There are two type of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes isn’t linked with age or being overweight. The causes are unknown and it is unpreventable. Only 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1.
Type 2 diabetes is much more common. It is linked to lifestyle factors and develops over time. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, it is largely preventable.
The peak of the coronavirus pandemic continues to recede, and the NHS is straining to catchup with the backlog of care that resulted from dealing with the pandemic. Whilst waiting times are prolonged, we would encourage everyone with symptoms that may be due cancer to make an appointment at the Practice. For this episode I would like to focus on bowel cancer, also known as colon or colorectal cancer. Symptoms that may be due to bowel cancer include:
Of course, many things other than bowel cancer can cause these symptoms and so having these symptoms does not mean that you have cancer. However, it is particularly important that symptoms like this get investigated promptly.
One of our concerns is the substantial number of people who do not take up the offer of bowel cancer screening. Screening is the process of testing people for a condition when they do not have symptoms. Screening can detect bowel cancer at an early stage or detect polyps which may become cancerous, but which can be removed to reduce the risk of bowel cancer developing. Regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer.
The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening using a home test kit to everyone aged between 56 and 74 every 2 years. People over 74 can ask for a kit every 2 years by calling 0800 707 60 60.
When people do not take part, it may be because of embarrassment, not realising the benefits, not appreciating that they may at risk or understanding the seriousness of the condition. We encourage everyone to take part in this life saving programme. More information is available at NHS bowel cancer screening: helping you decide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We shall be contacting people who have not responded to recent Bowel Cancer Screening Programme invitations by text or letter to encourage them to participate.
Best wishes and goodbye for now from the Barton Family Practice team.
Please be aware that we will be closed for the May Bank Holiday on Monday 2nd May and will re-open as normal on Tuesday 3rd May.
If you need medical advice during this period you can:
Visit your pharmacy. Your local pharmacy can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints. Opening times for local Pharmacies can be downloaded
or you can visit NHS Choices.
Access NHS 111. If you need urgent medical advice but your condition is not life threatening, you can access NHS 111 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, either online or via phone.
To access the service online simply visit 111.nhs.uk, enter your age, sex, postcode and main symptom, and then you will be guided through a series of questions about your health problems.
To access the service via phone, simply dial 111 from any mobile or landline free of charge and you will be put through to an operator who will run through a few questions regarding your health problem in order to get you the right care.
A&E or 999. For a genuine medical emergency including; loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, persistent and or/severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot
be stopped call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Do you have a muscle, joint or bone problem?
From 4 April, when you request an appointment, you may be offered an appointment with a specialist physiotherapist called a first contract practitioner instead of a GP.
A First Contact Practitioner can:
Nationally 96% of patients recommend the service and only 5% choose to see a GP afterwards
Speak to the GP reception team for further information
If you are experiencing any of the following:
you can access free NHS appointments at local opticians as part of the urgent eyecare service (CUES). To find your nearest practice and information on how to access it, please visit Find a Practice – Search for your nearest participating optical practice (primaryeyecare.co.uk) Please be aware this is not a sight test.