Our Healthcare Assistant Deborah Sloan has recently left the practice. Nurses Sue Clark and Debra Williams will be carrying out the checks and tests that Deborah has been doing.
We are sure that patients will join the staff in wishing Deborah well in her new role at Wigton Medical Centre.
We are writing to some of our patients about the possible risks of taking opiate based medications.
Opiates include medicines such as codeine, tramadol, co-codamol, dihydrocodeine, morphine and oxycodone (i.e. Longtec & Shortec).
Whilst we recognise that patients don’t “want” to take medications, and that it is often necessary to control pain and enable functioning, there are lots of side effects associated with these medications. For this reason we will be inviting patients who regularly take opiate painkillers for a medication review over the next 12 months.
We feel that, where possible, it is important that we explore other management options or at the very least ensure that patients are taking the least amount or lowest dosage possible to control their pain.
Multiple research has highlighted that there is little evidence to support using long-term opiates for chronic pain, and suggests that there has been an underestimation of potential risks.
Possible side effects include:
If you would like to discuss reducing your painkillers sooner, or get advice about any other medications that you are prescribed, please make an appointment with one of the doctors who can discuss the options with you.
What a lovely surprise – homemade cake delivered to the surgery from the students at Carlisle College, made from ingredients supplied by Pioneer Foods – to say thank you and Happy Birthday to their local NHS staff – we are very grateful and the cake is delicious.
And a thank you to a patient who has brightened up the office by bringing us some beautifully scented sweet peas from his garden. It is so nice to be appreciated in our local community.
