Publications

Medical Scribblings - 07 January 2007

Do you get those emails offering to sell you Viagra, Diazepam, Zopiclone etc etc? Well I do, and it’s all very worrying. When someone did a bit of research and bought samples from various suppliers half where not what they were purported to be. It may well be that in the near future you will be able to get your drugs from a web site legitimately but it will have a proper address in the UK with someone on the end of a phone to answer questions.

Thinking about all this media stuff (we are trying to put together a web site – www.elsenhamsurgery.co.uk) its interesting what you catch when in a half sleeping mode in front of the TV. They have this programme that makes you look 10 years younger. Lots of plastic surgery, dental work, cosmetics and new shoes seems to be the order of the day. What caught my eye was the astray stuffed with fag ends which would probably explain why this particular lady was looking 50 instead of 40 in the first place. Should I try pointing this out to your average teenage girl or would I be safer saving my breath?

We do seem to have had success in heart disease – the number of premature deaths has shown a sharp decline. You might think that all this is down to those stents they put in your coronary arteries these days, but no, 58% of the fall is said to be due to changes in peoples risk profiles. So all that going on to you to stop smoking, give up deep fried mars bar, and try to occasionally get out of your car when going down the corner shop is having an effect. What’s more it’s a lot cheaper than paying for incredibly expensive hospital operating theatres.

One recent sadness has been the loss of our midwife run clinic at the surgery – they have centralised them to save money! There are a few things that really make a difference to how healthy people will be and maternity care and child support are at the top of the list. My next fear is that they will take away the support of the health visitor. Di who will be known to many of you has been a tremendous support to many new mums and would be sorely missed if like the midwife she was to be replaced by an office miles away. I would appreciate support in this – always worth a note to Sir Alan Hazelhurst c/o the House of Commons.

A small note of self congratulations – we got the highest quality figures in Uttlesford for prevention of diseases in 2006 – a lot of hard work from the staff and support from yourselves. May I wish you all a healthy year for 2007.

John Schofield