Flu – Coughs – Colds and sore throats These diseases usually get better by themselves and last only a few days. They are commonly due to viral infections. Coughs, colds, sore throats, aches and pains, fevers and nausea all usually improve without any need to see a doctor.
If the symptoms are uncomfortable then you can take simple measures like bed rest, Paracetamol and/or Aspirin, fluids or simple foods.
What to do if you have a temperature
A raised temperature often happens even with mild infections like colds or coughs. A normal temperature is 37 degrees centigrade or 98.4 degrees farenheit. People usually know if they have a temperature they feel hot or cold, sweaty or shivery and unwell. Children may be miserable, have no energy or look flushed. Small babies may seem very sleepy and not want to feed.
A higher temperature or fever means the body is fighting the infection. Help it along by drinking plenty of water or weak squash, keeping the room at a comfortable temperature with fresh air circulating, and sponging with cool or lukewarm water. Adults can take Paracetamol tablets and you can give Paracetamol syrup to children under the age of 12 years old.
Contact the GP immediately if the person has a temperature over 40 degrees centigrade or 104 degrees farenheit, if there is a stiff neck, cramps or vomiting, or if a child seems weak and listless or suffers a fit or convulsion.
Gastroenteritis (Diarrhoea with or without vomiting)
This is normally caused by an infection (usually a virus) in the stomach and/or bowel. Diarrhoea (the runs) and vomiting may be unpleasant and uncomfortable but are nature’s way of flushing infection out of the system. Unless symptoms are prolonged or very severe, it is usually better not to take any medicines or tablets. These may only interfere with your body’s natural responses, possibly ‘bottling everything up’ which can lead to further problems. The symptoms usually get better by themselves within 24 – 48 hours.
The best remedy is to take sips of plain fluid (water not milk-based), sugar and salt solutions (which you can get over the counter from the chemist) or breast milk for breast fed babies. If the problems continue, or a young baby is affected, the surgery will be pleased to advice on appropriate treatment.
Indigestion and Stomach Ache Most problems are not serious and are usually caused by indigestion, wind or irregular eating habits. Indigestion is a common complaint and often linked to a known cause – such as unwise eating and drinking. Some people suffer the symptoms more often because of an underlying problem like inflammation of the stomach, an ulcer or hiatus hernia. Whatever the cause, the symptoms are usually quite similar and can be distressing. They may include pain in the upper abdomen, wind, nausea and heartburn. They can often be helped by taking antacids, peppermint, Paracetamol (not Aspirin) and possibly a hot water bottle. If they do not go away and are severe you should seek advice from your doctor.
Coping with Minor Ailments
Burns Cool down the affected area immediately with lots of cold water and continue to do this for at least 10 minutes. If the burn is larger than 4 or 5 inches across, if it is on the face or if the skin is broken, see the nurse at you GP surgery as soon as possible. If the burn is deep, heavily blistered and very painful, or if the skin has turned white or black, go to the nearest Accident and Emergency (Casualty/A&E) department immediately.
Cuts Try to stop the bleeding from a minor cut by pressing it, with clean hands, for a few minutes; hold a cut arm or leg up high. If a cut bleeds freely any germs will normally be washed away by the blood. If it is a deep cut and the edges cannot be pulled together, ask for advice at your GP surgery or go to the A&E department. Redness or swelling can be a sign of infection in a cut or graze and you should make an appointment to have it seen at your GP surgery. You may need to have a tetanus injection if you haven’t had one for 10 years.
Sprains I stands for ice. Pack the sprained area immediately with ice or a bag of frozen peas, wrapped in a cloth, to reduce swelling and speed up the healing process. Keep this on for about 20 minutes.
C means compression. Bind the injured area with an elastic bandage so it is well supported, but not so tight that it restricts blood flow. Re-tighten a few times a day.
E means elevation. Rest the sprained area and keep it held high. For example, if you have a sprained ankle, rest it on a stool that is higher than the chair you are sitting on.
Head Injuries For a minor knock or bump, put on a cold damp cloth. The person should be taken to see a GP or to A&E without delay if he/she has the following symptoms: vomiting, unconsciousness, double vision, drowsiness or confusion.
Choking Stand behind the person and hug them firmly above the waist, pushing your fist up under their ribs to make them cough up the blockage. For a young child, hold the child upside down and thump on the back.
The Recovery Position This is a position in which to place a person who is unconscious. Turn the person onto their side with their head turned to one side. Then bring the top leg over so that it is resting on the ground. This will help prevent the person from vomiting or choking.
Warning Signs The following warning signs may tell you something is wrong and that you should arrange to see your GP:
The practice has information on a wide range of local and national self help and support groups. Ask at Reception or your doctor for more information.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Removing a Patient from Our Lists
The doctor must be satisfied that any decision to remove a patient from the list is fair and does not allow any prejudice to influence this decision. The decision must also not be based on a patient’s complaints to the practice or for any financial reasons.
We will follow the following procedure:
The patient will be removed from the medical list on the eighth day after his/her details are received by the Care Trust.
Confidentiality and Information Security:
Information held by the Practice about our Patients, either manually or on computer, will only be that which is relevant to your healthcare according to the rules laid down by the Data Protection Act.
Information given to doctors, nurses or receptionists is regarded as being in strict confidence, and it will not be passed onto anyone else (including your relatives) without your prior consent. This applies whatever your age (even if you are under 16 years of age). No-one else is entitled to see your records except in certain specific circumstances which include:
Without specific consent, we are not allowed to pass information about a patient to:
The above principles of confidentiality apply to results (including those for blood tests, x-rays etc) or appointments.
If you want to give consent for someone else, eg a family member, to have access to your medical information, you should write to the practice to request this. You need to be specific about how much access you wish to allow. If you are not sure, please ask the Practice Manager for more details of this. We can put a note on your file to allow this information to be shared as you have requested.
If you consent to releasing information from your records to another agency, eg an insurance company or your employer, this permission should be written, signed and dated.
You may grant this permission under the terms of the Access to Medical Records Act 1998. Under this Act you also have the right to view a report before it is sent off by the doctor. In these circumstances the doctor is obliged to keep the report for 21 days before sending it off. Even if you do not wish to see the report, it must be kept for six months and during this time you still have a right to view it.
We may pass on anonymous information in relation to patients to the Care Trust or other statutory bodies as part of audits we are required to carry out.
You may request to look at your medical records whether these are held manually or on computer. We do not charge you to look at your records but we make the following charges for copies: You are not allowed to see any records which include confidential information relating to a third party, not even if this is a family member.
Under the terms of the Data Protection Act, you have the right to have inaccurate data corrected. This only applies to factual information which is incorrect or misleading, or to an opinion which is based on factually incorrect or misleading information. It is not possible to challenge opinions unless they are based on incorrect facts.
You should write to the practice asking for a correction to be made, stating the reasons why you believe the information to be inaccurate. If the practice refuses to make the correction, you may complain to the Data Protection Commissioner or even directly to the court.
If you wish to discuss anything of a confidential nature outside the consulting rooms, please ask our reception staff who can arrange this.
Remember - I C E
Berwick Infirmary
08448 118111
Berwick Maternity Unit
01289 356623
Tweedmouth Clinic
01289 356960
Social Services
01289 334000
Home Help Organiser
01665 603411
Health Visitor
01289 356952
District Nurse
01289 356953
Even in these cases, we would always try to discuss it with you first.
Back
Next
Debbie McLeman November 2009