News - One Stop Health

We are open from
8.30am to 6.30pm
Monday to Friday.

Pre-booked appointments
are available at The
Guildford Clinic from
8am to 7pm

12th January 2010 - press release

Virginia Cook talks to Dr Richard Redfern who runs the private GP practice at The Guildford Clinic

Together with One Stop Health, we opened our on-site private GP practice in September last year. One Stop Health are a well-established and experienced organisation that has been offering private GP services to patients in the Walton-on-Thames area for over 25 years.

Dr Richard Redfern, who heads up One Stop Health talked to Virginia Cook at the Clinic about what private GP practices have to offer and in particular what it means for patients using The Guildford Clinic:

VC: What would you say are the main benefits for patients to consider when they're thinking about using our new practice?

RR: I would say that we are the key starting point for self-pay patients who need a fast referral to a specialist. Because we're on site at the Clinic, patients can see me or one of my team first thing in the morning for example, and be seen later the same day by one of the consultants. Our system eliminates any lengthy waiting for appointments and minimises the anxiety many patients feel when they don't have a diagnosis and an understanding of the treatment they might need.

VC: What does 'one stop' really mean for your private patients?

RR: In practice 'one stop' means that a patient comes in and can have a range of diagnostic tests during the same appointment or consultation, these might include x-rays, CT or ultrasound scans for example and blood tests. They don't have to leave our clinic for any of these, except the blood tests, to be carried out and the results are incredibly prompt. Then, where needs be, patients can go on to see a specialist the same day. This is why the Well Man Clinic is so straightforward - it works really well for busy, men who need to try and fit appointments around their working day. For me, this means we offer a real 'one stop' service.

VC: Can you give me an example of how this all works in practice?

RR: One of our most recent cases involved a young teenage girl who came to see me with her mother, during the afternoon. She was complaining of severe abdominal pains which seemed to be getting worse quite quickly. We ran blood tests and gave her a scan, and within an hour of her arrival she was seen by a consultant who suspected she was suffering from appendicitis. She was immediately admitted to the clinic so that she could be closely monitored. I think this example demonstrates just how well our system works and most importantly, for the patient, the speed with which we are able to help them, relieves so much stress and anxiety, not to mention helping them to feel a lot better and fast.

GPs are available for appointments between 8.00am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday.

For further information about the private GP practice at the Guildford Clinic, please visit: www.onestophealth.co.uk or call: 01932 222556. Alternatively contact The Guildford Clinic on 01483 207300.

21st December 2009

One Stop Health - National H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccination Program

One Stop Health, in conjunction with Surrey PCT, is pleased to be able to provide H1N1 swine flu vaccinations to private patients in line with the Department of Health guidelines for priority groups.

Priority groups are defined as:

Frontline Health Care workers
Individuals between 6 months and 65 years of age in "at risk" groups (category I)
Pregnant Women (category II)
Household contacts for immunosuppressed (Category III)
Individuals over 65 years in an at risk group (category IV)
Children between 6 months and 5 years (Category V)

Category 1 at risk groups:

serious heart disease
serious lung disease, like emphysema, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis or asthma
serious kidney or liver disease
a long-term health problem, like diabetes
a weakened immune system - for example due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy or steroid treatment or HIV/Aids

Vaccine Schedule
Pandemerix (GSK)
For all children aged 6 months of age to less than 10years of age - One half dose (0.25ml)
For immunosuppressed patients - two doses (0.25ml each) of Pandemerix should be given with a minimum of three weeks between doses.
For individuals aged 10yrs and over - One dose 0.5ml
For immunocompromised patients aged over 10 years - two doses (o.5ml each) of Pandemerix should be given with a minimum of three weeks between doses.

Egg Allergy

For any patients with an egg allergy Celvapan should be given, not Pandemerix.

SWINE FLU
20th November 2009

Swine flu is a new strain of flu virus that few people will have immunity to. The first cases emerged in April 2009 in Mexico and in June the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global pandemic.

People with swine flu typically have a fever (over 38°C) and may also have fatigue, aching muscles, appetite loss, sore throat and/or a dry cough. Occasionally people have had a runny nose, vomiting and diarrhoea. In other words, the symptoms are very similar to seasonal (regular) flu.

If you have had contact with someone with suspected swine flu it can take 7 days before you have symptoms. Most people are infectious for 5-7 days so please stay at home to avoid spread if you think you have swine flu. In most cases the virus has been mild so far but check your symptoms with the National Pandemic Flu Service (website phone and text number) and get a unique number that will give you access to antivirals if necessary. Try not to wait in crowded areas where there may be vulnerable people like GP surgeries or casualty departments, but do phone your GP if:

You have a serious existing condition that weakens your immune system caused by disease or treatment e.g. cancer.
You have a long term lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease.
You are diabetic.
You are pregnant (pregnancy does naturally suppress your immune system).
You have a sick child less than one year old.
Your condition suddenly gets much worse, or your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).

Some people are more at risk of complications if they catch swine flu, and need to start taking anti-virals as soon as it is confirmed that they have the illness. Doctors may advise some high-risk patients to take anti-virals before they have symptoms, if someone close to them has swine flu.

A swine flu vaccine is available now and GPs are calling and giving the vaccine to:

People aged between six months and 65 years who usually get the seasonal flu jab.
All pregnant women.
People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients.
People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at risk groups.
Front line health and social workers as they are most exposed.

What can I do ?

'Catch it, bin it, kill it!' Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and dispose carefully and swiftly. The virus is made up of small particles that can spread through droplets that come out of your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.
Hand washing reduces the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people.
Cleaning hard surfaces such as door handles frequently. The virus can stay on hard surfaces for 24hrs.
Have ready a flu friend that will help you if you fall ill to get medicines and supplies so you do not have to leave home.
Have a thermometer at home to check for fever.
Have some over the counter medicines at home ready, that will help you if you do come down with flu symptoms.

And finally

With the party season looming, don’t be tempted by a flu party! Catching it now may not help you with future strains if it mutates, your hard earned antibodies may not be enough!