Our Practice works closely with other members of the community primary health care team and Hospitals to provides services for all population groups.

These include

• Families with children and young people
Healthy families mean healthy children; See the link below. Having a healthy lifestyle is important for all. Click here for more information
“Your options” is another useful website Click here for more information

In the autumn/winter of 2018/2019 the annual nasal spray flu vaccine will be available for children aged two, three and four years old plus children in school years one and two.

We have added some useful links below to leaflets which you may find useful:

When should I worry – Your guide to Coughs, Colds, Earache & Sore throats in children A very useful guide.
Caring for children with coughs

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, CAHMS, are here to help children and teenagers with mental health difficulties. For details of the conditions we offer support for at Berkshire CAMHS, please click here

Childhood Immunisations

To check which childhood immunisation your child needs please  look at the current vaccination schedule  & use the VACCINATION PLANNER  NHS childhood vaccination programme, Vaccinations.

• During Pregnancy

We provide comprehensive care with our team of midwives at both surgeries. If you are at Chancellor House the midwife holds regular clinics in the upstairs Consulting room. If you are at Tilehurst Village Surgery then you will be seen by a midwife at Click here for more information.

You may wish to discuss your pregnancy with BPAS (https://www.bpas.org/).

• Students

We have been looking after students for a long time and welcome students
in the locality from any University. Click here for more information

• Working age people and those recently retired

We are all busy hence we are increasing the proportion of line appointment booking and telephone consultations. Staying well and being aware of your risks can keep you well. Click here for more information

Male & over 50? Going to the toilet more frequently? Problems with starting, weak flow, Job to finish? Then take some steps to see a one of our GPs . We can check you for infection, Prostate enlargement or Prostate Cancer.  Click here for more information

• People with long term conditions - such as Asthma Diabetes, COPD etc

Click here for more information

Our practice is looking to manage Obesity and linked illnesses with intense dietary management
principles.  These facilitate the possibility of a “2nd chance“  if followed early enough to get back to a healthy state. These principles underpin our drive to improve and prevent illness and disease in the practice population.

If you have diabetes please also see Diabetes in Berkshire West Click here for more information.

If you have Diabetes please make sure that you have your annual Diabetes Screening eye check – you can book on this number 0300 367 3937.

We work closely with Community nurses who specialise in various long term conditions as listed. We have in houses nurses and doctors who can provide you with help and advice to keep you as well as possible.

• Older people

Staying fit and healthy is key to enjoying old age - we can help; Old age doesn’t need to mean infirmity. Getting vaccinated against flu, pneumonia and shingles are a few examples of a preventative approach. Click here for more information

• Older people

PallCall is a 24 hour service delivered by Sue Ryder and staffed by specialist palliative care nurses. The service is designed to provide support to the family members, healthcare professionals and of course patients in their final 12 months of life. 0300 365 1234

• People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable

Poor accomodation, overcrowding, homelessness & poverty impact on health; we are aware of this and will try to do our best to help you. Reading Borough Council can be very helpful. Click here for more information.  Options is also a very useful site Click here for more information.

• People experiencing poor mental health

(Dr Pizura has a special interest in this field) Click here for more information
The Charity MIND are a very useful resource also. If you need benefit advise/Debt advise  please you can call Christians Against Poverty (CAP) 0800 328 0006 for free advice or visit www.cap.org.

The Together Your Way service is based in Reading and provides mental health support “on your terms”. 

The concept is “together for mental wellbeing” – please click on their link for a personalised service for your mental health need, phone 01189580722 or text “readingyourway” and your message to 82727.

The Mental Health CRISIS service provide support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are based in Berkshire; you can ring them on 0300 365 0300

Students Against Depression is a great website if you're feeling sad, low, anxious or depressed.

• Drink or Drug addictions?

StepThisWay offers a range of drug, alcohol and smoking cessation services  for individuals, families, friends, employers and agencies.  This service has recently been launched in Berkshire. If you feel that you need helps as offered by StepThisWay – please make an appointment to see us at the Practice or call 07468 423840 for a free individual assessment consultation.

• People with Dementia

We are currently screening for this condition; please make an appointment to see us if you are worried about memory problems. Memory problems do not necessarily mean dementia. Click here for more information

• As a practice we are moving towards a more preventative approach as well as continuing
to help those who are unwell. Click here for more information.

Non NHS Requirements

For insurance medicals, medicals for driving licence and travel vaccinations please contact the receptionists.  

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

Travel Questionnaire

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday. To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)

The following vaccinations are chargeable

[non-NHS]

* Yellow Fever vaccination can only be administered at our Chancellor House Surgery

Young People, Sexual Health and everything else….

MenACWY is available for young people born between 1/9/98 - 31/8/99 please contact the surgery to book your appointment.

We provide a confidential service to ALL our patients, including under 16s. This means that YOU can tell others about visiting the surgery but we won’t.

Young people under 16 can make an appointment for themselves without their parent’s or carer’s consent. At this first appointment the doctor will need to make sure that the young person can fully understand any advice or treatment plan.

We offer a comprehensive sexual health service including contraceptive advice & pregnancy testing.

Appointments can be made with a male or female doctor & can be before or after school. Our earliest opening time is 7am and latest 7.30pm . We are now also open most Saturday mornings.

Our female GPs are Dr Anita Mehmet, Dr Sunita Purewal, Dr Laima Baroniene, Dr. Kate Green & Dr Vasantharani Stanislaus

Our male GPs are Dr Alex Pizura, Dr Andy Chapman, Dr Trevor Underwood
& Dr Vik Kapoor

Talking to someone if you’re a frustrated Teenager – “my parents just don’t understand” they never listen to me….

Young Minds

“As a young person I never really wanted to talk about mental health..... “
 Young Minds  is a site about stress, bullying, living in a "sexed up world"..... you may find a visit to this site helpful 

Sexual Health Issues- other contacts

For any sexual health issues, please visit the Florey Unit which is located on the Craven Road –the same road for the main entrance of the Royal Berkshire Hospital but on the opposite side.

Here is a useful link for information on Confidential Sexual health services.

Smoking - Stop before you really start..

It’s easy to start, especially if your friends are, but don’t if you can resist the pressure. If you do start then there is help available to stop

Stopping smoking can be difficult. AIM can help as can the NHS stop smoking service.

Drugs & Alcohol

"Just try it… go on, everyone else is  " ….. peer pressure to conform can be very difficult to resist.

Unfortunately Drugs do “mess with your brain”. Sometimes this can lead to severe and enduring mental health problems such as psychosis or serious physical problems.

Serious physical problems and can lead to death. So try not to go there

The Effects of Drugs

But…

If you do- get help

SOURCE is Readings Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Service

Reducing your risks

We are increasingly putting our efforts into preventing illness and have therefore put together this
page to help you become aware of risks of certain illnesses which are preventable. The philosophy is for everyone to have a Personalised Patient Plan which gives a risk score individual to you and then looking at what can be done to reduce the score. You can find out your risk scores for developing a condition such as diabetes   or cardiovascular disease by clicking on the links.

Your personalised risk can be reduced in various ways (reducing weight, alcohol & stopping
smoking) and is compared to an age related average.

We use these same calculators and others (e.g. risk of osteoporotic fractures, cancer risk) in our daily consultations.

Screening

Screening is one of the best ways we have of preventing serious disease such as cancer. Currently the NHS has screening program’s for the following .

1. Bowel Cancer screening
2. Breast Cancer screening
3. Cervical Cancer screening
4. Aortic Aneurysm screening - to contact our local programme to arrange an appointment at a clinic near you Tel: 01865 572636 or Email: thamesvalley.aaa@nhs.net.
5. Prostate cancer screening - this is slightly controversial but is of benefit if you have a family history of Prostate cancer.
6. If you have a family history of cancer then predictive genetic test screening – may be for you.

7. High blood pressure – how to diagnose this.

   We would encourage everyone to accept screening invitations. Outcomes in all Cancers are improved by early diagnosis. Many of the above cancers have no symptoms until they are significantly advanced.

Stop Smoking

Stopping smoking will significantly reduce your risk of developing many diseases and save you money. We all know the risks. Stopping smoking can be difficult. AIM can help as can the NHS stop smoking service.

Alcohol – how much is too much?

A small study in the “New Scientist” magazine showed that even “within limits” alcohol consumption causes a fatty liver. Recent articles from research have linked rising levels of alcohol consumption in the middle years of life as being linked to alzheimer's, liver cirrhosis and premature death. So we all need to be aware and keep alcohol intake to very small amounts especially when older. Alcohol is also very calorific.

Reducing your Risks of Developing Dementia

Currently the best advice is to lead a healthy life style, keep mentally and physically active and look after you gums and teeth. There is some research to suggest that gum disease, by increasing inflammatory mediators in the blood stream increases the risk of dementia. Please click on the link for Alzheimer’s society for more information

How to stay Young & perhaps stave off dementia- More information

Keeping fit, exercising, challenging your brain to learn . Eat "colour" ! Eating colourful foods such as red peppers & blueberries that contain purple pigments may be the way forward. "See the link to the BBC programme with the same name How to Stay Young.

Essentially its about working the brain – just like exercising  a muscle; if you don’t use it you loose it.

So – learn a new language, a new instrument, and new skill. Stimulate your brain all the time, exercise and start eating blackcurents , blueberry’s and red cabbage It’s the purple pigment that helps stave off brain shrinkage, will all the other activities as mentioned.

Making changes to lifestyle can be difficult.

Motivation to change is key.

If you need help to improve your motivation to make changes then click on the link to this brilliant app AIM

Why weight? – Weight is a critical factor in many preventable diseases (high blood pressure,
Diabetes, Stroke, kidney disease, Cancer, Painful joints – the time to act is before you become ill. The plan is not do diet but change your way of life, we can help you to achieve this.

National statistics show that over 6o% of adults are overweight with 25% being obese. Average
BMI has risen from 23 to an unhealthy 27 representing an average weight increase of 15kg per
person. By 2050 obesity alone is predicted to affect 55% of adults and 25% of children.

So Why Weight?

Since 2011 we have been educating patients with Type 2 diabetes about the seriousness of their condition and its relationship to excess visceral triglyceride fat.

We have advised them that they can halt and possibly reverse the decline in their condition, and
maybe come off medication entirely if they lose sufficient weight, at 15kg much more than
conventionally advised.

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes (this link also includes specific guidance on how to do this and examples of diets to follow).

Type 2 Diabetes does not have to be a long term condition - Click on the following link which
encapsulates the way we are thinking about Diabetes in this practice including are approach to diet, nutrition being overweight and obesity intensive dietary management 

We are now extending this advice to the obese and Pre-Diabetics who can reverse their condition, and the likelihood of developing diabetes if they lose 5 to 15 kg weight.
Certain foods stimulate too much insulin and this causes them to store too much fat. WE all need to refocus onto consuming less calorific foods, less processed foods, lower glycemic index foods, increased fiber with regular mealtimes and avoidance of snacking.

The current BBC series Doctor in the House very much follows the philosophy as outlined above – worth a watch and read. Although we cannot come and live with you – you can benefit from investing in yourself. You are after all a very sophisticated biological organism which works best if it is looked after well

Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing excess weight gain among adults and children is very
important. Please see this link on NICE guidelines which we are following.

We can refer you to one of NHS recognised dieting schemes (see the eat4health link below) or to
support you when you consider intermittent fasting such as the 5:2 diet.
Technology such as the apple health kit app Apple Health Kit may be useful to you. Try it!
Eat 4 Health - Self Referral Form . The Eat4health web site provides more information https://www.eat-4-health.co.uk/

We are also currently trying to help reduce your risk of going into hospital by looking at risk profiles we may therefore be contacting you and arranging help in a proactive fashion.

Help can come in many forms, not only from the practice but District nurses community matrons, social services etc..
Age concern are a very useful resource CLICK HERE

Reducing your risk of Influenza, pneumonia and shingles

If you are over 65 years then book and appointment for your yearly Flu vaccine &
a one of pneumonia vaccine – if you haven’t had one.
You may also be eligible for a shingles vaccine – call us and we will let you know if you are- (the link advises who is eligible) 

Alcohol – how much is too much?

A small study in the “New Scientist” magazine showed that even “within limits” alcohol consumption causes a fatty liver. Recent articles from research have linked rising levels of alcohol consumption in the middle years of life as being linked to alzheimers, liver cirrhosis and premature death. So we all need to be aware and keep alcohol intake to very small amounts especially when older. Alcohol is also very calorific.

Risk Reduction is not difficult. Reducing alcohol consumption is an important lifestyle change to consider.

Life style changes can improve both mental and physical well being. Motivation to make changes can be difficult. An App called  AIM can help.

Screening

Screening is one of the best ways we have of preventing serious disease such as cancer. Currently the NHS has screening program’s for the following .

1. Bowel Cancer screening
2. Breast Cancer screening
3. Cervical Cancer screening
4. Aortic Aneurysm screening
5. Prostate cancer screening - this is slightly controversial but is of benefit if you have a family history of Prostate cancer.
6. If you have a family history of cancer then predictive genetic test screening – may be for you.

We would encourage everyone to accept screening invitations. Outcomes in all Cancers are improved by early diagnosis. Many of the above cancers have no symptoms until they are significantly advanced.

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a condition which increases with age. High blood pressure, OSA, & heart disease can increase the risk. AF increases the risk of a major Stroke.  

We can screen for this by checking to see if you have an irregular pulse. If the condition is confirmed with an ECG, we can prescribe medication to significantly reduce the risk of having a major stroke.

Screening for Dementia

Facilitating timely diagnosis and support dementia for people with Dementia

Improving diagnosis and care of patients with dementia has been prioritised by the Department of Health.

For patients with dementia, their carers and families, the benefits of timely diagnosis and referral will enable them to plan their lives better, to provide timely treatment if appropriate, to enable timely access to otherforms of support and to enhance the quality of life.

You or someone you know may be at risk if they are over 60 and have diabetes and with cardiovascular disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease.

Or are:

• patients aged 40 and over with Down's syndrome

• other patients aged 50 and over with learning disabilities

• patients with long term neurological conditions which have a known neurodegenerative element such as Parkinsons disease

Our Doctors and nurses will therefore be offering a screening test to you if you are concerned about your memory or have a member of your family that you are worried about.

The test can be viewed on the attached website http://www.gpcog.com.au/index.php 

Dementia is increasingly becoming a problem for everyone. Dementia Uk provides excellent advise on the subject CLICK HERE