From inside the community Mill Road Surgery Welcome to 2024 and Happy New Year to you all. We hope everyone has enjoyed the festive period and for those who may have set themselves a New Year’s resolution such as losing weight, exercising more, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol and improving mental wellbeing, then it may be well worthwhile having a chat to one of our Health & Wellbeing Coaches who work for North Colchester Primary Care Network (which includes Mill Road Surgery). We have introduced them before in previous issues, but their work here is invaluable so thought it may be worth a little reminder! They can offer invaluable support in these areas, as well as helping anyone who may find themselves in social isolation which can be worse during the winter. You can ask to be referred to them during your appointment with a clinician or contact them directly via email ([email protected]). During the winter period it is common to get cough and cold symptoms as various viruses, as well as bacteria circulate. Around 1 in 5 of us will get a cough during winter and most of the time it will go away on its own or be eased by remedies available from your local pharmacies. Most coughs clear within 3 weeks, but can last for up to 8. Should you get any of the symptoms below though then you should be assessed by a clinician face-to-face at the surgery: • a cough lasting more than three weeks • coughing up blood • chest or shoulder pain as well as coughing • breathlessness • weight loss for no reason over the last six months • hoarseness or changes in your voice for longer than three weeks and persists once the cough is better • new lumps or swellings around your neck and above your collarbones. As well as helping with the common coughs and colds, some pharmacies can also now supply the contraceptive pill as a patient new to the pill as well as continuing providing it for those already on it, this makes it much easier for those with a busy lifestyle to start or continue contraception, without having to try and make an appointment to see a clinician at the surgery. Ashley Moore, Paramedic Practitioner / Nurse Manager 15
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