The ElliottEar
Number
Chairman’s
Report
Annual General Meeting Notice
Hon. Treasurer’s Report
Carers’ Support Group
Our Stay In Jack’s Place
Repeat Prescribing
Online Booking Of Appointments
Bowel Cancer Awareness
Hay Fever
Wouldn’t We All Want To save Lives If We Could
Staff News At EHMC
Surgery Opening Hours
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
There was an excellent attendance
at the Christmas Coffee Morning on Saturday 20 November, and the event raised
£439 towards the Association's funds. My thanks to all who helped to stage the
event.
We have recently embarked on a programme of purchases of additional equipment
for the Surgery and a full list will be published in the next edition of The ElliottEar. When selecting items to be
purchased, we try to find equipment which will benefit a wide range of patients
and also help the doctors and nurses in their work. They tell us what is needed
and make the purchases - we pay for them.
Below you will find details of the Annual General Meeting to be held at
In the same month, on 21 May, we have our annual Quiz Supper - an evening of
brainwork but also plenty of fun. Please make sure you book your places as soon
as possible.
We have recently co-opted Tony Berry on to the Committee and we welcome him. I
am sure he will be a very useful member of the team.
From time to time members of the Committee are invited to discuss the setting
up of patients' associations at other practices. We hope that the help and
advice which we give is useful to them. They are often amazed at what our
association has achieved, and all of this is due to the support of our
volunteers, and once again I say thank you to them all. However, we do still
need more volunteers - please ring one of the coordinators listed at the back
of The ElliottEar
and offer
your help.
As I write this report in February, I am very much looking forward to the
Luncheon later this month to celebrate 10 years of the Carers' Support Group -
a wonderful effort - well done everyone!
Cyril Flood, Chairman
*******************************************************************************************
Notice is hereby given under Rule 6 of the Rules of
the Elliott Hall Patients' Association that the
Annual General Meeting
of
the said Association will be held at
Hatch End Free Church,
AGENDA
l. Apologies for absence
2. Chairman's Annual Report
3. Hon. Treasurer's Report Presentation of Statement of Accounts
and Adoption of same
4. Election of Officers
5. Election of Independent Examiner of Accounts
6. Any Other Business
Hon. Secretary:
Mrs Janice Berry,
The three present Officers
(Chairman, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary) are eligible for re-election and
all have agreed to stand again. Lesley Walmsley was co-opted as Vice Chairman
during the year, and is willing to stand for election. Any other nominations
for these four positions must be proposed and seconded by members of the
Patients' Association, and sent in writing to the Hon. Secretary by
After the formal AGM Sister Alison Willis will speak about her work in
the A & E Department of Northwick Park
Advance Notice ! CHRISTMAS COFFEE
MORNING Saturday 12 November
FROM THE HON. TREASURER
This is now the quiet time for Accountants, after the
mad rush to get the final tax returns away. The
draft accounts of the Patients' Association are with the Independent Examiner
of Accounts, and the figures should not need much adjustment.
Again we have received over £1,500 in donations
from various very generous members, and over £2,000 in advertising revenue for The ElliottEar. With printing costs
escalating, we really do need more advertisers.
Last year, for the first time, some of the
donations were made through Gift Aid,
and I will have great pleasure in seeking a further donation from the Inland
Revenue as their contribution to our funds. If any readers, who are tax-payers,
wish to give to the Patients' Association, please ask me for a Gift Aid form.My
address is inside the back cover of this magazine.
With all the activities in which we have been
involved, the expenses have been very modest, though again, there is a small
excess of expenditure over income.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Annual
General Meeting on Tuesday 17 May, and perhaps at the Quiz Supper the following
Saturday.
Victor Davis Hon. Treasurer
*****************************************************************************
CARERS'
SUPPORT GROUP
All
the members of the Carers' Support Group, and all those who are privileged to
give them some help, knew that it was a long time since we had celebrated our
individual tenth birthdays! It
was therefore a great day on 17 February when we celebrated the tenth birthday
of the Group with a wonderful lunch at the Leefe Robinson.
There
were 42 ladies and gentlemen at the lunch - all the present members of the
Group, some lovely people who had been long-term carers recently and in the
past, Dr Majus, Dr Kelshiker and there was a special welcome for Dr Elizabeth
James. Unfortunately, Dr Byers succumbed to flu on that day and could not join
the lunch, although he did put his head round the door. Dr Jenner had family
commitments, but we were delighted that he was able to call in and see
everybody at pre-lunch drinks, even though he could not join us for the meal
itself.
A
dear friend of the Group, Mike Majus (Dr Majus' father) thoroughly enjoyed
himself, and as always was pleased to be asked. We also invited two ladies from
the Home Visiting Team who sit with the carers' loved ones to enable them to
come to our meetings. By special request of the carers themselves, an
invitation was issued to the long-suffering husbands of Anne and I - both Cyril
and Arthur really enjoyed themselves. (An
excellent lunch with wonderful company. Many thanks, Cyril.) There was a
wonderful atmosphere and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day, rounded off by
each person being given a box of after-dinner mints by Dr Majus - what a lovely
thought!
Carers are very special people who give so much
of themselves, but when they join our Group they tell us how marvellous it is
to know that they are not alone and there are many other people in the same
position. We would encourage anyone who feels they need some respite for an
hour and a half a month to come and join us. If you don't feel you can come to
the Group please give Anne or Beryl a call, and they will come to visit you to
discuss any problems you have, or just for a friendly chat.
Details of the dates and venues for our meetings
are on the notice board at the Surgery, but it is easy to remember that we meet
on the third Thursday in each month from
HERE'S TO
THE NEXT TEN YEARS ! !
Beryl Peacop
*************************************************************************
OUR STAY IN JACK'S PLACE - Part One
Paediatric Ward,
Seventeen
years ago (before I joined the team at EHMC) I spent some years nursing sick
children and was working as a Paediatric Sister at NPH on Cavendish Ward.
However, this was going to be a very different experience returning to the ward
(renamed Jack's Place) as a Mum with my daughter Kate having a knee operation.
Jack's
Place is named after Jack Myers, one of the key driving forces in the early
days of the Lifeline4Kids Charity, who funded the special equipment on the ward
during the modernization of the NPH Paediatric Unit, and caters for children
from birth to sixteen.
Kate's
admission actually began two weeks previously with a pre-admission appointment,
when she was fully assessed by the Orthopaedic Team and the consent form was
signed. This enabled us to arrive early on the operation day, and within an
hour Kate was in theatre. Less
time to get anxious!
Initial impressions were of a bright and colourful ward, family-friendly
equipment and efficient staff. Kate
was relaxed as I was able to be with her in the anaesthetic room until she was
asleep, and joined her again in Recovery to support her until she was stable
enough to return to the ward.
The nurses were kind and
caring, their main aim to keep Kate comfortable and settled. The ward was clean
and tidy, cleaners regularly visible, gloves and soap available, prevention of
infection appearing to be a high priority of care.
The
children were offered facilities such as books and toys, the Play Specialist
helping as needed. This week was half-term, allowing time to play and no going
to the schoolroom. Family and friends were encouraged to visit and to autograph
the plaster on Kate's knee, along with the nurses. The facilities for parents
have improved immensely from the days of moving heavy Z-beds at nights for
parents, to today's posh pull-down comfortable beds alongside their children.
The
entire Paediatric team, including the clinical staff and ward team, were all
professional in their care, helpful and supportive, even ringing me at home
with the next appointment so that I could organize my work around it.
I
really felt the standard of care was of a very high quality, with a
child-friendly environment and family-focused facilities. I knew Jack well, and
other members of the past and present Paediatric team. They should all be proud of Jack's Place.
Helen Jenner Nurse Practitioner and Mother
My Stay in Jack's Place - Part
Two
On
15 February at 07.30 we arrived in Jack's Place ready for my knee operation at
09.00 I was surprised when I was taken down early, but was worried as the magic
numbing cream had only just been put on my hand and had not had time to work. It didn't matter as the
anaesthetist applied a freezing spray to numb the hand. I was very reassured as Mum was allowed to stay with me right up
until I was asleep.
When
I returned to Jack's Place all the nurses were very caring and made every
effort to keep me as comfortable as possible. The ward was brightly coloured
and very clean. I had one designated nurse for the day and one for the night.
They both introduced themselves and frequently checked that I was not in too
much pain.When it came to the meals, I was always given a choice, with at least
one vegetarian option.
The food was in good portions and hot.
During the day the hospital
Play Specialist went round the ward to check that nobody was bored, and offered
all sorts of arts and crafts to suit all ages. It was a great relief to have
the use of a free personal TV with digital channels too!
Overall my stay in Jack's Place was made as
comfortable as possible by all the care and support from all the staff.
Kate Jenner (aged 15)
*************************************************************************************
REPEAT PRESCRIBING.....
Your
Questions Answered
Administering and safely monitoring your repeat
prescriptions is probably the single most time-consuming task for us at the
surgery. It is also laborious for you, having to ensure that you do not run
out! Is it any wonder then that it can also be an area of conflict when we have
requests at the front desk for medicines which are either about to or have
already run out. This article explains a little more about why we need time to
issue these repeat requests, and gives some tips as to how you may take best
advantage of the system to help us help you.
How can I avoid having to
ask for my medication urgently?
The commonest reason patients
request their medication urgently is because they have either run out or are
about to run out! This problem has been exacerbated since we became restricted
in only being able to issue medicines to most patients for just one month at a
time. One way to help with this is to request next month's medication at the
same time as you collect your prescription. We are happy for you to leave the
counterfoil at the reception desk having ticked the necessary boxes, before
leaving with your prescription. This way there is always a script waiting for
you at the surgery. If during the ensuing weeks your medication is altered in
any way we can simply adjust the script before you collect it. If you request
your prescription via your local chemist, or you request your prescription by
enclosing a stamped addressed envelope, then a similar arrangement can also
work.
My medication review is overdue.
What does this mean?
Effectively every repeat
prescription is scrutinised by a doctor at the practice, and every day usually
2 doctors are assigned to the task of doing this (it can take in excess of 2
hours!). If your medication review is overdue (this is clearly detailed at the
base of the counterfoil) then it suggests that you MAY need to be seen by a
doctor or a nurse at the surgery. If you have an appointment to see us at about
the time your review is due we will usually aim to adjust the review and ensure
the monitoring of your medication is up to date. It really helps if you could
remind us to do this, just in case we have overlooked the review date.
If you have recently been seen by
us at the surgery and this has not been amended it is very helpful to add a
note to this effect when you next request your medicines, and we will check
that all the necessary examinations or blood tests have been done, and if so
amend the date accordingly.
How often do I need to be seen for
a medicines review?
There is not a straight answer to
this as conditions people suffer with vary in their need. We do like to see all
patients on regular repeat medication at least annually. For patients on 4 or
more medicines this is every 6 months. Since 80 % of all our patients see us at
least once a year this is usually not an onerous task. Please do ask the doctor
who normally sees you this question and also what needs to be done for your
personal medication review. This will help you understand a little more about
your care.
What if I have recently been seen at the hospital. Do I
still need to be seen at the surgery?
"Possibly" is the answer. If the specialist
is jointly overseeing the condition for which you are on medication then we
probably don't need to see you as well. Again, do drop us a note if this is the
case as it can take several weeks for us to get a hospital letter.
I have
just been seen in Outpatients and the wait for the pharmacy was too long.
Can I ask the surgery to prescribe the medicines?
Unfortunately we do discourage this for several
reasons. Firstly, some medicines prescribed in hospital may not be available at
the chemist and, secondly, unless we are confident that this is a safe and
appropriate medicine for you we are unable to issue it. The reason the first
prescription of a new medicine or change in dose is issued by the hospital is
to allow time for the consultant's letter to get to us explaining the reasons.
Without this we may be unable to help you and you may have a return trip to the
hospital.
Finally, these requests will not be treated any
faster than routine repeat requests, adding yet further delay to your starting!
I have seen a specialist privately. Can I ask the surgery to prescribe the medicine under the NHS?
We are currently happy to support your seeing a
specialist privately and then converting the prescription to one from the NHS.
These requests are not processed any quicker than routine requests and if there
is any ambiguity we may need to wait for a specialist's letter.
Some people deliver their prescription request
to the chemist. Can I?
We have very close relationships with our local pharmacists and both
Tanna's + Village Pharmacy in Hatch End and DB Jones in
How can I avoid delays and
mistakes with my request?
Firstly it takes us 2 working days
to process your prescription request which will be ready after
PRESCRIPTION
REQUESTS
|
Prescriptions handed in
before |
Will be ready for
collection after |
|
MONDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
|
TUESDAY |
THURSDAY |
|
WEDNESDAY |
FRIDAY |
|
THURSDAY |
MONDAY |
|
FRIDAY |
TUESDAY |
This allows just enough time to ensure your records
are checked and any queries acted upon. Delays can occur if scripts are not
posted through the correct letter box OR are placed in an envelope and
therefore handled as part of the routine mail. Our prescription request mailbox
is a very private and confidential system so do not worry about just posting
through the prescription request
What should I do with previous counterfoils? I
have several in a drawer at home.
Throw them away immediately.
Please ONLY KEEP YOUR MOST RECENT COUNTERFOIL. It is dangerous to use an old
one which may have either the wrong medication on it or old doses! It takes us a long time to sort these
problems. We are always happy to issue you a duplicate current prescription
request or accept a request in writing as long as it is clearly legible for
name, dose and quantity.
Please
also ensure your counterfoils are stapled together as this also avoids
confusion and errors.
Can I request my medication
by fax?
Yes, as long as you use the most
current prescription counterfoil.
Can I request my medication by e-mail?
Sorry not as yet, but our software
suppliers are working on software similar to that used in remotely making your
own appointments, so watch this space.
What if I need a medicine
not on my repeat medication counterfoil?
As a rule medications are only placed
on repeat if we feel it is safe and appropriate to have them there.
Occasionally on starting new medicines we may wait a short time while we
monitor the change. If it is a past drug then it may be unlikely we will be
happy to restart without seeing you.
*
Finally, we accept emergencies can arise, and
prescriptions can be accelerated through the system. This usually involves
disturbing another patient who may be consulting the doctor, and is not to be
encouraged. To help the doctor understand the exact nature of your particular
circumstances, the reception staff will ask you to complete a special form
detailing this information. If we feel the request is not urgent it will be
processed in the usual way.
Your help
and support with this important part of our work is much appreciated.
Dr Chris Jenner
*****************************************************************
(Valid from February 2005)
Please
read the following notes which we hope will assist you proceed with
registration and subsequently enable you to book your appointment online.
After you have successfully registered, you will then be able to make your
bookings by clicking on the link at the top of the Home page.
An
Introduction
EMIS , the clinical database supplier for this Medical
Centre, has recently set up emisaccess, a facility for patients to be able to
book appointments with EHMC via the Internet. Making
contact with EHMC via emisaccess is secure: data is encrypted so that it cannot
be intercepted. Only you and EHMC staff will be able to see it. The arrangement
is not directly linked to our clinical database.
Conditional
Use of the System
The service is only for patients over the age of 16.
At the moment you can only book an appointment to see a doctor, not any other
members of the EHMC team. [Please look at the Staff pages of the EHMC website
if you want further information on any of the doctors listed.]
The
practice will be closely monitoring the bookings made through the emisaccess
system; if someone is found to be misusing the system their access facility
will be stopped and the reasons given in writing. For example, misuse could be
making multiple bookings and then cancelling them, not attending bookings or
cancelling bookings at the last minute, thereby denying an appointment to
someone else. A one-off Registration is needed before you can actually start
making bookings. (See below for Registration procedures.)
Application to Use the Booking Service
Make your request to use the service in writing
addressed to the Practice Manager EHMC, including your full name, address and
date of birth, plus your signature. It will take two days to process your
application, after which you can collect your Registration details i.e., ID and
PIN numbers etc., from Reception, or we can post the information if you provide
a SAE.
Having received the details necessary for Registration
you can then pursue the Registration process online as described below.
Registration Process
l. Connect to the EHMC website, www.ehmc.co.uk
2. On the Home page click on the statement that says
"Book
your Internet appointment by clicking on this link" which
brings up the emisaccess Welcome page.
3. On the Welcome page click on the lettering
"create your account here". This brings up the "Your
Registration Information" page.
Enter
your six-digit PIN Number, the three-digit "Your Practice ID", the
two-digit "Access ID" and your ten-digit NHS Number.
Click on
"Submit".
4. The next page asks for Security Details as follows :
Personal Details.
Enter Your Surname, Your Forename and Date of Birth.
(these to be same as the details held on the practice database)
Choose a Password (case sensitive).
Enter
a Password (six or more alpha-numeric characters) Enter "Confirm
password".
Complete a
Security Question.
Select a category of question e.g., "favourite
film" and then enter "Your Answer". Click on "Submit"
5. The above completes the one-off Registration
process. Thereafter you can make use of the "Making An Appointment"
procedure shown below.
6. The above private data should be kept in a secure
place.
Making an Appointment Via The Internet
1.
Connect to the EHMC website, www.ehmc.co.uk.
2. On the Home page click on the statement that says
"Book your Internet appointment by clicking on
this link"
which brings up the
emisaccess Welcome page.
3. Go to where it says
"Existing Users Sign In" and enter your
a) three-digit Practice ID number
b) two-digit Access ID number c) Password
then click on "Sign In".
This brings up a Welcome page for
Appointments. 4.Click on "Book a New Appointment" or on "Cancel?"
For
the former, the emisaccess "Book an Appointment" page appears with a
list of appointments that are available.
To
book an appointment click the time that suits you best (but call the practice
if you cannot see a suitable time). You can obtain a printout of the booking to
use as a reminder.
To cancel a
booking click on "Cancel" and follow the on-screen instructions.
Peter Baggs
**********************************************************************
BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS -A patient's story
Bowel
cancer is the second most common cause of death in the
I
would like to share my experience of bowel cancer in the hope that anyone
experiencing similar symptoms to mine will be prompted to visit the surgery as
soon as possible.
At the start of 2002 I realized that my usual bowel habits had
changed. Some days I had a constant urge to visit the toilet but when I got
there nothing happened! On other days I had an increase in bowel movements.This
coupled with increased (often embarrassing) wind began to worry me. However, I
foolishly put off visiting the surgery until I saw a small amount of blood on
the toilet tissue. I now know that I should have gone as soon as I noticed a
change in bowel habits, and not waited. I was promptly referred for tests at St
Mark's Hospital, where I was given the devastating news that I had cancer of
the bowel with a secondary tumour in my liver.Naturally my family and I were
extremely shocked, and a thousand frightening thoughts raced round my head. I
felt sure that I was going to die. What I didn't know then is that bowel cancer
can be treated very successfully these days if caught early enough. I am living
proof of this! I want everyone to know that bowel cancer need not be the
terrifying experience we perceive it to be, but ONLY IF WE DON'T SIT ON THE SYMPTOMS!!
Yes,
cancer is a crisis, but the dictionary definition of a crisis is "a
turning point", and for me it was.I underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy
and surgery at St Mark's and Mount Vernon Hospitals with excellent results, and
now attend every few months for check-ups. Life as I knew it was put on hold
for a while but it has started again in a different way, and I am very happy to
be here to urge you to BE BOWEL AWARE.
Symptoms
to look out for
Any persistent change in bowel function; blood or
mucus in your stools; tiredness; an unexpected pain and/or lump in your
abdomen.
Don't forget, however, that bowel problems are very
common, and most symptoms do NOT turn out to be cancer.
Don't be embarrassed to talk to the doctors about
any changes. A key finding in a recent public survey was that 85 per cent of
British people would rather sit on their bowel cancer symptoms than talk about
them.Don't let this be you!
As well as the wonderful support from all the Elliott Hall
doctors, I had lots of support from the help lines run by two charities:
Beating Bowel Cancer (020) 8892
5256 www.bowelcancer.org
If you are worried, CALL TODAY.
Pat Morton
***********************************************************************************
A very big thank you to all our advertisers in this
issue of The E1liottEar. Without our
valued advertisers the Patients' Association would not be able to meet the
production costs of this newsletter twice a year.
It must be pointed out that the accuracy of any statements
cannot be warranted, nor any products or services advertised be guaranteed or
endorsed. Also, please remember how important feedback can be.If you contact
one of our advertisers please let them know that you heard about them from The E1liottEar.
If
you would like to advertise in the October issue (copy deadline 15 August)
please contact our Advertising Manager, Suzanne Smith .
**************************************************************************************
HAY FEVER
Hay fever can make you feel miserable. You sneeze
a lot and your nose runs or feels blocked. Your eyes may be red, itchy or
watery and you may have a cough or a wheeze. Hay fever is also called seasonal
allergic rhinitis.
Your immune
system
To understand why you get an allergy like hay
fever, it helps to know a little about your immune system.
• Your
immune system helps protect you
• It's there to fight things that can make you
ill, such as bacteria and viruses
• Your
immune system is made up of lots of special cells
• These cells are found all over your body,
including inside your nose, at the
• back of
your throat and in your lungs.
• The
ones in your nose, throat and lungs are there to protect you against the kinds
of infections you can get in your airways, such as colds or pneumonia.
What happens
when you get hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergy. You have an allergy when
your immune system has an abnormal reaction to something that's normally
harmless. It mistakes something harmless for something that is harmful and tries
to attack it or get rid of it. And this gives you symptoms such as sneezing, a
blocked nose, and itchy or watery eyes.
Most people with hay fever are
allergic to pollen. Plants release pollen in the summer or autumn. Many types
are carried in the air, and often get into your nose and throat. Pollen is like
a very fine dust and you can't always see it. But some people with hay fever
are allergic to mould. Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp, shady
places. Its seeds are called spores. Like pollen, they're carried through the
air.
When will l get
hay fever?
You may be able to help yourself by working out when
you're most likely to get symptoms of hay fever. This can help you get ready.
For example, you need to start using some treatments before there are pollen or
mould spores in the air. Exactly what
time of year you get symptoms depends on what
gives you hay fever, but in the
Silver birch trees release pollen in April. Other
trees tend to release pollen in the spring too.
• The
weed pollen season lasts from June to September.
• Mould spores tend to be in the air in the summer and autumn. Mould
spores inside your house may be there all year round.
• The further north you live, the later the
pollen season tends to start.
The pollen count
This tells you how much pollen is in the air. It
is measured in grains of pollen per square metre of air, based on an average
collected over 24 hours. The count can be low, moderate, high or very high. The
higher it is, the more likely it is that people with hay fever will get
symptoms. So you can use pollen forecasts to help you predict the days when you're
likely to have symptoms. Pollen counts tend to be higher on warm, dry, breezy
days and lowest on cold, wet days.
The National Pollen Research Unit
monitors pollen in many places in the
What's the worst
time of day for pollen?
Pollen levels are usually highest early in the
morning, between
Other allergies
People
with hay fever tend to be allergic to things besides pollen or mould. Some of
these things may be around all year long. Two of the most common triggers for
allergies are dust mites and furry pets such as cats and dogs. Allergies to
these things can give you symptoms similar to hay fever.
If
you have an allergy that gives you a runny or blocked nose, or makes you
sneeze, your doctor may call it allergic rhinitis. There are two main types.
Many people get both types.
• Seasonal
allergic rhinitis: This is hay fever. You have this if you're allergic to
pollen or mould and you get your symptoms only at certain times of the year.
• Perennial
allergic rhinitis: You have this if you're allergic to something like dust
mites or pets and your symptoms
last most of the year.
You can get
other allergies along with hay fever. Two common ones are:
• Eczema,
a condition that makes your skin dry, red and itchy.
•
Asthma, a condition that makes you cough and wheeze. Most people who have
asthma also have allergic rhinitis.
But isn't it just a cold?
If you have an allergy like hay fever, you may think
you have just a cold. The symptoms can be similar, but it's important to know
the difference between them. The treatments are different. If you have hay
fever and the symptoms are bothering you, treatment may help. Here are some of
the differences between having hay fever and having a cold. If you're not sure
which you have, check with your GP.
|
|
Hay fever |
Cold
|
|
What causes it? |
Usually pollen, but sometimes mould |
Viruses |
|
How long does it last? |
As long as you breathe in pollen or mould spores, and for some hours
afterwards |
Several days to a week |
|
When do you get it? |
Only during the pollen or mould season, in the spring, summer or autumn. |
Any time of the year, but most often in winter |
|
When do symptoms start |
As soon as you breathe in
pollen or mould spores |
Usually a few days after you have been near someone with a cold |
|
What are the symptoms |
A runny, blocked or itchy nose
and sneezing, with itchy, red and watery eyes, itchy throat or tickly
cough |
Fever, feeling achy, sneezing or a runny or blocked nose. |
Why me?
Certain
things make it more likely that you'll get hay fever. These are called risk factors. Two of the main risk
factors for hay fever are:
• Having other allergies, for example to dust
mites
• Having someone in your family who has
allergies.
Having
risk factors doesn't mean you'll definitely get hay fever. It just means that
you're more likely to get it.
You may
• Sneeze a lot
• Have a runny or itchy nose
• Have difficulty breathing through
your nose because it's blocked
• Have
a dry, tickly cough
If you have a bad bout of
hay fever, you may also:
• Lose your sense of smell and taste for a short time
• Have itchy, red eyes that
water
• Have an itchy throat and feel
itchy on the insides of your ears too
• Feel pressure and pain over
your cheeks and forehead
• Feel run-down and weak
• Wheeze and feel short of
breath
Do hay fever symptoms have a
pattern?
Your hay fever symptoms may change
during the day.
• Some
symptoms start suddenly, the moment you breathe in pollen or mould spores.
Within a few minutes, your nose is likely to start itching and running. You'll
probably sneeze a lot too.
• Other symptoms start hours later. Your
nose may feel blocked, and you may have difficulty breathing through it. About
half of all people who have hay fever get this.
Your
symptoms will probably change from day to day because they're affected by
things like how much pollen is in the air (the pollen count) on any given day.
Allergy tests
Blood and
Skin-prick tests
These
tests are performed by specialist centres and used to identify causes of
allergy in the rare situations where there is ambiguity about the diagnosis.
Do 1 need to see
a doctor who's specially trained in allergies?
Fortunately
this is rarely necessary as most cases can be managed in the GP surgery.
How common is hay fever?
Hay fever
is common, and it's becoming more common.
Between 15 and
20 per cent of people in the
• More and more people have an
allergy that gives them a blocked nose or makes them sneeze.
• People
of all ages and of both sexes have allergies such as hay fever, but more
teenagers have
allergies than any
other age group.
And it's
not just hay fever that's becoming more common. Other allergic conditions, such
as eczema and asthma, are becoming more common too. We're not sure why.
One idea
is that it's related to smaller families and better standards of cleanliness
today. These things mean children don't get as many infections as they used to.
Some researchers think that getting lots of infections
when you're young helps strengthen your immune system. So if children aren't
getting so many infections, their immune systems may be affected, making them
more likely to get allergies.
What treatments work for hay fever?
There are several good treatments for hay fever.
Different treatments help with different symptoms and you may need more than
one treatment.
Hay fever isn't serious, but it can make you feel miserable. Here are some key
points about treating hay fever
• It's worth avoiding pollen or
mould as much as you can, although sometimes it's not possible. But with the
right treatment, you shouldn't have to stop doing the things you want to do.
• If your hay fever is mild, antihistamine pills may be all
you need to help you feel better. They can help symptoms such as sneezing, a
runny and itchy nose, or itchy, red eyes.
• The newer antihistamines shouldn't make you
sleepy, so you can still drive while you're taking them.
• A steroid nasal spray is worth trying for a runny or blocked
nose, especially when antihistamines don't get rid of your symptoms. Ideally
you should start this treatment before there's too much pollen (or mould)
about. They take up to a week to
reach maximum benefit.
• Another treatment that can help with a blocked nose is
antihistamine pills taken with a decongestant called pseudoephedrine.
• You can also get antihistamine nasal sprays. A spray called
levocabastine is likely to relieve your symptoms.
• For
itchy, gritty eyes, you can get sodium cromoglycate eye drops.
• If
your hay fever is very bad your doctor may recommend steroid pills.
Treatments for hay fever
Which treatments work best?
• Antihistamine pills:
These pills can help relieve most of the symptoms of hay fever, such as
sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. Some of the most common antihistamines (with
some brand names) are loratadine (Clarityn, Boots Hayfever and Allergy Relief
All Day), cetirizine (Zirtek) and fexofenadine (Telfast). You can get some
antihistamines as syrups.
• Antihistamines and
pseudoephedrine: Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant. It can help you
breathe more easily if your nose feels blocked. You can take antihistamines and
decongestants separately but one product contains both. Its brand name is
Benadryl Plus.
Be careful about long-term use of decongestant nasal sprays, which can cause worsening symptoms.
What will happen to me?
T