Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox should avoid
people with shingles.
PPG NEWSLETTER
Falkland Surgery Patient Participation Group
Treatment
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Wear loose cotton clothes to avoid irritating skin
Cooling affected area (ice cubes in plastic bag)
Painkillers may give some relief
Antiviral medicines stop the virus from multiplying but do
not have much impact on the prevention of PHN (Post
Herpetic Neuralgia)
Issue No 32 September 2013
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In this issue:  AGM Open Evening  Flu Jabs  Shingles
Information  CQC Inspection 
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Post Herpetic Neuralgia is when the pain persists after the rash
has gone. This is most common in people over 60.
Immunisation for older people
The vaccine against the varicella-zoster virus has been shown in
large studies to be effective in reducing the risk of older people
developing shingles.
The vaccine has been shown to be safe with very few side-effects.
In the UK there will be a shingles vaccination programme for
people aged 70, with a catch-up programme for those aged up to,
and including 79. This programme begins September 2013.
CARE QUALITY COMMISSION (CQC)
Further to the article in the last newsletter, the CQC inspection
took place at the Surgery on 11th September. Many thanks to all
those who participated – the report should be received in due
course..
FALKLAND SURGERY PATIENT
PARTICIPATION GROUP AGM and OPEN
EVENING 2013
PPG AGM 2013 will be held on
Monday, 21st October 2013 starting at
7.00 pm
In the Surgery waiting room
followed by
an Open Evening on the Prostate
introduced by
Dr Rob Copas
Light refreshments available
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Falkland Surgery, Monks Lane, Newbury RG14 7DF
Main Tel: 01635 279972; Cancellation Line Tel: 01635 279975
Fax: 01635 279973; Website: www.falklandsurgery.co.uk
Flu Jabs – why they’re important!!!
SHINGLES (Herpes Zoster)
While reading a Department of Health consultation document
about the procurement of flu vaccine recently (not one of the most
exciting parts of my job…), I came across a statistic that really hit
home. Apparently, people in the clinical risk groups (i.e. those
with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, and
the immuno-suppressed) are ELEVEN times more likely to die
from flu than healthy people! This risk factor is not age related – it
applies whatever age the patient is.
Shingles is an infection of a nerve and the area of skin supplied by
the nerve. It is caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus. It
is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had
chickenpox in the past may develop shingles. It is most common
in people over the age of 50.
Pregnant women and those aged 65 and over are also at
increased risk.
Having a flu jab significantly reduces this risk, so I would urge all
of you who fall into one of the above categories to come and get
your jab. Our flu clinics are being held from 08.15 to 10.45 on:
Saturday 5th October
Saturday 12th October
Saturday 19th October
Saturday 26th October
Please book with Reception
The virus does not completely go after you have chickenpox.
Some virus particles remain inactive in the nerve roots next to
your spinal cord. For reasons that are not clear the virus may
reactivate. This is often years later. The reactivated virus travels
along the nerve to the skin to cause shingles.
Shingles symptoms
The virus usually affects one nerve on one side of the body. The
usual symptoms are pain and a rash. The most commonly
involved nerves are those supplying the skin on the chest or
tummy. The upper face (including an eye) is also a common site.
The pain is a localised band of pain
•
constant, dull, burning or gnawing pain
•
sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes
If you are also eligible for the Shingles vaccination you will be
sent an invitation by the Surgery. Remember to book for this
when you book your Flu jab.
We hope to see you then,
The rash appears 2 to 3 days after the pain begins. Red blotches
become itchy blisters. The blisters dry up, form scabs and fade.
Emma Macpherson, Practice Manager
Is shingles contagious?
(See the following article for more information about
Shingles.)
You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles – the rash
is contagious until the blisters have scabbed. You cannot catch
shingles from someone who has shingles.
Shingles usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks.
(Continued overleaf)
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Falkland Surgery, Monks Lane, Newbury RG14 7DF
Main Tel: 01635 279972; Cancellation Line Tel: 01635 279975
Fax: 01635 279973; Website: www.falklandsurgery.co.uk