Welcome to Whitchurch Surgery website

We hope to use our surgery website as a way of presenting all our patients with an up to date resource for all information relating to our practice. We will keep it current with any news, developments & details that are relevant to the practice & our patients.

As well as a source of information about our Practice, the staff & the services we provide, we hope you use the website as a useful resource with links to other reliable websites for health related information.

We are a dispensing practice. 

AS FROM 1ST AUGUST THE PRACTICE WILL HAVE THE CHIP & PIN FACILITY FOR PAYING FOR SERVICES.

PLEASE NOTE AMERICAN EXPRESS IS NOT ACCEPTED

      SEASONAL MEDICAL NEWS

Spring is a lovely time of the year with the explosion of colour in the countryside, but for some (10 to 20%) it can be accompanied by the onset of miserable symptoms (hay fever and/or asthma) due to allergy to pollen from trees, grass and weeds.  Symptoms tend to be more common in children and young people as some sort of tolerance can develop if you are older.

·   Hay fever symptoms including– sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion (blocked nose) itching (e.g. throat & eyes) and watery eyes.

·   Asthma symptoms include—cough (especially at night and early morning), wheezing, breathlessness and mucoid sputum.

·   Symptoms can be mid and intermittent or more severe and continuous

·   Impact of severe symptoms includes: disturbed sleep, tiredness and reduced concentration at school or work.

For mild to moderate hay fever symptoms— self medication can be bought over the counter with the advice of a pharmacist if necessary.

  Antihistamine — tablets or liquid medicine e.g. cetirizine or loratadine—most useful for prevention of sneezing itching and watery eyes.  Can be used intermittently as usually start to work within the hour.

Sodium Cromoglicate eye drops — useful to prevent itching/water eyes

Steriod nasal sprays — e.g. beclomenthasone and fluticasone (various brands) - most useful to treat nasal congestion.  Must be tried for 7 to 10 days before assuming it is not effective.  Follow instructions and dosage carefully.  Steriod nasal sprays need to be used continuously to be effective although the dose can be reduced to a lower maintenance dose once symptoms are controlled.  (Steriod nasal sprays are known to be safe for general use during the spring and summer)

Nasal douches ( wash out the pollen from the nose and may help)

When to consult your doctor or asthma nurse specialist  

·   If you have severe symptoms of hay fever or asthma interrupting sleep, work or school

·   If you have daytime asthma symptoms on exercise or if you are using your blue inhaler more than 3 days a week (EVEN IF YOU THINK YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS ARE MILD).  This is especially IMPORTANT in children who tend to exercise more at this time of the year.  If they have asthma and hay fever with nasal congestion they tend to breathe more pollen into their lungs as the nose is blocked, and it is unable to filter out the pollen before it enters the lungs.  As a consequence there is a real risk (albeit small fortunately) that they can suffer a severe acute asthma attack which can be life        threatening.  It is important, therefore, to treat not only the asthma symptoms, but also the nasal congestion.

·   If you child is under 6 years old with suspected symptoms of hay fever or asthma

Dr J Rizzo-Naudi - 2011