PRACTICE NEWSLETTER
June 2009
To those of you who are new to our practice a very warm welcome! To the rest of our patients, we are glad to be involved with you and your family.
Many of you have been asking questions about the swine flu. The news media have given us all a big scare so I thought it might help for me to put the record straight. The so-called swine flu, H1N1 variety, is no worse if you catch it than the ordinary flu which is also going around. So don’t panic! The symptoms are just the ones we have always been used to with real flu - aches and pains, sweats, cough, cold and sore throat, sometimes also with vomiting. What makes swine special is that most people have little or no resistance to it, so if you meet it you will probably catch it.
Because it is a virus, antibiotics are of no use unless you develop a bacterial infection on top of the flu with a heavy, coloured discharge from the nose or sputum. We cannot do much for you unless this happens. The treatment is the usual one of Panadol, fluids and rest at home. But do not hesitate to call us if you are seriously unwell or want advice particularly with young children, old people or those with other major sicknesses. The most important point otherwise is to keep away from work, school or others so that you do not spread it unnecessarily. Avoid sport and travel.
Flu vaccines are still available to protect against the ordinary flu and are strongly recommended especially if you are 65+ or have asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
On a much more cheerful note, we want to introduce you to Linda Talbot who has joined our team. Those of you who have been with the practice a long time will remember her as our practice nurse and then manager up until about 7 years ago. She has done further training in social work and it is particularly in that way that she will be helping. Her special role with be solving problems for those who are struggling to get the help they need in the system. This may be to do with education, mental health, disability services, WINZ, CYFS, Housing NZ, immigration and all the various government and voluntary agencies. You will find that she is very pleasant and approachable but knows how to make things happen!
For those of you with teenagers, our sons, Nick and Pete are running another snow camp at Whakapapa, Mt. Ruapehu, from 12-16th July. Brochures are in reception. Send them to join us.
Tony Hanne