News
WPPG NEWSLETTER JAN 2012
I wish you all a happy, healthy New Year, as we face the new challenges 2012 will present. I would like to thank all members for their interest, enthusiasm and attendance at the Health Talks and other activities the WPPG has organized on your behalf. A special ‘thank you’ to members for their help and support recruiting new members, and to those who have agreed to pay their £5 yearly membership by Standing Order for this reduces administration costs and the clerical work involved. The 2012-2013 £5 family membership is due on the 1 April. (If you are not paying by Standing Order please ‘post’ in the red box on the wall in the Village Surgery either by cash or cheque payable to the WPPG.)
PILATES
Pilates has become more like a ‘Club’ than a Class for there is a wonderful atmosphere when everyone arrives and greets fellow participants. Audrey says it takes her back to her school teacher days when she has to raise her voice to ask them to keep their voices down so as not to disturb the class going on in the next room (who have probably gone into ‘relax’ mode, which Slim usually makes them do at the end of a Pilates lesson!) Newcomers nearly always come through recommendation and if a friend or relative is staying with a Pilates member then they also get brought along to participate in that particular class! Similarly, when teenagers break up Mum brings them along too! So Pilates has become a greater success than our wildest dreams – Slim making such a large contribution to this outcome by his expertise, his encouraging individual attention to help those who might be struggling and his ability to continually move forward, building skill upon skill so participants really ‘feel’ they are making progress.
Slim has introduced Himesh Mistry to our Pilates classes who attends usually twice a month but sometime more often dependent on his commitments. Himesh graduated from the BritishCollege of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) with a Master in Osteopathy and a Diploma in Naturopathy. He works, with Slim, at the David Lloyd Centre in Hatfield at the Perfect Balance Clinic. Himesh is young and oozing with enthusiasm to build upon his skills, techniques and treatments, and has already helped many Pilates members who either arrive earlier or stay later for his advice and home exercise regime. To join us, or for further information, contact Audrey Capy (832305).
TALKS
In answer to many requests from WPPG members our next Talk, on Dementia and Alzheimers, will be on the 9 March at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Marford Road. There will be two speakers, Dr Michael Walker and another speaker from the Alzheimers Society. We are expecting this Talk to be over-subscribed so register your interest as soon as possible by ‘posting’ in the red box on the wall in the Village Surgery your name, ‘phone no and number of seats required. If you are a non-member please also include £2.50 per person either by cash or cheque (cheques made payable to the WPPG). Watch out for posters on Parish Noticeboards, outside Chemist and other places around the village.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE PRACTICE NURSE
Dr Gibbs and Partners employ three Practice Nurses working between the two village surgery sites at Wheathampstead and Harpenden. Practice Nurses assess, screen, treat and educate all sections of the local community from babies to older patients. They work alongside the GPs giving nursing and medical care. The skill of the Practice Nurse is to communicate and listen. They must show patience and empathy and have a gift to inspire confidence and trust. Nursing is an ever-developing role that must adapt to change in the local population as well as to medical and nursing developments.
Wheathampstead Surgery is covered by Sister Jackie Kent; Harpenden is covered by Sister Carol Burrows and Deborah Gray. However, all nurses are available to cover both sites in the event of sickness, days off and annual leave. All the Practice Nurses hold the Family Planning Diploma and can offer extensive advice about all forms of contraception and sexual health. Educational materials are also freely available. All three Practice Nurses offer the following services: Advice on Family Planning and Health, Repeat Contraceptive Prescriptions, Baby/Child Immunizations, Travel Vaccinations, Smoking Cessation, Leg Ulcer Care/Bandaging, ‘Flu Vaccinations, Ear Syringing, Wound Dressing/Removal, Stitches and Clips, Cervical Cytology (Smear Taking), Health Promotion, Phlebotomy (Taking Blood), Minor Surgical Procedures (with GP), Fitting contraceptive devices with GP, ECG Recording, Blood Pressure Recording, Weight Management, Coil Removal, HRT Advice/Prescription, B12 Injection, Zoladex Inplants, Chronic Disease Management, Annual Checks, Diabetic, Asthma, Heart Disease, Thyroid, COPD/Spirometry. Sister Carol Burrows has a special interest in Spirometry so patients who have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) requiring an annual check would be best making an appointment with her the Wheathampstead Surgery.
Nurse appointments are in great demand and they will often see between 15 and 20 patients per session. Appointments are allocated in 10 minute slots although 20 minute slots are available for minor surgery, contraceptive fittings and ECG recordings. Complicated travel itineraries sometimes require extra time as do extensive wound dressing. Nurse will usually advise the patient if extra appointment time is required.
The most popular appointment is for ear syringing. Most patients are aware that they can see nurse without seeing their GP. They need to have used their chosen ear-wax softener (olive oil or a proprietary product) for at least one week prior to their appointment with the nurse in order to soften the wax in order that it can be removed in one visit.
Annual ‘Flu clinics beginning late October. Patients who are over 65 years of age and/or have a chronic illness, are routinely invited to attend a ‘Flu clinic. These clinics are extra to nurses’ routine daily surgeries; she will run the clinic every day for over one month to give patients every opportunity to have their ‘Flu jab. These appointments are for three minute only, and as there are over 1,500 ‘Flu vaccinations to give, nurse really appreciates patients wearing short sleeves! Thank you.
Practice nursing is interesting and varied. It can be busy and hectic but is never dull or boring. The patients are usually appreciative and respond in kind for a job well done, which is also the aim of the Practice Nurse.
A DIFFERENT SORT OF SUMMER ‘HOLIDAY’ by Dr David Ingram
Some of you may have wondered why there were no appointments available with Dr Ingram for several weeks last summer.
As a scout leader and medic, I was approached to be the medical officer for an expedition toGhanawith 21 explorer scouts from Harpenden and Wheathampstead. Our local scouts have had links with scouts in the town of Hohoe in the Upper Voltaregion of Ghanafor the last 15 years. There have been a number of previous expeditions, and indeed the last trip resulted in the building of a scout hall for the local people. On this occasion, our local scouts had been raising money for 2 years and our project was twofold.
The first task was to refurbish the Mother’s Lodge at the local hospital in Hohoe, with some financial support from Harpenden Village Rotary. This involved providing and installing cooking facilities and storage, plus benches and bedding to be used by the mothers whilst their children were ill in hospital.
The second and larger project was working in a residential school for deaf and learning disabled children, with the aim of refurbishing mosquito netting in the dormitories and assembly hall. This proved a significant challenge, as with the removal of the netting it became apparent that many of the window frames were rotten and needed rebuilding. With the help of some very enthusiastic Ghanaian scouts we quickly learned basic joinery, though screws were generally inserted with the aid of a hammer! It was very gratifying to see the final result of some dramatically improved accommodation of these very disadvantaged children.. The fact that we were also helping to protect them from malaria was also very valuable – currently 17,000 people die each year from malaria inGhanaand it is the main killer of children under 5 years.
In addition to learning basic joinery and painting, our scouts learned sign language in order to communicate with the school children which was great fun for all.
During our 3 week stay we camped and cooked over open fires and in a homemade clay oven for the first week until we were able to get some camping gas. The local people were very friendly and welcoming as they get very few travellers in that remote area.
On our first night we were nearly washed away with a thunderstorm and torrential rain so spent many hours the next day digging trenches round the tents and sewing up rips in the canvas. Fortunately, the weather then improved and it barely rained again on our trip. We had numerous visitors to our camp including stray goats and chickens, colourful lizards and an occasional vulture, plenty of local scouts and smiling children and the occasional dignitary such as the Paramount Chief.
My surgeries on camp were, I am glad to say, not too busy and all returned home in one piece. I think we all greatly enjoyed the experience and feel we did some worthwhile work and made some new friends from a very different culture. Next year, back toDevonas usual.
My sister-in-law lives in northLondonand over the recent holiday we spent some time with her and her husband. Unfortunately, she was unwell and needed to see a doctor. I was amazed at the problems she had making an appointment. After making several calls to unhelpful receptionists she was eventually given an appointment some six days ahead! I couldn’t help thinking how fortunate we are in Wheathampstead and how I, for one, take the service we all enjoy from our Village Surgery for granted. We can invariably see a doctor of our choice at short notice. Jackie, the Surgery Nurse is always cheerful and puts me at ease as she administers my annual ‘Flu jab. The Surgery Receptionists always have a friendly smile and are willing to help. I have consulted many surgery doctors, as well as my own, and always feel there is an immediate rapport and I am made to feel I am an important individual. The Village Surgery appointment system always seems to run so smoothly and efficiently. This can only be due to the co-operation of all those involved, including the patients!
I recently asked Dr Debbie Gilham to provide me with details of the Surgery Appointments policy and she kindly wrote the following. “We encourage patients to see their own doctor as much as possible as we think this leads to better continuity and builds up a good patient/doctor relationship. This usually means an appointment within a few days except if your doctor has been away when there obviously can be a delay. If you feel you cannot wait until the next available appointment with your own doctor, then you can see another doctor. We will always try to ‘fit in’ emergencies on the day and will carry on seeing patients as necessary. An emergency does not have to be ‘life or death’ but includes conditions where a patient is very uncomfortable – like a urinary tract infection, or needs to have the ‘Morning After Pill’ as soon as possible! Although patients do not have to divulge to Receptionists what their problem is, if able to do so this does help the Receptionist gauge if the patient needs to be fitted in that day or if it can wait. Patients also have the option to ‘leave a message’ and a doctor will ‘phone them back with advice.”
HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR – from our Dietician, Pat Walker
This is the time of year we think about losing weight, doing more exercise, in order to become fitter and healthier. Health eating guidelines remain unchanged: i) Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, 5 a day. ii) Eat more fibre if you are not already doing so. (iii) Eat fish twice a week, especially oily fish like salmon/trout/mackerel. (iv) Eat less fat, especially saturated fats and less sweet and sugary food. (v) Take more regular exercise. The Coalition Government, now apparently concerned about our health, is about to issue guidelines on healthy eating and the preparation of inexpensive meals. These controversial guidelines are not available at this point in time but the following should be helpful: (1) Plan meals for the week. (2) Armed with a list when you visit your supermarket BUY ONLY what is on the list. (3) Target the ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ offers but ensure you will consume them before the expiry date. (4) Consider using more staple foods and the best way you can re-use. (5) Cook slightly smaller amounts, this will benefit your pocket and waistline.
A few specific food ideas:
OATS: in a crumble; the base of a cheesecake or quiche; as porridge or as a breakfast cereal;
DRIED FRUIT: in a crumble; winter fruit salad; stewed fruits; add apricots to casseroles.
BAKED BEANS: Snacks on toast; in jacket potatoes; in casseroles or Shepherds Pie; add to chilli dishes.
BROKEN BISCUITS: Use as a base for cheesecakes or as a topping for puddings.
FROMAGE FRAIS ) Use a spoonful of any of these in soup,
½ fat crème fraiche) on top of puddings, or mix with mint to serve
Natural Yoghurt ) with a curry.
LENTILS: Make a lentil soup with leftover vegetables. Add to casseroles to extend the meal and add flavour.
Here is a warming, filling dish, of sausage and bean bake:
Ingredients: 8 good quality sausages, meat or soya
2 large onions, chopped
1 large cooking apple, cored and sliced
1 large tin of baked beans
2 teaspoons wholegrain mustard
Crushed garlic or garlic power, to taste
Set the oven to 180C. Grill the sausages, place the beans in a casserole dish adding the mustard and garlic. Place sausages on top, followed by the sliced apples and onions. Bake for approx 30 minutes in pre-heated oven. (None of the ingredient quantities are exact, so adjust to your own taste.) ENJOY!
Andy Capy, News Editor, 01582832305. Your contributions are always welcomed.