Health News

The Cranfield & Marston Surgery Patient Participation Group held a meeting on Wednesday (13 November 2019) to discuss changes the surgery would like to make to the running of the group.

These changes include limiting the number of patients that can attend meetings as well as reducing the number of open meetings.

Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) provide a way for patients to provide feedback, ideas and views on the services provided at their local practice. This is to support the practice in providing the best possible service to patients.

This winter Bedfordshire and Luton Clinical Commissioning Groups are highlighting the importance of good hand hygiene for protection against the flu.

The flu is a virus and can be a debilitating illness for most, for vulnerable groups such as older people, pregnant women and people with long-term health conditions it can result in severe complications. Health experts say the most effective way to protect yourself and your family from getting the flu is to have the seasonal flu vaccine. Aside from the flu vaccine, the best way to protect yourself, and those around you, from the flu is to practice good hand hygiene. This includes catching coughs and sneezes in tissues, throwing used tissues away and washing your hands frequently throughout the day.

If you feel the need to cough or sneeze, it’s important to practice the following steps; catch it, bin it, kill it.

The 78 trusts that will benefit from funding for new cancer testing and detection technology have been announced.
The new machines will improve screening and early diagnosis of cancer, and are part of the government’s commitment to ensure 55,000 more people survive cancer each year.

Last month the Prime Minister announced the extra £200 million in funding for new cancer screening equipment. 78 trusts will receive funding over the next 2 years to replace, refurbish and upgrade:

CT and MRI scanners – bringing in alternatives with lower radiation levels
Breast screening imaging and assessment equipment

Bedfordshire and Luton Clinical Commissioning Groups are asking people to call NHS 111 when they need urgent medical assistance, but they don’t think it’s an emergency.

NHS 111 is the best service when you need medical assistance fast. It is free to call, with trained professionals available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you have an injury or illness which isn’t an emergency, using NHS 111 could make it easier for you to access local health services, and receive advice from specialist clinicians. The service also allows pressure to be taken off local A&E departments and the ambulance service so they are able to focus on emergency cases.

The Clinical Commissioning Groups in Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes are urging local people to have the flu jab. This year the flu vaccine will be even more widely available.

So everyone is being encouraged to take the vaccination to prevent becoming unwell.

Last year, GPs were still seeing far too many patients suffering from flu symptoms. People can protect themselves and their families simply by having the flu jab. This is now being offered at flu clinics, local pharmacies, schools and at some places of work.

The flu jab is safe, effective and for many it’s free of charge.

Public Health England (PHE), in partnership with the NHS, has launched Every Mind Matters to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.

It is increasingly recognised that taking care of our mental health is as important as maintaining good physical health.

A new PHE survey revealed that more than eight in ten people have experienced early signs of poor mental health in the last 12 months. This included feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or having trouble sleeping

These can be a natural response to life’s challenges, but they can become more serious if people don’t take action.

Free of Charge Blood Test for Checking the Health of your Prostate for all men aged over 40 years old at the PSA Blood Testing Day on 26th October 2019 at Kings House, Bedford

Community groups in Anglia have just two weeks left to apply for a regional grant of up to £10,000 to help local people look after their hearts.

National charity Heart Research UK is urging groups to submit applications for the Heart Research UK and Subway® Healthy Heart Grant before the deadline.

The Grant is available for new and innovative projects that promote healthy hearts and reduce the risk of heart disease in the community.

Commissioned by Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, AliveCor heart monitors can take quick ECG (Electrocardiogram) readings that measure the electrical activity of the heart. The monitor can identify a number of heart rate abnormalities including atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rhythm associated with people at greater risk from suffering a stroke. In the BCCG region over 7,600 people have atrial fibrillation, with another 3,600 people estimated to be living with the condition undiagnosed.