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Make The Most Of Our Services
• Read the notices posted in the surgery
• Make sure you know the opening times of the surgery
• Find out how to arrange home visits, repeat prescriptions and urgent appointments
• You may not always need to see a doctor; please ask what services the nurse can provide
• Keep your appointment or cancel it
• Take a list of questions with you when you see your doctor or nurse
• Ask your doctor to write down anything that you do not understand the answers to
• Take a relative or friend with you if necessary
• Tell the receptionist if you need more time to speak to the doctor as she may be able to arrange this
• Think twice before making an appointment – do you really need to see a doctor? Have you tried simple home treatments?
• Find out how your practice deals with complaints.
How Your Local Pharmacist Can Help
• Ask your pharmacist for advice about choosing the right medicines for common ailments
• Your pharmacist will advise you if you are unsure about seeing a doctor
• They can offer advice about a problem if you are not sure about what is causing it
• Ask for advice about staying healthy
• Be sure to tell your pharmacist if you are taking other medicines – some medicines are not compatible
Look After Your Health
Choosing the right food for good health is very important. Eating a good balance of food, taking regular exercise and not smoking gives the best chance of living a fit and healthy life. If you have a medical condition please check with your doctor before altering your diet. Remember eating well is about balance. For example, we do need fat in our diet but not too much!
Healthy Eating can help prevent many illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, constipation, bowel trouble and tooth decay;
• avoid sugary foods
• avoid fatty foods
• do not add salt to your food
• eat more fibre
• drink less alcohol
Alcohol in small amounts does you no harm but if it is more than a small amount on a regular basis you may be damaging your health. Men should drink no more than 21 units per week and women should drink no more than 14 units a week. A unit is typically half a pint of beer, larger or cider, a single measure of spirits, a standard glass of wine or a small glass of sherry.
Exercise need not mean going to the gym twice a week or taking up long-distance running. Simply keeping active, walking more, using the stairs, gardening or swimming are all good ways of increasing the amount of energy you use and will help to give you a sense of wellbeing.
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