We know that people may be concerned about their own health following recent media coverage of the infected blood inquiry. A new online resource has been set up for patients and the public to find help and support – https://nhs.uk/infected-blood-support

Since 1991, all blood donated in the UK is screened and distributed by NHS Blood and Transplant following rigorous safety standards and testing to protect both donors and patients. Since testing has been introduced, the risk of getting an infection from a blood transfusion or blood products is very low. All blood donors are screened at every donation and every donation is tested before it is sent to hospitals. Blood services and blood safety has been transformed, not only in terms of technological advances in testing but also in the way donors are recruited and checked they are safe to donate. 

Given the time that has elapsed since the last use of infected blood products, most of those who were directly affected have been identified and started appropriate treatment. However, there may be a small number of patients where this is not the case, and particularly where they are living with asymptomatic hepatitis C.

If you are concerned about a possible hepatitis C infection, you can book a home NHS test online. The tests are free and confidential. To receive a self-testing kit which can be quickly dispatched to your home visit hepctest.nhs.uk.

Hepatitis B is also linked to infected blood, this usually clears up on its own without treatment, but could develop into chronic hepatitis B.  Patients can find out more information here – hepatitis B information

HIV testing is also provided to anyone free of charge on the NHS.  Home testing and home sampling kits are also available.  You can find out more about HIV testing and the HIV testing services search tool on the NHS website.

If you would like more information about the safety of blood from donations in England, please visit:  https://www.blood.co.uk/the-donation-process/further-information/your-safety/

As we bid farewell to another year, we are delighted to share highlights from our recent annual end-of-year dinner; a celebration of the hard work and dedication exhibited by our incredible practice staff. It is with immense pleasure that we announce Lekshmy as the recipient of this year’s Employee of the Year award. Congratulations, Lekshmy! In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she has been promoted to the role of Access Coordinator, where we are confident she will continue to excel.

Furthermore, we extend heartfelt congratulations to Hasina, honoured with the Best Team Player award for her exceptional collaborative spirit and commitment to patient care. Dr. Chang has been awarded the Doctor of the Year award – a testament to the trust and gratitude of our valued patients. These accolades highlight the exceptional qualities that define our team, and we express our sincere appreciation for their unwavering dedication.

As we embark on a new year, we look forward to continuing our commitment to providing excellent healthcare services to our community. Thank you for entrusting us with your care.

On Friday 20th October 2023, our GP practice hosted its first Diabetes Awareness Session, aiming to educate patients about diabetes and advocate for improved care and management.

Navigating life with diabetes can be challenging, and this session aimed to ease that journey by promoting healthy eating and lifestyle changes.

Key Highlights:

• Understanding Diabetes: The session provided a comprehensive overview, empowering patients with essential knowledge about diabetes.
• Advocacy for Improved Care: We emphasized the importance of personalised care, advocating for a holistic approach to diabetes management.

Promoting Lifestyle Changes: Recognising the impact of lifestyle on diabetes, the session delved into practical strategies for healthy eating and lifestyle modifications. Our goal is to make these changes more accessible and achievable for our patients.

At Abbey Road Medical Practice, we are committed to building a supportive community for those managing chronic conditions. Expect more sessions like these, designed to inform, engage, and empower our patients on their health journey!

Thank you to all who participated. We look forward to ongoing collaboration for improved health and well-being.

Our highly sought-after sexual health screening day made a triumphant return this summer, themed “Hot Summer.” In collaboration with the Terrence Higgins Trust and the All-East Sexual Health Clinic, we specifically targeted our young demographic.

Conducting comprehensive sexual health screenings, including HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea tests, we are thrilled to report overwhelming participation, echoing the success of our previous event. The positive response from our patients reaffirms the importance of these services.

We extend sincere thanks to the All-East Sexual Health Clinic for their continuous support, ensuring the success of our screening days. Together, we are dedicated to promoting a health-conscious community.

In observance of HIV Testing Week this February, our practice joined forces with the local sexual health clinic, “All East Sexual Health.” Together, we dedicated a day to raising sexual health awareness and providing essential services to our community.

On this special day, we extended our commitment to public health by offering free sexual health screenings to patients. Comprehensive tests, including HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea, were made available. We are thrilled to report a fantastic turnout, and the response from our patients was overwhelmingly positive.

Key Highlights:

• Collaboration with All East Sexual Health: Our partnership with “All East Sexual Health” allowed us to leverage their expertise and resources, ensuring a comprehensive and professional approach to sexual health.
• Free Screenings: To encourage proactive health management, we provided complimentary screenings for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This initiative aimed to eliminate barriers to access and promote early detection and treatment.
• Community Engagement: Patients embraced the services offered, reflecting the importance of community health initiatives. The success of the event underscores the value of proactive health promotion and accessible services.

We extend our gratitude to our patients for their participation and enthusiasm. Such collaborative efforts reinforce our commitment to promoting overall well-being in our community.

We complete regular reviews of medicines to make sure patients’ continue to receive high quality and effective treatment.  There will be a change in the brand of Salbutamol on your prescription and you will now be prescribed Salamol brand.

Salamol contains the same strength, form and active ingredient (Salbutamol) so please continue to take your medication at the same dose and take it in the same way as before. The appearance of the new brand may differ slightly from your previous brand, however apart from this you should not notice any difference at all.

If you are concerned or wish to discuss the matter further please do not hesitate to contact the practice or your local community pharmacist.

Additionally, your inhaler will now be changed to acute.

You can still request this medication from the surgery, however not via patient online access or the NHS App as it is no longer on repeat. Please do not hesitate to contact the surgery if you require any further information.

Remember, if you need your blue inhaler three or more times a week, then your asthma treatment could be improved, and you should have a review as soon as possible.

During The Covid-19 pandemic, keeping social distancing and isolating yourself which might make you feel lonely, stressed and need to speak to someone you can use the following service:

• Help Newham Hotline        0203 373 3799
• Newham Talking Therapy 0208 475 8080
• you can also contract the surgery and book telephone appointment to speak to Care Navigator or Practice Manager on 0208 534 2515

Anyone requires mental health support, please contact registered voluntary organisation MIND on 0300 123 3393

Please see some tips about mental health and wellbeing:

If you suffer from domestic violence you can get help on 0808 2000 247

Domestic abuse affects men too, please see leaflet where to seek help:

If you require any other kind of support contact Help Newham on 0208 430 2000 or submit online form for NHS Volunteer Responder on http:// https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral

•  Newham Council is providing support for people who fall into shielding criteria. Please see information attached for more details: 

• If you suffer from Sicle Cell or Thalassaemia please read following advice:

• Mayor of London Information for families of patients sadly passed away from Covid-19:

• Please look at some advice about Vitamin D during coronavirus:

• If you need financial help and support during coronavirus pandemic, please look at some tips and guidance:

Please read information below:
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