Noticeboard

Please do not contact the surgery to ask when you will receive your Covid Vaccine.  We can only run clinics based on the vaccines that are made available to us. We will contact you.

Prescriptions: We no longer take prescriptions over the phone. We request that you fill in the repeat slip on your form and post it through our letterbox or email your request. Alternatively you can use Patient Services to order your medication.

WE ARE OPERATING A TRIAGE SYSTEM, SHOULD YOU NEED TO SEE A GP PLEASE TELEPHONE FIRST ON 226673 .  PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY IF YOU HAVE A NEW COUGH OR TEMPERATURE AND OR LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL.

IF YOU REQUIRE A PRESCRIPTION PLEASE POST THE REQUEST THROUGH OUR LETTER BOX OR USE OUR ONLINE SERVICE.  WE CAN ARRANGE FOR THIS TO GO TO A CHEMIST OF YOUR CHOICE, PLEASE ALLOW MORE THAN 48HRS DUE TO THE HIGHT DEMAND AT THIS TIME. 

If you have a new continuous cough or temperature or change to taste or smell and would like a test for COVID-19 this can be arranged at https://www.nhsinform.scot/ 

Scottish Government letters regarding chronic conditions can be found here:  https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tailored-advice-for-those-who-live-with-specific-medical-conditions/ 

 

Information on Covid-19 can be found at the links below

 

Other useful links are available for patients with long term health conditions below:

British Heart Foundation https://www.bhf.org.uk/

Diabetes uk  https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

Asthma uk https://www.asthma.org.uk/

Chest Heart Stroke Scotland https://www.chss.org.uk/

British Lung Foundation  https://www.blf.org.uk/

Should I see the Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?  Nurse Practitioners are highly trained specialist nurses who have completed further education and training so that they can provide advanced nursing care and prescribe medication.  They can provide treatment and advice for many of the problems that traditionally you saw your Dr about in the past.  If you are unsure if they can deal with your problem please ask at Reception.

Chronic Pain

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is a common condition affecting over one third of adults in the UK.

Chronic pain is pain that continues for longer than 3 months, either as part of another health condition, or despite investigations and treatment.

  

       

How does your body feel pain?

The brain and the nerves inside the spine (the spinal nerves) make up the central nervous system.

Nerves carry messages back and forth between our body and our brain all the time.

The brain acts like a control centre. It works out from these messages if it needs to do anything. It’s the brain’s interpretation of these messages that results in the feeling of pain.

Sometimes the brain’s interpretation of these signals isn’t accurate. You might feel pain even when there’s no damage or harm to your body.

Chronic pain can cause changes in your brain and nervous system. These changes can cause the brain to continue to send out pain signals even when there is no harm or damage. The signal pathway to the brain can become over sensitive meaning the signals are amplified.

We usually expect acute pain (for example following an injury) to reduce with the healing process. But sometimes the brain and body continue to send out pain signals long after your body has healed. These signals can be hard to stop, are often intense and at times seem to come for no obvious reason.

Fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome are types of chronic pain conditions.

    

What is the difference between living with acute pain and chronic pain?

Chronic pain is very different from acute pain.

Acute pain:

  • can usually be easily explained – for example following an injury or illness
  • can usually be reduced by medication
  • causes a short term disruption to your usual routine and activities
  • may cause short term frustration and stress
  • reduces with the healing process – you can expect to return to normal in weeks or months
  • family and friends often provide care and support

Chronic pain:

  • cannot always be explained
  • is not always helped by medicine
  • can cause lasting changes to activities, routines and roles
  • might mean you feel low, exhausted or overwhelmed
  • might cause you to feel hopeless or uncertain about the future
  • is often understood by family and friends who can provide care and support          

    

    

Managing chronic pain

Chronic pain is a long term (chronic) condition that may not be cured or fixed. For some people the pain may reduce over time. For others, there are changes you can make that can help you live well with chronic pain.

Traditional treatments like pain medication only have a limited benefit for some people with chronic pain.

You might have already found this if you’ve tried different medications and treatments with little benefit.

Talking to a healthcare professional to find the right strategies and techniques for you is the best way to self manage your pain.

Getting the right support can help you to make changes to improve your quality of life.

   

   

· Guidance on managing pain has changed. Opioids are now only thought to be beneficial short term <6 months

· Side effects include; memory loss, nausea, drowsiness, reduced sex drive, weight gain, addiction, tolerance, increased pain, constipation, urinary retention, decreased immune function

· The higher the dose for the more time leads to more risk

      

Watch this excellent video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI1myFQPdCE

     

Ask Yourself?

• Do you still have pain despite using your opioid medication regularly?

• Does your medication cause side-effects that affect your daily activities e.g. drowsiness that stops you driving

• Have you noticed a change in your sex drive or sexual function?

• Do you take your medication because it helps you to relax?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of those questions, it is likely that the opioid medication is not doing what it is supposed to and may be causing you harm.

     

What to do?

· Keep a diary (see links for options)

· Book an appointment to see your GP

Please be aware the practice will be inviting those on high dose opioids for review. Patients who do not engage in the review process may find their prescription gradually reduced.

     

Resources for patient

Understanding Pain in less than Five Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KrUL8tOaQs

Understanding and self managing your pain https://my.livewellwithpain.co.uk/

Pain Toolkit https://www.paintoolkit.org/

Pain Association https://painassociation.co.uk/

https://www.retrainpain.org/

10-footsteps-v2.pdf



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