Newsletter - June 2019

Published: 24 May 2019

Tips to keep you child safe in the sun

Encourage your child to play in the shade – for example, under trees – especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
Keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight, especially around midday.
Cover exposed parts of your child's skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above and is effective against UVA and UVB. Don't forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks, and the tops of their feet. Reapply often throughout the day.
Be especially careful to protect your child's shoulders and the back of their neck when they're playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn.
Cover your child up in loose cotton clothes, such as an oversized T-shirt with sleeves.
Get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck.
Protect your child's eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard (BSEN 1836:2005) and carry the CE mark – check the label.
If your child is swimming, use a waterproof sunblock of factor 15 or above. Reapply after toweling.

Prescription Charges

Prescription charges in England increased by 20p to £9.00 from 1st April 2019, for each medicine or appliance dispensed.

The cost of the annual and three month Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC) will remain the same. A three-month PPC stays at £29.10, and the annual PPC will say at £104.00. PPCs offer savings to patients who require at least 4 medicines in a three month period and at least 12 medicines during one year.

Measles
There has been an increase in cases of measles both locally and nationally over the last 12 months. Rashes are common in children, however those with measles are particularly unwell. Unvaccinated individuals are particularly at risk. Symptoms of measles include:

High Fever
Sore, red Watery eyes
Cough
Aching and feeling generally unwell
A blotchy red brown rash (see NHS website for images of the measles typical rash)

If you think you have measles please inform reception staff immediately. You will be seated in a separate waiting area, to stop the infection from spreading to others.

If you or a family member have not been vaccinated as part of the routine vaccination programme, and you would now like to receive the MMR vaccine, please contact the surgery to see whether you are eligible.

Carers Support Meetings
Meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month. If you are a carer, please pop along and get some support from other people in the local community. Refreshments provided no need to pre-book and completely FREE! Please contact Sue Lawson at the surgery or email her at susan.lawson7@nhs.net for more information.

Cambridgeshire Hearing Clinics
The next Hearing Aid Clinics at Willingham Surgery are on Weds 19th June, Weds 17th July and Weds 21st August from 2:00pm-4:00pm. No appointment necessary, just pop along for your free NHS hearing aid batteries and for help and advice regarding hearing loss.

A&E is not an alternative to a GP appointment. If we are closed, please call 111.