TOWCESTER MEDICAL CENTRE & PAULERSPURY SURGERY
Patient Participation Group (PPG)
NEWSLETTER - August 2015
Welcome to the summer edition of your PPG Newsletter for all patients of Towcester
Medical Centre and Paulerspury Surgery.
HAY FEVER – HOW TO GET RELIEF
Hay fever is an allergy triggered by pollen, starting with tree pollens in March, grass pollens which peak in
June/July and weed and nettle pollens in August. All can cause itchy eyes, nose and throat, sneezing and a
blocked nose. They can also cause skin rashes (hives) and trigger asthma attacks.
Hay fever can be helped by three different treatments, all of which are available to buy cheaply over the
counter. Ask the pharmacist for a once daily non-drowsy antihistamine tablet, nasal spray and eye drops.
In peak season, all three of these may need to be used in combination to control the symptoms.
They all work most effectively when used every day, not just when the sun shines. So if you are a sufferer,
stock up on treatments and before your symptoms return, start taking the antihistamines daily. As the
pollen count rises, you may need to add in the nasal spray +/- eye drops and these treatments should be
continued through until the end of your hay fever season.
Specific treatments are available for children and pregnant women, but please seek advice from the
pharmacist. Some remedies may cause drowsiness so check the instructions, particularly relating to driving
while medicated. For further information about hay fever:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/hayfever/Pages/Allabouthayfever.aspx
DEMENTIA RESEARCH – HELP AND SUPPORT
“Join Dementia Research” is a new service that helps people to take part in dementia research studies. It
aims to accelerate the pace of dementia research by allowing people with and without dementia to register
their interest in studies, helping researchers find the right participants at the right time.
The “Join Dementia Research” website https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk offers a secure and
easy way for someone to register their interest, discover studies that interest them, and ultimately connect
with researchers to take part in their studies.
Anyone aged 18 years or over can sign up themselves or on behalf of someone else, either by registering
online or by contacting the helplines of Alzheimer’s Research UK, Tel: 0300 111 5 111, web:
http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org and Alzheimer’s Society, Tel: 0300 222 1122, web:
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk.
ROTARY GIFT SPIROMETRY MACHINE
A big thank you to the Towcester Rotary Club for generously donating towards a second
Spirometer machine to the practice.
Our GPs currently use spirometry – a test to help diagnose various lung conditions including asthma and
COPD. However, the practice has only one machine. The second machine means that twice the number of
patients can be tested and diagnosed so more patients can be treated more quickly.
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WHEN TO USE THE NHS 111 SERVICE
WORRIED ABOUT FORGETFULNESS?
Dial 111 if:
 You urgently need medical HELP or ADVICE
but the situation is NOT life threatening. (If
the situation is life threatening dial 999
immediately).
 You think you need to go to A&E or another
NHS urgent care service
 You don’t know who to call or you don’t have
a GP to call
 You need health information or reassurance
about what to do next
If you are worried about your memory or
think that you, a family member or friend,
may have dementia, it is a good idea to talk
to your GP. Just because you are forgetful,
does not mean you have dementia. Memory
problems can also be caused by depression,
stress, drug side effects or other health
problems. The Practice now offers more
extensive screening for dementia. Your GP
will be able to run through some simple
checks and reassure you or refer you to a
specialist for help and support.
Using NHS 111 may save you valuable time
by directing you to the correct service.
NEW – PRACTICE WEBSITE
The practice has invested in a new website and it
is now up and running. The new-look website is
designed to make it easier and quicker to find
information you need. It contains details about
the practice and its services; opening times, outof-hours details, useful links to relevant medical
and health websites and access to the online
appointment booking and repeat prescription
services, plus information about the PPG.
Please take a moment to visit the website.
http://www.towcestermedicalcentre.co.uk
NEW – FIND US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
The Practice now has Facebook and Twitter
accounts to give patients even wider access to
information.
Facebook: Towcester Doctors
or, Towcester Medical Centre
Twitter: @Towcester-Drs
For non-computer users, information will still be
available on surgery notice boards and the
practice PPG Newsletter as usual.
SOME USEFUL LOCAL MEDICAL
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Out of hours service:
111
Towcester Medical Centre: 01327 359953
Paulerspury Surgery:
01327 811630
Health Visitor:
01327 322447
District Nurse: Call surgery to pass message
Northampton General Hospital:
01604 634700
Danetre Hospital:
01327 708800
NENE CLINICAL COMMISSION GROUP
(Nene CCG) - Become a Member
Nene CCG are responsible for spending the
majority of the local health budget on services,
from hospitals and community nurses to
operations and prescriptions.
Are you interested about the health service in
your local area and want to know what Nene
CCG is deciding about the services we will and
will not receive in future? Become a member of
Nene CCG and find out. Contact: Tel: 01604
651100 Email: involved.nene@nhs.net Website:
http://www.neneccg.nhs.uk/ebsite
If you have comments or would like to become a
member of the practice PPG, please contact
angela@u2consulting.com, telephone number
from Reception. Thank you.