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IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OUR REPEAT ORDERING SERVICE
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW SERVICE IS FOR REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ONLY - If the item you require is not printed on your repeat slip, the item on your repeat slip is incorrrect or you do not have a repeat slip please contact the surgery for further advice . The Pharmacy will not be able to order it for you.
Prescriptions will now be ready in 48hrs - after 2.00pm from time of ordering excluding weekends and bank holidays
Please click on the prescriptions page for more details.
information please click on the link below

Patients who do not attend for their booked appointment over the last year has amounted to

Doctors 431

Nurses 600

Total 1034

Already this month there have been 27 Doctors appointments missed and 32 Nurses

If you cannot attend your appointment please either cancel your appointment on line or ring the surgery

Thankyou

SWINE FLU CLINIC

The surgery is still holding clinics for the vaccination on a monthly basis. If you have been invited for a vaccination and have not already taken up the offer you can now book into one of these clinics

Announcements

01 Mar - 31 Mar
Great Daffodil Appeal

Marie Curie is asking everyone to paint the UK yellow this March by making a donation and wearing a daffodil pin for the Great Daffodil Appeal.

01 Mar - 31 Mar
Prostate Cancer Awareness

We want men, the general public, and health professionals, to be more aware of prostate cancer. Our awareness month helps raise vital funds for much needed support and information for men who have been diagnosed and their families.

01 Jan - 31 Mar
Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Ovarian Cancer Action will be raising awareness in a variety of communities throughout March to ensure we are doing everything we can to inform women about the disease and its symptoms

BBC Health

Hospital rap over medicine errors

Too many patients in England and Wales are not getting their medicines in hospital, a safety watchdog says.

GPs 'lax' on cholesterol targets

Many lives could be saved if GPs followed guidelines for reducing cholesterol in those at high risk of heart disease, a study suggests.

Vitiligo skin graft 'effective'

Skin transplant surgery can be an effective way of treating the skin disease vitiligo, say US researchers.

Call to halt NHS medical database

Doctors leaders urge ministers to halt the development of a medical records database for patients in England.

'No proof' IVF aided by acupuncture

There is no evidence acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine boost the chance of IVF success, fertility experts warn.

Street actress reveals depression

Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard reveals she has been receiving treatment for depression.

Social care deal 'dead in water'

Hopes of reaching a cross-party deal on funding social care appear to be dead in the water.

MP writes to police over hospital

An MP writes to police to ask if there is a basis for a criminal inquiry into activities at Stafford Hospital.

'Problem kids' risk future pain

Children with behavioural problems are twice as likely to suffer chronic pain as adults than others, say researchers.

Women who drink wine in moderation stay slim, says study

Women can enjoy a tipple and stay slim, according to a study showing moderate drinkers gain less weight than teetotallers.

Yahoo Health

Study suggests too many invasive heart tests given (AP)

AP - A troublingly high number of U.S. patients who are given angiograms to check for heart disease turn out not to have a significant problem, according to the latest study to suggest Americans get an excess of medical tests.

Panel: Women need chance to avoid repeat C-section (AP)

AP - Too many pregnant women who want to avoid a repeat cesarean delivery are being denied the chance, concludes a government panel that urged doctors to rethink litigation-spurred policies that have swung the pendulum back toward the days of "once a C-section, always a C-section."

Grocery card in your pocket can pinpoint salmonella (AP)

In this photo taken March 9, 2010, Raymond Cirimele, 55, displays his Costco membership card outside his home in Chicago. Cirimele is one of at least 245 people in 44 states who have been sickened by a recent salmonella outbreak. Investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention successfully used the shopper cards that millions of Americans swipe every time they buy groceries and followed the trail of grocery purchases to a Rhode Island company that makes salami, then zeroed in on the pepper used to season the meat. He said no one asked for his shopper card data, but he would have provided it if someone had. 'I don't have any secrets, so I'm not worried about it,' he said. 'It's kind of like the whole airport security and all that. I'd rather fly on a safe plane.' (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

AP - As they scrambled recently to trace the source of a salmonella outbreak that has sickened hundreds around the country, investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention successfully used a new tool for the first time — the shopper cards that millions of Americans swipe every time they buy groceries.

Hoped-for drop in childbirth deaths not happening (AP)

This Oct. 2007 family photo provided by Clare Johnson shows Linda Coale holding her son Benjamin in Crownsville, Md. Eleven days after her son Benjamin's birth by C-section, Linda Coale awoke in the middle of the night in pain, one leg badly swollen. Just as her doctor returned her phone call asking what to do, she dropped dead from a blood clot. (AP Photo/Family Photo)

AP - Eleven days after her son Benjamin's birth by C-section, Linda Coale awoke in the middle of the night in pain, one leg badly swollen. Just as her doctor returned her phone call asking what to do, she dropped dead from a blood clot.

Researchers: AIDS virus can hide in bone marrow (AP)

AP - The virus that causes AIDS can hide in the bone marrow, avoiding drugs and later awakening to cause illness, according to new research that could point the way toward better treatments for the disease.

Brazil's Silva quits smoking after 50 years (AP)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, gestures during an interview with The Associated Press, in Brasilia, Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Lula da Silva warned that U.S.-proposed sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program could lead to war in the Middle East. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

AP - Brazil's president said Tuesday that he kicked the smoking habit he had for 50 years after a recent health scare sent his blood pressure soaring.

Health Tip: What's Behind Childhood Obesity (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and children are no exception. Today's kids are spending more hours watching TV, sitting at the computer or playing video games, and less time being active.

As You Age, Better Health Means Better Sex (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Better health translates into better sex lives, with healthy people more likely to engage in sex (and good sex at that) and to express an interest in sex, new research finds.

FDA rules out bisphosphonate, thigh fracture link (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they have found no link between oral bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications such as Merck & Co Inc's Fosamax and certain thigh bone fractures.

Personal look at genes locates disease causes (AP)

AP - Children inherit about 30 mutated genes from each parent, fewer than had been thought, but enough in at least one case to pass on inherited illnesses, according to a first detailed look at the blueprint for human life in a family.

WHO Swine Flu

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 90

As of 28 February 2010, worldwide more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 16455 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 89

As of 21 February 2010, worldwide more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 16226 deaths.

Director-General statement following the seventh meeting of the Emergency Committee

The Emergency Committee held its seventh meeting by teleconference on 23 February 2010. The Director-General sought the Committee's views on the determination of the pandemic status.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 88

As of 14 February 2010, worldwide more than 212 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 15921 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 87

As of 7 February 2010, worldwide more than 212 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 15292 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 86

As of 31 January 2010, worldwide more than 211 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 15174 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 85

As of 24 January 2010, worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 14711 deaths.

Statement of the World Health Organization on allegations of conflict of interest and 'fake' pandemic

22 January 2010 -- Providing independent advice to Member States is a very important function of the World Health Organization (WHO). We take this work seriously and guard against the influence of any improper interests. The WHO influenza pandemic policies and response have not been improperly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 84

As of 17 January 2010, worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 14142 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 83

As of 10 January 2010, worldwide more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 13554 deaths.

Welcome to Longton Health Centre

The practice was “born” when Dr George Hargreaves set up on his own in 1947 with some 1800 patients. He worked from his residence in Chestnut House in the heart of Longton. He was joined in 1953 by Dr Marjorie Wilkinson following an increase in patient numbers to 3500.

appointments The practice continued to expand and, in 1971, was joined by Dr Sam Moss. Dr Moss became Senior Partner in 1986 and continued to lead the practice through many changes until his retirement in 2006. Dr John Loudonsack has now become senior partner for the practice which is responsible for the care of more than 10,800 patients. The doctors, nurses and staff are here to help you make the best use of our expertise and facilities. Please feel free to enquire about the services we offer. The doctors practise together as a non-limited partnership.

SUMMARY CARE RECORD

Over the next few weeks the NHS will be sending out letters to patients of Longton Health Centre, re the uploading of patient information on to the NHS Spine. You may of heard of this procedure a while ago through the media or television. You have a right to opt out of having your information uploaded, however you will need to fill out a form and present it to the surgery for this to happen. There will be full details regarding this procedaure available from the surgery, you can also access the information on line by clicking on the link below.

http://www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk/options

Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

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