Kings Medical Practice News www.kingmedicalpractice.co.uk

The practice has recently been given a MyDiagnostick screening device for identifying patients with atrial fibrillation. Click here for details about the MyDiagnostick. The device screens patients for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an irregularity of the heart beat and patients with atrial fibrillation (shortened to AF) are at more risk of having a stroke. There is effective treatment available for AF to reduce the risk of patients having a stroke. Treatment for AF to prevent stroke is either warfarin or one of the new anticoagulant drugs that do not require regular blood tests like warfarin. Using the MyDiagnostick screening device is really easy. You grab either end of the device for a minute and wait for some lights to come on. Green is a pass and red is a fail. If you fail the test we would do a full ECG to confirm the diagnosis of AF and then discuss treatment with you. We only have one device but if you would like a screen then ask at reception or a nurse or d

Just a quick reminder that since the beginning of August we have been offering 'open surgery' sessions on four weekday mornings - every day except for Tuesday. If you ring for an appointment between 9.00 am and 10.30 am we will offer you a choice of appointments. If you feel you need to be seen on the day we will ask you if it is something the doctor can deal with over the ‘phone but if it is something you think you need to see a doctor in a consultation for, you will be asked to come and sit and wait in the surgery and you will be seen in that ‘Open Surgery’ session. When you check in at reception the computer gives you a number and we call people in turn. We are getting better at telling people when to come down so that hopefully you are not waiting from 9.00 am to 10,30 am to be seen. Routine appointments will be available to book up to six weeks in advance. If your condition requires immediate attention for example chest pain, breathlessness, etc then you will