The Nightingale Practice
News Letter
___________________________________________________
October- December 2015
Flu is an infectious and common viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes.
It's not the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses.
Symptoms tend to be more severe and last longer.
You can catch flu – short for influenza – all year round, but it is especially common in winter,
which is why it is also known as "seasonal flu".
Flu causes a sudden high temperature, headache and general aches and pains, tiredness and
a sore throat. You can also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a cough.
Flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and
rest until you feel better.
When to see a doctor
If you are otherwise fit and healthy, there is usually no need to see a doctor if you have flulike symptoms.
The best remedy is to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water to
avoid dehydration.
You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches.
You should seek medical advice if you have flu-like symptoms and you:

are aged 65 or over

are pregnant

have a long-term medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease,
lung disease, kidney disease or a neurological disease

have a weakened immune system
This is because flu can be more serious for you and why your GP recommends that anyone in
this group receives flu jab. You will have received a letter from us inviting you to attend one
of the following walk-in clinics

Saturday 3rd October 09:00 – 1:00pm

Saturday 17th October 09:00 – 1:00pm(Children only)

Saturday 24th October 0900 – 1:00pm
You can also arrange a routine appointment with one of the nursing team, just ask at
reception
Christmas and New Year opening times:
The practice will close at 6.30pm on Thursday 24th December and re-open at 07:00am on
Tuesday 29th of December.
New Year
The Practice will close at 6:30pm on Thursday 31st December and re- open at 07:00am on
Monday 4th of January.
Please ensure that you have enough medication to last you through the holidays.
Remember to order repeat prescriptions at least 48 hours (2 days) before you require them.
What to do when we are closed

Check nearby pharmacies and their opening hours. Some are open until midnight or
even later, even on public holidays.

If you would prefer to speak to someone first, call NHS 111 free of charge by dialling
111 on your mobile or landline. The person you speak to will also be able to look up
an out-of-hours pharmacy or service in your area for you.
For very urgent cases, call our out of hour’s service provider on: 020 8185 0545

If it’s a real emergency and you’ve tried all of the above unsuccessfully, you should
go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Dept.
Stock up on non-prescription medicines
If you need non-prescription medicines, such as paracetamol or an antacid, and you can’t
find an open pharmacy, the following places may stock a basic range of over-the-counter
medicines and often have longer opening hours than high-street pharmacies:

supermarkets

newsagents

petrol stations
What to do if you forget to collect your prescription
If you run out of prescription medicines and you don’t have a prescription with you, you may
be able to get an emergency supply without a prescription from a pharmacy. It's a good idea
to take along your medicine's packaging with you.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
and Healthy New Year.
From All the Doctors, Nurses and Admin Staff x