Fairfield Medical Practice
22A Abban Street
Inverness
IV3 8HH
Tel: 01463 713939

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Find out about all of the free NHS services available to support you as you go try to give up smoking.

Stay safe in the sun, including sunscreens, sunburn relief, heat exhaustion, eczema and moles. Summer holidays are great fun for children, but can bring risks. Find out more

01 Jul - 01 Oct
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Yahoo Health

Expert warns of complacency after swine flu fizzle (AP)

Robert Webster, chairman of the Department of Virology and Molecular Biology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., attends the Options for the Control of Influenza conference in Hong Kong Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 in Hong Kong. Webster urged health authorities around the world to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadlier than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

AP - A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world Sunday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.

Cholera kills 41 in Central African nation of Chad (AP)

AP - Health officials in Chad say an outbreak of cholera in the Central African nation has killed at least 41 people.

Can home cooking be hazardous to your health? (AP)

AP - Could your kitchen at home pass a restaurant inspection?

Botox maker to pay $600M to resolve investigation (AP)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Wednesday, Sep. 1, 2010, regarding a major settlement with a pharmaceutical company for False Claims Act and off-label marketing violations. Allergan Inc., the maker of wrinkle-smoothing Botox, has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a years long federal investigation into its marketing of the top-selling, botulin-based drug. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

AP - Allergan Inc., the maker of wrinkle-smoothing Botox, has agreed to pay $600 million to settle a yearslong federal investigation into its marketing of the top-selling, botulin-based drug.

New test seen as big advance in diagnosing TB (AP)

This undated photo released by Cepheid, shows a Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF cartridge. The cartridge is part of a test that is a major advance in diagnosing tuberculosis and can reveal in less than two hours, with very high accuracy, whether someone has the disease and if it's resistant to the main drug for treating it. (AP Photo/Cepheid) NO SALES

AP - Scientists are reporting a major advance in diagnosing tuberculosis: A new test can reveal in less than two hours, with very high accuracy, whether someone has the disease and if it's resistant to the main drug for treating it.

Journal editors question sale of diet pill Meridia (AP)

AP - Editors of a top medical journal call Meridia "another flawed diet pill" and question whether it should stay on the market as a study shows it raises the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with heart problems.

Study: Diet Drug Meridia May Boost Heart Risks (Time.com)

Time.com - A new study finds that some users of the weight-loss pill Meridia may have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke

For Bonobo Males, Mom Is the Best Wingman (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - To most human males, the thought of your mother anywhere near your sex life is probably horrifying. Not so for the bonobo, one of our closest primate relatives. A new study confirms that hanging out with mom boosts male bonobos' chances of getting intimate with a fertile female.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 3, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

More parents 'redshirting' kindergartners (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - As schools start back into session around the country, some parents of young children face a difficult question: Send their little ones to kindergarten as soon as they become age-eligible, or hold them back in hopes that an additional year of maturity will give them an academic boost?

MedPage Today

Investigation Reveals More Woes for Rosiglitazone

(MedPage Today) -- On July 15—a day after the FDA completed two days of hearings on rosiglitazone (Avandia)—a British advisory commission on drugs concluded that the product should be withdrawn from the market, according to an investigation conducted by BMJ.

Washington Week: Insurance, State Actions Top News

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Several studies highlighting insurance issues were released this week, including one on federal programs for kids and two others focused on employer-provided medical coverage.

FDA Approves New Eye Pressure Drop Formulation

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA approved a new formulation of the drug bimatoprost (Lumigan) in a 0.01% solution as a first-line treatment to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Kids on HAART Would Benefit from Revaccinations (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Children with HIV who received standard childhood immunizations before starting on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) could benefit from revaccination, a review suggests.

New Guidelines Out for Pneumococcal Vaccine (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Adults with asthma and those who smoke should receive the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine to prevent pneumococcal disease, according to new recommendations from the CDC.

OSHA Should Dictate Residents' Hours, Group Says

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The consumer group Public Citizen is urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to regulate the work hours of resident physicians.

Four Factors Increase Risk of Opioid Dependence (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A combination of four factors appears to significantly increase the risk of opioid dependence among patients taking prescription painkillers, researchers have found.

Low IgG Poses Infection Risk With Rituximab (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Certain subgroups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those who have low levels of IgG, are at risk for severe infections when treated with rituximab, French investigators found.

ESC: Stockholm Take Home Message -- Watch the 'Not' Warfarins

STOCKHOLM (MedPage Today) -- An investigational antiplatelet -- ticagrelor (Brilinta) -- emerged as a big winner from the five-day long European Society of Cardiology congress, but the buzz here focused instead on a trio of investigational oral anticoagulants -- dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban.

Admitting Clinical Errors Not Always Best Policy

(MedPage Today) -- Wide-scale disclosure of clinical errors seems intuitively to be the ethical choice for hospitals and physicians, but researchers from the University of Washington suggest that disclosure should be decided on a case-by-case basis rather than a one-size-fits-all solution

WHO Swine Flu

Influenza - update 115

Worldwide, H1N1 2009 virus transmission remains most intense in parts of India and in parts of the temperate southern hemisphere, particularly New Zealand and more recently in Australia.

Influenza - update 114

The situation in New Zealand and India remains largely unchanged since the last update. Influenza H1N1 (2009) virus transmission remains locally intense in parts of India and New Zealand.

Influenza - update 113

Influenza H1N1 (2009) virus transmission remains locally intense in parts of India and New Zealand.

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

The Emergency Committee held its ninth meeting by teleconference on 10 August 2010.

WHO recommendations for the post-pandemic period

The world is now in the post-pandemic period. Based on knowledge about past pandemics, the H1N1 (2009) virus is expected to continue to circulate as a seasonal virus for some years to come. While the level of concern is now greatly diminished, vigilance on the part of national health authorities remains important. Such vigilance is especially critical in the immediate post-pandemic period, when the behaviour of the H1N1 (2009) virus as a seasonal virus cannot be reliably predicted.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 112

As of 1 August 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18449 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 111

As of 25 July 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18398 deaths.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 110

As of 18 July 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18366 deaths.

Monitoring patterns and levels of worldwide activity

As part of regular monitoring of H1N1 pandemic influenza, the WHO is in close dialogue with public health experts in countries worldwide, specifically to determine whether H1N1 activity has returned to levels and patterns normally seen for seasonal flu.

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 109

As of 12 July, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 18337deaths.

Practice News

WELCOME to our overdue newsletter !

Probably a combination of seasonal increased workload, including the influenza surge of November & December, and the related vaccination drive, along with the prolonged cold weather, has allowed us little free time to provide a surgery update.

A FEW INTERESTING STATISTICS:

1. The national vaccination programme against the new H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus was rapidly introduced as part of the overall response to the emergent influenza pandemic. NHS Scotland reported that General Practice played a crucial role in responding to the burden of acute illness and in the delivery of the vaccination programme. We targeted the “At-risk” groups of patients, and achieved better vaccination coverage in the under-65 age group up to 31/12/09 (53.3% compared to Scotland average of 48.9% and Highland average of 52.2%) and considerably better uptake in the over-65 age group (61.3% compared to Scotland average of 43.6% and Highland average of 49.2%) - Well Done to our vaccination team (reception and clinical), in the surgery, and our community nurses outwith the surgery.

2. You might be interested to know that out of a practice total of around 5200 people, 181 aged 16 years or over have diabetes, and 468 have hypertension (high blood pressure). Both these conditions contribute to heart disease. We (as elsewhere in the developed world) are seeing a surge in new cases of diabetes, mainly Type 2, which in many cases is caused by our western lifestyle with overeating, obesity and lack of exercise. An interesting recent study has shown that UK calorie intake per person is little different from 50 years ago, but activity levels are significantly reduced (few occupations are physical nowadays).

3. Control of blood pressure has been shown to reduce risk of heart disease and strokes. Within the last 9 months, more than 90% of our patients with hypertension have had their BP checked, and more than 70% (considered by NHS as a reasonable target) have their BP well-controlled.

STAFF CHANGES:

Di Cromarty, Practice Nursing Sister, retired on 31^st December 2009 after 42 years as a qualified nurse. We wish her well with her plans to spend more time visiting her daughter and grand-children as well as keeping up with her busy swimming and gardening schedules.

Sally Huntington, Practice Receptionist, retired on 5^th February 2009, having worked at the surgery since 1986 (with a 6-year gap in the middle). We wish her well with her plans also to spend more time visiting her children and grand-children.

Dr. William Ross has announced his intention to formally retire at 30^th April 2010 but will continue to work on a limited basis for a further period of time.

NEW STAFF:

Amanda Keith started work with us in Autumn 2009 as Practice Receptionist, and is fitting into the Fairfield team very well.

Kathryn Henderson brings many years of nursing experience to our team, having worked in GP practices across the Highlands, from Fort Augustus to the Western Isles.

Nicola Macmillan brings youth and experience to our reception team, as well as Health Care Assistant skills.

Nurse Jayne MacPhee has been helping us over the past many months, as maternity cover for Julz Fraser, who will be returning to work with us in a few months time.

February 2010.

11th November 2009: we have been issued with Swine Flu vaccines, and have offered it so far to the 3 highest risk groups of patients (pregnant women, healthcare staff, and children with chronic health problems). If you feel that you are in these categories and have not yet been invited, please ask the receptionist to offer you a date at one of our vaccination clinics. Adults with chronic health problems are eligible for the next batch of swine flu vaccines - please arrange an appointment at the special vaccine clinics in the next several weeks.

1st November 2009: we are continuing Extended Hours, much of which has been mentioned in the popular press.

For our surgery, this involves a number of surgery appointments available to patients (particularly those working out of town and who have difficulty accessing us in normal hours) outwith normal surgery opening times. Please note that we will be unable to offer a full range of services (eg no practice nurse, no health care assistant, reduced availability of blood testing) during these extra sessions.

We are offering a few appointments between 7am & 8am, some betwen 6pm & 7.30pm, and occasionally on Saturday mornings. The surgery will not be open as normal during these times - these are for prebooked appointments only. For ongoing urgent health issues during these hours, please contact NHS24 as you would now on 08454 24 24 24.

At present we believe there is a need for this facility, and that it is helpful for patients, but still not sure if it is sustainable for doctors & staff.

If you have difficulty attending the surgery during normal working hours because of work commitments, please ask our receptionists about an Extended Hours appointment.

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Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS 24