Local news
West Barnes Surgery - January 2015
A message from the West Barnes Surgery.
Winter pressure clinics
Extra weekend GP clinics are available for patients registered with practices in Kingston , New Malden, Chessington and Surbiton.
These clinics are for URGENT care only and are NOT to be used for routine appointments, medication review or to discuss blood tests and other investigations.
If you require an urgent GP appointment over the weekend please book on the day (Saturday/Sunday) by calling: 0203 021 5404.
The clinics will be available Saturdays, Sundays and Bank holidays (excluding Christmas Day) from 1st November 2014 to 31st March 2015 and will open in four different locations :
NEW MALDEN : THE GROVES MEDICAL CENTRE, 171 Clarence Ave, KT3 3TX
KINGSTON : CHURCHILL MEDICAL CENTRE, Clifton Road, KT2 6PG
SURBITON: SURBITON HEALTH CENTRE, Ewell Road, KT6 6EZ
CHESSINGTON: MERRITT MEDICAL CENTRE, Merritt Gardens , KT9 2GY
Once you have called 0203 021 5404 you will be booked and informed which site to attend. Please note your full medical records will not be available to the GPs providing these clinics.
About Shingles
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
Shingles usually affects a specific area on one side of the body and does not cross over the midline of the body (an imaginary line running from between your eyes down past the belly button).
The main symptom is a painful rash that develops into itchy blisters that contain particles of the virus.
An episode of shingles typically lasts around two to four weeks, although around one in five people go on to develop nerve pain called postherpetic neuralgia in the affected area of skin.
When to seek medical advice
Shingles is not usually serious, but you should see your GP as soon as possible if you recognize the symptoms. Early treatment may help reduce the severity of your symptoms and the risk of developing complications.
You should also see your GP if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and you think you have been exposed to someone with chicken pox or shingles and haven't had chickenpox before.
Who is affected?
Around 9 in every 10 adults in the UK have had chickenpox previously and are potentially at risk of developing shingles. Shingles can occur at any age, but is most common in people who are over the age of 70. It is much less common in children.
It's estimated that around one in every four people will have at least one episode of shingles during their life. It is possible to have shingles more than once, but it's very rare to get it more than twice.
How shingles is treated
There is no cure for shingles, but treatment is available to relieve the symptoms until the condition resolves. Most cases of shingles last around two to four weeks.
Treatment for shingles can include:
· covering the rash with clothing or a non-adherent (non-stick) dressing to reduce the risk of other people becoming infected with chickenpox, as it is very difficult to pass the virus on to someone else if the rash is covered.
· painkilling medication, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or codeine
· antiviral medication to stop the virus multiplying, although not everyone will need this
Can shingles be prevented?
It's not always possible to prevent shingles, but a vaccine called Zostavax can reduce your chances of developing the condition. If you still develop shingles after having this vaccine, the condition may be milder and last for a shorter time than usual.
This vaccine is now routinely offered to older people on the NHS. It is given as a single injection to anyone aged 70. There is also a catch-up programme for those aged 79 and, from September 2014, 78 and 79-year-olds. You will only need to have this vaccine once.
If you wish to have the shingles vaccine and you are not eligible for the NHS vaccination programme, you will usually need to visit a private clinic. Private vaccination is likely to cost £100-200.
West Barnes Surgery PPG contacts are - Sara White This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the practice manager, Sam Uddin 020 8336 1773.
