Latest practice news
Coping in heat wave
Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. During heatwaves, more people than usual get seriously ill so make sure it does not harm you or anyone you know. For more information on how to copy please follow this link: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/
Whooping cough cases continue to rise
Whooping cough cases continue to rise
New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows cases of whooping cough continue to increase with 1,319 cases confirmed in March.
New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows cases of whooping cough continue to increase with 1,319 cases confirmed in March. This follows 556 cases in January and 918 in February, bringing the total number of cases in 2024 to 2,793.
Sadly, in the first quarter of 2024 (January - March), there have been five infant deaths. Young infants are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough. Updated estimates of vaccine effectiveness in pregnancy shows high levels of protection (92%) against infant death.
During this quarter, while most cases (50.8%, 1420) were in those aged 15 years or older who usually get a mild illness, the rates of whooping cough remain highest in babies under 3 months of age.
Whooping cough cases have been rising across England, as well as in many other countries, since December 2023 due to a combination of factors. Whooping cough is a cyclical disease that peaks every 3 to 5 years. The last cyclical increase occurred in 2016. However, in common with other diseases, cases fell to very low numbers during the pandemic due to restrictions and public behaviours. A peak year is therefore overdue. The impact of the pandemic also means there is reduced immunity in the population.
Uptake of vaccinations that protect against whooping cough have fallen in recent years across the country – in both the programme for pregnant women and the infant programme. Timely vaccination in pregnancy and in infancy are both important to protect vulnerable young babies from serious disease.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Consultant Epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency, said:
Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.
Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.
All babies are given three doses of the 6 in 1 jab at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious diseases such as diphtheria and polio with a pre-school booster offered at 3 years 4 months.
Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious. Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.
NHS National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said:
With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.
If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible, and if you or your child show symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.
Whooping cough, clinically known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection which affects the lungs. The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive ‘whoop’ or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing, though not all babies make this noise which means whooping cough can be hard to recognise.
If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it’s important they stay at home and do not go into work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics. This helps to prevent the spread of infection, especially to vulnerable groups, including infants. However, vaccination remains the best protection for babies and children.
Dr Goodwin
Dr Goodwin is on extended leave and we expect her back on 14.8.24, we wish her a speedy recovery. Dr Farah Dass and Dr Lindsay Fraser-Moodie will be covering her session.
Sedative Prescribing for Fear of Flying
Sedative Prescribing for Fear of Flying
The Village Surgery does NOT prescribe sedatives for fear of flying. This policy decision has been made by the GP Partners and is adhered to by all prescribers working in the practice. The reasons for this can be found below:
1) Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed. If there is an emergency during the flight it may impair your ability to concentrate, follow instructions and react to the situation. This could have serious safety consequences for you and those around you.
2) Sedative drugs can make you fall asleep, however when you do sleep it is an unnatural non-REM sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep. This can cause you to be at increased risk of developing a blood clot (DVT) in the leg or even the lung. Blood clots are very dangerous and can even prove fatal. This risk is even greater if your flight is greater than four hours.
3) Whilst most people find benzodiazepines like diazepam sedating, a small number have paradoxical agitation and in aggression. They can also cause disinhibition and lead you to behave in a way that you would not normally. This could impact on your safety as well as that of other passengers and could also get you into trouble with the law.
4) According to the prescribing guidelines doctors follow (BNF) Benzodiazepines are contraindicated (not allowed) in phobia. Your doctor is taking a significant legal risk by prescribing against these guidelines. They are only licensed short term for a crisis in generalised anxiety. If this is the case, you should be getting proper care and support for your mental health and not going on a flight.
5) Diazepam and similar drugs are illegal in a number of countries. They may be confiscated, or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
6) Diazepam stays in your system for quite a while. If your job requires you to submit to random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
We appreciate that fear of flying is very real and very frightening. A much better approach is to tackle this properly with a Fear of Flying course run by the airlines and we have listed a number of these below.
Easy Jet www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com Tel 0203 8131644
British Airways www.flyingwithconfidence.com Tel 01252 793250
Virgin www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk Tel 01423 714900
Ribbon Cancer Support Group
The Harpenden Wellbeing Hub is delighted to announce the launch of a new, local support group for people who have or have had a cancer diagnosis. Working with the Harpenden Trust, and backed by Macmillan, the group will run every Wednesday afternoon (starting 7 June 2023) at the Trust Halls in Southdown (above the Co-op) and will provide a safe space where people can meet and connect with other people who share similar experiences. Whether you want to come and tell your story, have a friendly chat or just listen, we are here to help support you. Come along and find out more.
RCSG runs every Wednesday (starting 7 June 2023) from 1:30pm to 3.00pm at Harpenden Trust Halls, 130 Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PU.
Telephone 01582 363 143 or email us for more information at rcsg@theharpendentrust.org.uk.
Andy’s Story, "Being told you have cancer is a life changing experience. It’s overwhelming and very difficult to process. Reaching out to support groups really helped me start to come to terms with my diagnosis and planned treatment. Learning there were no support groups in Harpenden led me to starting the Ribbon Cancer Support Group with Ania and Clare and I hope it will play an important role in helping people in the area live with and beyond cancer."
Clare’s Story, "As a Cancer Nurse Specialist, having support in the local community for people living with cancer is really important and I’m excited to be involved with the Ribbon Cancer Support Group and the Harpenden Trust."
Ania’s Story, "After receiving the ‘all clear’ from my oncologist I found a post-cancer reality difficult to cope with. Having to deal with so many side effects and constant fatigue made me feel alienated among people who have not experienced cancer. I felt there was a need for a cancer support group in Harpenden and I’m very excited to be involved in this project. I believe it will be helpful for people at any stage of their ‘cancer journey’."
New staff
We were very sad to see Dr Katharine Solomons leave the practice on the 12th May after 24 years of service. We thank her for all she has done for our practice and patients and wish her well for the future. We are glad to be able to announce to you that from the end of June, Dr Solomons' patients will be looked after by Dr Emma Wright who will be joining the team as a salaried GP working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the Harpenden surgery.
We are also delighted to inform you that Dr Louise Plumtree, who many of you will have already met when she was working as a locum for Dr Dass has joined us as a GP partner and will be working in both surgeries all day Monday and Tuesday and on Wednesday mornings. Dr Plumtree has a particular interest in dermatology.
We have also recently welcomed Hannah Moor to our nursing team. Hannah has a lot of experience and is a wonderful addition to the nursing team. She will be working in both Harpenden and Wheathampstead surgeries.
MMR for all
We are keen to vaccinate as many patients as possible who have not previously had the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine in line with the governemnt's 'MMR for all' campaign. This is particularly important when travelling and for patients born before MMR was introduced and after the illnesses were commonly circulating (approx born between 1970-1988). For more information please see: MMR for all: general guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and contact the surgery if you would like an appointment.
Farewell to Dr Ingram
It is with great sadness that we advise that Dr Ingram is retiring after 34 years at the practice. He has been a joy to work with and we wish him all the best for his retirement. Dr Ingram and Dr Whiteford's patients will be allocated a new GP from our current partners following Dr Wall's decision not to take the partnership position. Please be patient whilst we complete this allocation and you will be informed of your named GP asap via text message.
Green Impact
This practice is delighted to be signed up to the Green Impact for Health Toolkit and is actively taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint. The climate emergency is also a health emergency, and health care in the UK contributes 5.4% of the UK's carbon emissions. We need to enhance the health of our current population without compromising the health of future generations, and this means operating within the sustainable boundaries of the planet. Fortunately most of the solutions for the planet also make our health better - for example eating a mainly plant-based diet, engaging in active travel and exercise in nature, avoiding smoking, reducing pollution etc all enhance our health and reduce our need for medications, with further benefits to the NHS, your health and the carbon footprint of healthcare. Take a look at www.greenerpractice.co.uk to learn more about this.
Milestone!
Today the Harpenden Vaccination Centre has administered 50,000 vaccinations! We are so proud of this and we would like to say 'thank you' to all our wonderful volunteers for your incredible efforts towards this amount.