should check NaTHNaC travel health advice.

The MMR vaccine is available to all adults and children who are not up to date with their two doses. Anyone who is not sure if they are fully vaccinated should check with their GP practice who can advise them.

More information is available from the following websites:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/measles-outbreaks-across-england https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine-when-needed/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48386990 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47940710 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/24/measles-half-million-uk-children-unvaccinated/

Who can have the shingles vaccine?
You’re eligible for the shingles vaccine if you’re aged 70 or 78 years old. In addition, anyone who was previously eligible (born on or after September 2 1942) but missed out on their shingles vaccination remains eligible until their 80th birthday. The shingles vaccine is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 and over because it seems to be less effective in this age group.

When you’re eligible, you can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year. Contact us NOW to check if you are eligible and make your appointment.

Is shingles serious?
Yes, it can be. Not only can shingles be very painful and uncomfortable, some people are left with long-lasting pain called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) for years after the initial rash has healed. Very occasionally, shingles can be fatal.

More detailed information is available on the NHS.uk website

Giving blood saves lives. The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments.

Why do we need you to give blood?

We need new blood donors from all backgrounds to ensure there is the right blood available for patients who need it.

We need:

• Nearly 400 new donors a day to meet demand
• Around 135,000 new donors a year to replace those who can no longer donate
• 40,000 more black donors to meet growing demand for better-matched blood
• 30,000 new donors with priority blood types such as O negative every year
• More young people to start giving blood so we can make sure we have enough blood in the future

More detailed information is available on the NHS Blood and Transplant service website

DESMOND stands for Diabetes Education and self management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed. These free education sessions provide a way to find out more about type 2 diabetes in a relaxed informal environment . CLICK HERE for more information.

Worried someone close to you is losing their memory?

Many people suffer from memory loss as they get older. But if it starts to happen on a regular basis, it could be the early signs of dementia.

What should I look for?

Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include:

• memory loss, such as remembering past events much more easily than recent ones
• problems thinking or reasoning, or finding it hard to follow conversations or TV programmes
• feeling anxious, depressed or angry about memory loss, or feeling confused, even when in a familiar environment

What should I do?

If you’re worried about someone who is showing the signs above, encourage them to visit their GP to get a proper diagnosis. Use the link at the top of the page to find your GP.

The Alzheimer’s Society provides tips on how to raise the topic of dementia with a loved one.  CLICK HERE for more information.