Patient News for July 2024

Going on holiday?

If your bags are packed and you're lucky to be heading off on holiday in the next few weeks as schools start to break up, there are two things to stop and double-check right now: travel vaccines (and whether you need them for the country you're visiting) and your repeat prescriptions. Avoid last-minute panic by:

Contacting us 6-8 weeks before travel if you need travel vaccines. You can find out whether you need them for your travel destination here.
Filling in a travel questionnaire for each family member who needs vaccination for travel. Contact us via the website or call the surgery on 01753 989800. We offer typhoid, tetanus, and Hep A vaccines. Hep B is also available for a fee.
Ordering your repeat prescription at least 7 days before it runs out. We always ask patients to leave 3 days for the surgery to issue your prescription and another 3-4 days for the pharmacy to make up your prescription.
Checking your NHS App to check on the progress of your prescription request. Just head to Your Health > View and manage prescriptions to see when we've viewed and approved it. If you need your medicines urgently once approved, please contact your pharmacy.

98.3% of patients would recommend The Hall Practice

Last quarter, 98.3% of patients who completed our Friends and Family survey said they'd recommend us to their loved ones, and we couldn't be happier! We know we can't always please everyone, but as a team, we still try our best to do so. Every comment we receive is read, and every suggestion we get is considered by our leadership team. If you'd like to take a moment to tell us about your recent experience, it only takes a second to do here.

Staff updates in July

It's all hands on deck throughout July, with no significant staff holidays to report. This month, we're really looking forward to welcoming Honey Israel, a nursing associate apprentice for six weeks and James McGroarty, a physician associate (PA) student, both on placement with us throughout the month. You might meet them as they sit in on clinics, but as always, our clinicians will ask you if you're happy for them to listen in.

Putting type 2 diabetes into remission with the DIAMOND trial: A patient's story

The Hall Practice is proud to be a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) accredited practice for research. You can read why here. This month, we wanted to share a patient's story who's been part of the DIAMOND trial; the aim of which is to show whether a low energy, low carb food-based diet and support from a practice nurse can help newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes achieve remission, meaning no need for diabetes meds:

"As a participant in the DIAMOND trial, the first thing you realise early on in the "12 weeks no carbohydrates phase" is the discipline you develop to stick with the diet and give yourself a real chance of putting your type 2 diabetes into remission.

You'll be tempted by the smell of sausages or fried fish with chips or a baked potato with lashings of butter, but resist temptation at all costs and stick to the plan!

Recording your blood sugar levels, pulse and your weight loss is a powerful driver. My weight reduced slowly which is a positive outcome. So far, I have lost 14lb and have dropped from a forty" to a thirty-eight" waist and lost a couple of inches off my barrel chest.

The trial tests your resolve and that of your loved ones too. I've never eaten so many salads when going out for lunch, and as I have not drunk alcohol since late 2007, that added pressure is not there. I feel fitter, have more energy and my dodgy knees don't ache as much! But most of all, and fingers crossed, my diabetes is under my control by diet, not tablets. Bonus!

A big thank you to the specialist nursing staff who have supported me throughout the process. They've helped me and provided wonderful encouragement and support, as well as my wife, who has also lost weight by mirroring my diet."

Whooping cough warning for pregnant mums

The number of whooping cough (pertussis) cases continues to rise, with 1,488 cases confirmed in England for April 2024, compared with 858 cases in the whole of 2023. Whooping cough can be very serious and can result in hospitalisation and even death in babies who are too young to start their vaccinations.

Sadly, between January and April 2024, there have been 8 infant deaths, across England, from whooping cough and the NHS is urging pregnant women to come forward for their vaccination, and for practice teams like ourselves to signpost or offer this vaccination at every opportunity. The whooping cough vaccination given in pregnancy provides protection for pregnant women and young babies against this very serious illness so if you're pregnant and haven't had yours, please get in touch with us.

Managing long-term health conditions in the heat

Ahead of the next heatwave, our nursing team and physician associates wanted to share these practical tips for managing symptom flare-ups:

For patients with asthma

Stay informed about air quality and check daily air quality forecasts and pollen counts. If you need to go outside on high pollution or pollen days, try to do so in the early morning or late evening when it's cooler and pollution levels are generally lower.
Continue taking your preventer medication as prescribed, even if you feel well. Hot weather doesn't reduce the need for regular asthma medication. If you find you're using your reliever inhaler more often in hot weather, contact us about adjusting your treatment plan.
Ensure your inhaler is stored correctly - don't leave it in direct sunlight or in a hot car, as this can affect its effectiveness.

For patients with type 2 diabetes

Hot weather can affect blood glucose levels, so check more often than usual. Be prepared to adjust your insulin or medication as needed under direction from one of our team. Keep your glucose monitoring equipment out of direct sunlight to ensure accurate readings.
We know it's tempting but make sure you wear appropriate footwear, even at the beach or pool. Never go barefoot, as hot surfaces can cause burns or injuries that may go unnoticed due to reduced sensation. Check your feet daily for any cuts, blisters, or signs of infection.

Be aware of symptoms like dizziness, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or headache, which could indicate heat exhaustion. These symptoms can be similar to those of low blood sugar, so check your glucose levels if you're unsure.

For patients with eczema

Pat sweat away gently with a soft, clean towel rather than rubbing. Change out of damp clothes promptly to prevent skin irritation. Consider using a mild, fragrance-free antiperspirant on areas prone to sweating, but avoid applying it to broken or irritated skin.
If swimming in a pool, rinse off immediately afterwards and apply moisturiser. Consider using a barrier cream before swimming to minimise chlorine contact with the skin. Salt water or sea swimming can sometimes be less irritating than chlorinated pools.
Itching? Keep your antihistamines on hand to manage itching and use cold compresses to soothe irritated areas. Keep your nails short and clean to minimise damage from scratching and consider digging the cotton gloves out at night if you're a sleep scratcher.

The Hall Practice on Instagram

We've had a little relaunch of our page and you can now find us here. If you prefer a good scroll on Insta on an evening, we'd love it if you gave us a follow for photos and video updates from behind the scenes here at The Hall Practice.

Meet Jacqui Kent

Senior Clinical Pharmacist at The Hall Practice and Chalfont's PCN since 2019

I spend Mondays and Tuesdays supporting residents of local care homes with a ward round, medication reviews, care planning and palliative care support. I work closely with Dr Turner, Dr Amess and many other health professionals across local NHS services to support residents with good health and living well, access to medical care, and adjusting medication to ensure safe and effective prescribing.

I'm currently studying for my Master's in Advanced Clinical Practice at Reading University, which should end in early 2025. Then, I hope to spend more time at my favourite exercise class - Zumba!

Meet Victoria Perry-Adlam

Healthcare Assistant at The Hall Practice since 2017

I started out in the admin team but retrained as a healthcare assistant which I've been doing for four years now. I work Monday to Friday and enjoy a really varied role organising our NHS Health Checks, seeing patients with complex or surgical wounds, reviewing patients with long term conditions such as diabetes and supporting patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. I also work in our coil fitting and minor surgery clinics as well as being our infection prevention and control lead.

Outside of work I enjoy sewing, particularly quilting and embroidery. I have a steady hand if you are coming to have your stitches removed! I love baking, especially celebration cakes. I enjoy walking with my dog Olive and regularly attend pilates classes.