Hay Fever Is On The Rise, But Is It Worth A Visit To Your GP?

GP Online have reported recently that the number of hay fever sufferers who have visited their GP over the last couple of weeks has doubled since the same time last year.  But how will GP practices cope, and do you really need to visit a GP if you are suffering from hay fever?

Any kind of epidemic or seasonal illness such as the Norovirus and hay fever will inevitably increase pressure on a GP practice.  Whilst many patients have a genuine need to see a doctor, many may find that they can relieve their symptoms by speaking to a pharmacist and taking over the counter medicines.  In the case of highly contagious infections such as the Norovirus, it is usually recommended that patients in fact stay away from their local GP practice, so as to prevent the infection from spreading.

To cope with the increased demand from patients, GP practices are turning to using GP locum agencies to try to ensure that as many patients are seen as possible within the recommended timescales.  Some practices may just need to hire GP locums for a couple of weeks to cover extremely busy periods, but as the summer approaches, many GPs will inevitably be wishing to take annual leave.  This leaves a number of appointments which are needed to be covered, so if you need to visit your GP this summer, you may find that you will be seen by a locum.

Hay fever is caused by a person having an allergic reaction to pollen, and different types of pollen are prevalent at different times of the year.  Mid-June does seem to see the peak of hay fever due to the types of pollen which are in the atmosphere, and weather forecasters have stated that the pollen count has been slightly higher than usual for June 2014. 

Common symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, throat and ears plus a cough.  Persistent symptoms can make you feel miserable and become cumbersome, but if possible it’s best to keep away from the GP’s surgery and instead persevere with over the counter remedies until the pollen levels begin to die down.

Further details about locum GPs can be found at the Locum Select website.

Diabetes Week Set To Run 8-14 June 2014

Here at Locum Select we are helping to raise awareness of Diabetes Week which is running from 8 to 14 June 2014.  The aim of the week is to raise awareness of diabetes and increase fundraising to allow further research into the condition.  Social media networks will no doubt be full of Tweets and Facebook posts about different fundraising activities which are planned up and down the country, and diabetes charities are also using the week to promote various products which have been designed to make the lives of diabetes patients much easier.

Diabetes is a common condition amongst people within the UK, and the number of people being diagnosed is unfortunately increasing year on year.  Figures from a report by Diabetes UK show that back in 1996 there were reported to be 1.4 million diabetes patients within the UK, but this looks set to increase to over 4 million people by 2025.  This is going to have a huge impact on the health of the population and will also cost the NHS an alarming amount of money. 

There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2.  Type 1 affects just 10% of patients and is usually diagnosed before the patient reaches the age of 40.  The patient is unable to naturally produce insulin, a hormone which helps glucose to enter cells where it can then be used by the body as fuel.  Patients who develop Type 2 diabetes can produce a small amount of insulin, but it may not be enough to work effectively.  Type 2 diabetes often develops as a result of genes, diet and lifestyle choices.

It is highly important that people are educated on the risks of diabetes, plus how they can change their lifestyle so as to manage and perhaps reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 diabetes often develops if a patient is overweight and under-active, there is a history of diabetes within the family, the patient smokes and if they have poor blood pressure control.

Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled by making changes to the diet and lifestyle, though many patients will need to take medication to control their insulin levels.  Increasing the awareness of diabetes can help patients to manage their condition in order to reduce the risk of other serious health conditions developing as a side effect.

At Locum Select we encourage everyone to take responsibility for their own health and lifestyle – eat a balanced, nutritious diet, carry out two or three hours of exercise each week, stop smoking, reduce alcohol intake and be aware of any health concerns.  If a person feels they may be developing symptoms of diabetes, such as needing to urinate more often, increased thirst, extreme tiredness or unexplained weight loss, then it’s vital they see their GP as soon as possible in order to gain the correct diagnoses.

Locum Select are a locum agency providing GPs and nurses to various health practices across the Midlands.  For further details, feel free to visit the website.