May 2024 Patient Newsletter




đź©ş GP appointments in Kent & Medway
Some interesting local stats we wanted to share with you about GP appointments across Kent and Medway in February 2024:
- 1 in 2 people across Kent and Medway had a GP appointment.
- 60% of patients had a face-to-face appointment with a GP.
- GP practices in our patch provided over 933,000 appointments.
All this with the lowest number of GPs per head of population in England!
Our Apex team continues to work flat out to help patients get the care they need when they need it, but as you can see from these figures, we can’t do it alone. Read how you can help us here.


🌳 Can pollen make childhood asthma worse?
Yes – studies suggest exposure to pollen can worsen existing asthma symptoms in children. This is because pollen can trigger allergic reactions in the airways, leading to inflammation and breathing difficulties. With the increase in pollen now we’re well into Spring, remind yourself what to do if a child has an asthma attack by reading these step-by-step instructions on Asthma and Lung UK.
Here at Apex, we’re currently working on a regional asthma project for children and young people. This includes support to asthma-friendly schools & sports clubs, supporting parents, and working with the local voluntary and community sector. We’re also working to identify children who we feel are at higher risk and need a review of their diagnosis and treatment plan. If you would like any information about this project or would like to talk to someone about childhood asthma, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.


👵🏽 Let’s talk about loneliness
Many people still feel uncomfortable talking about loneliness, but everyone is affected by it at some point in their lives, and it affects us all very differently. Admitting we feel lonely can be hard as it’s very subjective and personal and doesn’t just affect one age group over another.
Understanding our reasons for feeling lonely can help identify and manage these feelings better. NHS Health’s campaign Every Mind Matters has some great resources including tips on dealing with loneliness and help and support for loneliness.


🔎 How to check your moles for signs of skin cancer
It’s (almost) t-shirt and shorts weather which means we all get to see more skin than we might have done through the cold winter months. It’s a common time to spot moles and changes to your skin you might not have seen before. BUPA has some useful information about checking moles on their website including the following way of remembering what to look out for:
A – Asymmetry. Do both halves of the mole look the same?
B – Border. Is the edge of the mole uneven or blurred?
C – Colour. Is the mole a mix of different shades or colours?
D – Diameter. Is it bigger than 6mm from side to side?
E – Evolution. Has the mole changed or grown?
There are a few other important things to look out for like itching, bleeding or crusting. If a mole starts to bleed and you haven’t injured it, then you should get it checked out as soon as you can. Remember – there are often lots of things it could be, but we want to make sure it’s not cancer, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns.

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Spring COVID booster clinics
All our local care home residents have now had their COVID boosters and our spring COVID booster clinics are now available at the surgery. If you’ve had your invite text message but haven’t responded yet, we’ve got clinics on in May so there’s still time to have yours! You will be invited for a spring covid booster if you:
- Are 75 years or over (you need to be 75 years old by 30 June 2024)
- Are 6 months to 74 years old and have a weakened immune system
- Live in a care home for older adults.
For more information about the seasonal COVID boosters, please visit NHS.uk


🤧 Pollen allergies
It’s that time of year when pollen causes lots of health issues we see in general practice. Runny eyes, coughs that seem to linger for weeks, sneezing and sore throats are all common signs of pollen allergies.
And while some people are allergic to just one type, others are unlucky and allergic to several kinds. Tree, grass and rapeseed pollen tend to be the most troublesome at this time of year especially for those with pre-existing conditions like asthma too.
It’s helpful to know the type of pollen you’re allergic to so you can take steps to reduce your risk of your symptoms being triggered. Asthma and Lung UK has produced this helpful pollen calendar that can help you be prepared.
Remember, your local pharmacy can prescribe medicines and over-the-counter treatments for hayfever and pollen allergies so you don’t have to wait for a GP appointment if you are suffering!

👩🏾 Could a dementia coordinator help you?
A single point of contact is now available for patients and their families facing dementia. Dementia coordinators work with our surgery to help provide support and guidance to people affected by dementia. They can help you access the information, support, and guidance you need to get the most out of life and understand your condition. They can also support you if you think you might have dementia. To find out who your local dementia coordinator is, you can call 0800 035 2221 or email referrals@alz-dem.org. Or just ask us to refer you directly to the dementia coordinator.


âš˝ Child-friendly Medway
With half-term on the horizon this month, check out all of the free or low-cost children’s activities going on in Medway for children, young people and families. There is a wide variety of stuff including arts and crafts and sporting activities. A good one for older children is the free Drop-in Football every Friday evening at Strood Sports Centre for school years 2 to 11. Check out the site for the different sessions and timings


♻️ Re-hale: get rid of your old inhalers
If you’ve been spring-cleaning recently and come across any used inhalers, Kent and Medway NHS want them!
Re-Hale is our local inhaler recycling scheme. Since November 2023, they’ve collected nearly 8,000 used inhalers for recycling across 71 different sites across our patch.
You can safely recycle your used or unwanted inhalers by visiting the NHS Kent and Medway ICB site to find your nearest site to drop them in.
