The Firs Medical Centre - Useful links to health and illness websites

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For the attention of all our Patients

Flu Vaccination is available until 31st January 2012 for patients over 65 years of age and patients at risk. Please ring the receptionist to book you an appointment.

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Lansley 'has PM's full support'

Andrew Lansley has David Cameron's "full support", despite a Downing Street source reportedly saying the health secretary "should be taken out and shot".

Hundreds seek NHS implant advice

Almost 1,000 private patients with PIP breast implants have contacted the NHS, according to MPs.

Spoon-fed babies 'end up fatter'

Babies weaned on pureed food tend to end up fatter than infants whose first tastes are finger food, researchers believe.

Court hears social care challenge

The ability of English councils to consider their finances when assessing people for social care is being challenged at the Supreme Court.

GMC guidance on assisted suicide

The General Medical Council launches guidelines on assisted suicide to help it decide if doctors should face a disciplinary panel on the issue.

Death leads to ambulance demand

Relatives of a woman who blame her death on a 41-minute wait for a paramedic, hand over a petition urging a dedicated ambulance service for their town.

NHS translation bill 'tops £23m'

The NHS in England spends £59,000 a day on translating documents and providing interpreters, according to a health think tank.

Campaign to cut smoking in cars

A campaign to stop people smoking in cars when carrying children - and which could pave the way for a ban - is launched by the Welsh government.

'Birth defect risk' for diabetics

The risk of birth defects increases four-fold if the pregnant mother has diabetes, a study of 400,000 pregnancies in England suggests.

'A little too much drink' warning

Drinking "just a little more than they should" puts people at risk of serious illness including heart disease, stroke and cancer, the government is warning.

Health Protection Agency

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Current alert level: Level 3 - Cold Weather Action in one or more regions of England

There is a 100% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/heavy snow between 10.00 on Friday and 10.00 on Tuesday in parts of England.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

New Guidelines to Control Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infections in UK Hospitals Launched

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with the group A streptococcal (GAS) Working Group* has today launched new guidelines for the investigation, control and prevention of GAS infection in acute healthcare settings, including maternity units, in the UK.

Whooping cough cases increase

Cases of whooping cough (pertussis) reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales have more than doubled from 421 cases in 2010 to 1040 in 2011. Increases in levels of whooping cough are seen every three to four years and figures in 2011 are in line with cases reported in the last peak year of 2008.

General Medical Information Websites

Internet Links NHS Direct - Includes patient information on common conditions.

British Medical Journal - For the latest medical news and original papers.

Patient UK - Website designed for UK patients. Offers links to UK sites.

NetDoctor - Website for reliable information for UK patients.

Mens Health Forum - Source of information and research on all aspects of men's health.

Male Health - Health information for men.

Family Planning Association - Supports the public and professionals with sexual health information and resources.

Students Health - Student health advice website

Women's health - Health information for women.

Kids Health - Health information for children

Simon Says - Childhood Bereavement

No Limits - Young peoples counselling and advice service

Self Help groups - Comprehensive list of UK based self help groups.

Virtual X-ray and Oncology Department visit - The worlds first virtual radiology and oncology departments aiming to demystify the procedures and equipment that patients would encounter during a visit to an oncology or radiology department.

BBC Health - BBC focus on health issues

Department of Health - Links to current advice on Bird Flu

Further Information

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

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services