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JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES: 3rd January 2024 - 9th January 2024

Local health services

If you need help from your GP or another member of the practice team over the above period, we are open every weekday from 8am until 6.30pm, except for bank holidays when we are closed. Please contact us if you have a health condition that needs checking or an illness that won't go away.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This means that all NHS services, particularly hospitals, will be under severe strain. But please don’t put off seeking medical help if you need it. Here is a reminder of what local services are available:

  • The NHS websitenhs.uk has lots of advice to help you to look after yourself when you have minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency.

  • If your child is feeling unwell, the Healthier Together website has advice about some common symptoms, how to look after your child at home and when to get further help.

  • Drop in to a pharmacy for health advice or information about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you to deal with a cough, cold and lots of other winter illnesses.
  • If you need help urgently, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice or an appointment to see a doctor or nurse if this is needed. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services like urgent treatment centres. Using 111 online means you won’t have to wait on the phone.  

  • If you are in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and get straight through to mental health help by selecting option 2.

  • You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

  • Do not visit anyone in a hospital or care home if you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting. Stomach bugs are easily spread, make already ill people very seriously unwell, and can lead to whole hospital wards being closed. Please wait 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea before visiting anyone who is vulnerable.  

More information on these services and self-help advice can be found at: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/help-us-help 

Pre-Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

 

You could be more at risk than you think

 

Anyone can develop Type 2 diabetes, but certain factors can increase your risk:
 

    • The older you are, the greater your risk is likely to be. However, those from the ethnic groups outlined below tend to be at risk at a younger age.
    • You’re two to six times more at risk if you have a parent, child, brother or sister with Type 2 diabetes.
    • You’re more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if you’re over 25 and from a Chinese, South Asian, Black Caribbean or Black African ethnic background.
    • You are more at risk of Type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or if you’ve ever had high blood pressure.

You can’t change some of these risk factors. But others you can.

 

If you’re at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for your free local Healthier You service. This will help you put your health back in your hands by supporting you to lose weight, get more physically active and eat healthy food. Visit https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/hertfordshire-west-essex/ to find out more.  

 

Taking action now is really important as it can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Unchecked, diabetes can lead to sight loss, kidney failure, loss of a limb, and makes you at least twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke. It also puts you at greater risk of becoming very unwell if you catch COVID-19. The first step is to check your individual risk of developing the disease. The Diabetes UK risk tool can help you find out. It takes just a few minutes to check and could be the most important thing you do today. Visit www.diabetes.org.uk/risk

 

 

What is the diabetes prevention programme?

The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is an initiative that can help patients reduce their chances of getting Type 2 diabetes.

 

If you are at high risk of developing diabetes, you could join the programme and make changes to improve your health for the future.

The 10-week programme covers healthy eating, lifestyle choices, help to lose weight and information about physical exercise.

These simple measures, as well as more awareness of the causes of Type 2 diabetes, could be the difference between having the condition – and avoiding it completely.

To check if you might be at risk of developing diabetes, use the online tool at www.diabetes.org.uk/risk then talk to your GP about your results. Your doctor might suggest a blood test and then refer you to take part in the programme. You can also sign up for the programme yourself by visiting www.preventing-diabetes.co.uk/referral

 

You will then receive tailored, personalised support to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes including education on healthy eating and lifestyle, help to lose weight and physical exercise programmes, all of which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

You are eligible for the programme if you meet the following criteria:

·         Aged 18 years and over

·         Registered with a Hertfordshire GP practice

·         Have high glucose levels - Find out what this means here

·         Not pregnant

·         Are able to take part in light/ moderate physical activity

What can you expect?

Once you have confirmed your place, you will be supported through the following steps:

    • Initial one-to-one assessment with your Health and Wellbeing Coach to assess your health and wellbeing, understand your individual needs, motivations and programme goals.

    • Join a local programme, which consists of nutrition guidance and support, individual strategies and tools to empower long term progress and physical activity sessions and advice.

    • Your end of programme one-to-one review with your Health and Wellbeing Coach will celebrate your successes and achievements and consolidate learning to date. This one-to-one will support you with setting your post-programme goals.
       
    • You can join the programme via group video conference, or online through apps and websites.  


 
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