Maintaining proper hydration is a fundamental aspect of overall health and well-being. While many of us are aware of the basic need to drink water, the specific benefits of staying hydrated are often underestimated. This blog will explore the crucial role hydration plays in maintaining various bodily functions and provide practical tips for ensuring you get enough fluids each day.
Water is essential for nearly every bodily function. It makes up about 60% of our body weight and is involved in processes such as digestion, circulation, absorption of nutrients, and temperature regulation. Without adequate hydration, these processes can be impaired, leading to various health issues.
Staying adequately hydrated is crucial for overall health and well-being. Water plays numerous vital roles in the body, from regulating temperature to transporting nutrients. Here are some key benefits of staying hydrated:
Proper hydration is vital for maintaining physical performance. Dehydration can lead to muscle fatigue, decreased coordination, and a higher risk of heat-related illnesses. For athletes and active individuals, drinking enough water helps sustain energy levels and improve overall performance.
Staying hydrated has a significant impact on brain function. Even mild dehydration can affect concentration, alertness, and short-term memory. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps maintain mental clarity and cognitive performance.
Water is crucial for digestion and helps prevent constipation. It aids in breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, ensuring that your digestive system functions smoothly. Drinking enough water can also prevent digestive discomfort and promote regular bowel movements.
Hydration plays a key role in the body’s natural detoxification processes. Water helps flush out toxins and waste products through urine and sweat. Staying well-hydrated supports kidney function and helps maintain a healthy urinary tract.
Proper hydration is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Water helps keep your skin moisturised and can improve its elasticity. Drinking enough water can also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and promote a glowing complexion.
If dehydration has impacted your health, seek professional guidance with our NHS online consultation service.
Staying hydrated requires conscious effort and developing habits to drink enough water throughout the day. Here are some practical tips to help you maintain proper hydration:
Having a water bottle with you throughout the day makes it easier to stay hydrated. Opt for a reusable bottle to reduce waste and keep it filled up as you go about your daily activities.
If you often forget to drink water, set reminders on your phone or use hydration apps to track your intake. These tools can help ensure you’re drinking enough throughout the day.
If plain water feels boring, try infusing it with fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Adding slices of lemon, cucumber, or mint can make drinking water more enjoyable and refreshing.
Incorporate water-rich foods like cucumbers, watermelon, oranges, and lettuce into your diet. These foods contribute to your overall fluid intake and provide additional vitamins and minerals.
Drinking a glass of water before meals can help with digestion and make it easier to meet your hydration goals. It can also aid in portion control and weight management.
Understanding the signs of dehydration is crucial for maintaining health. Common symptoms include:
If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to increase your fluid intake promptly.
Hydration is a cornerstone of good health, affecting everything from physical performance to cognitive function and skin health. By adopting simple habits like carrying a water bottle, setting reminders, and eating water-rich foods, you can easily stay hydrated and reap the numerous health benefits. Remember, proper hydration is not just about drinking water when you’re thirsty – it’s about making it a consistent part of your daily routine.
For more health tips and advice, visit our website or schedule an NHS online consultation to discuss your health with a qualified GP. Stay hydrated, stay healthy!
We understand that juggling work, family, and personal time can leave little room for health consultations. Fortunately, with the advent of online doctor consultations, accessing healthcare has never been easier. Whether you need a quick consultation or ongoing medical support, online doctor services are designed to fit into your busy schedule seamlessly. This article will delve into the various advantages of using online doctor consultations, ensuring you get the most out of this innovative healthcare option.
Opting for online doctor services offers numerous benefits, particularly in terms of convenience and accessibility. Instead of waiting for an in-person consultation, you can now speak to a doctor from the comfort of your home. This not only saves time but also provides a comfortable environment for discussing sensitive health issues.
To ensure a productive and effective online doctor consultation, there are a few key steps you can take. Preparing in advance, maintaining a reliable internet connection, and being transparent with your doctor, can maximise the benefits of your online doctor experience. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your online doctor consultation:
Just like an in-person visit, it’s important to be prepared for your online doctor consultation. Jot down any symptoms, questions, or concerns you have beforehand. This will help ensure that you cover all necessary points during the consultation and receive comprehensive advice.
A stable internet connection is crucial for a smooth online doctor consultation. Ensure your device is connected to a reliable network to avoid any interruptions during your session.
Transparency is key during your online doctor consultation. Provide your doctor with complete and accurate information about your health history and current symptoms. This will enable them to give you the best possible advice and treatment plan.
Managing chronic conditions often requires regular check-ups and consistent monitoring. Online doctor service makes this process more manageable by allowing you to schedule regular consultations without the need to travel. This ensures continuous care and prompt adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Online doctor services are not just for individual use; they can be a boon for families as well. Whether it’s for routine check-ups, vaccinations, or managing childhood illnesses, online doctor service provides a convenient solution for parents with busy schedules.
If your condition requires specialist attention, online doctor consultations can facilitate referrals and follow-up appointments efficiently. This ensures you receive timely and coordinated care across different medical disciplines.
Registering for online doctor service is a straightforward process. Simply follow these steps:
Register Now for an Online Doctor Consultation.
Choosing an online doctor consultation service can provide convenient access to medical care. Whether you need a quick consultation, ongoing management of a chronic condition, or specialist referrals, online doctor services offer a flexible and efficient solution. With our online healthcare service, our patients can ensure their health remains a priority, no matter how busy life gets.
For more information on how to register for our services or to book a consultation, visit our website and explore the wide range of healthcare options when you choose an online doctor consultation service.
Life is, at the best of times, busy.
As such, it can be easy to overlook certain things, such as when you next need to order a repeat prescription from your GP. So, the first time you may notice that you need to order your next prescription is when you have taken the last pill in the box!
Or perhaps you had your medication and have recently moved home, causing you to misplace your entire supply.
Either way, losing access to your medication to manage a health issue is not a good day and, rather than panic, there are some steps you can take to make sure your medication is with you as soon as possible. So, read on to learn more about what to do if you lose your prescription.
If you have lost your repeat prescription or have run out of medication, you can use the emergency prescription service to get access to an immediate supply. This applies whether the medication was prescribed via the NHS or from a private surgery.
To do this, you need to search online for the 111 online emergency prescription service. Depending on the medication being ordered, you will usually be given a seven-day emergency supply, which will act as a buffer between getting your next prescription filled.
It should be noted that if you pay for your prescription(s), you will be charged the normal fee. If you have medical exemption or you have a prepayment prescription set up, then any emergency medication will be free.
The 111 online service will as you some questions about the medication you need access to, such as when you are due to take it next. The service will also ask you your location, and will then suggest how to get it. In many cases, you will be referred to your nearest pharmacy. It is worth calling the pharmacy ahead of time to check that they have the medication that you need access to.
If you have been prescribed your medication that same day, so it is not a repeat prescription, you should call 111 to discuss your options or contact your NHS GP for help. If it is outside of the normal opening hours of your GP, then there should be an answering machine message that will provide you with details of their out-of-hours options for health care in your area.
If you have run out of your medication in the middle of the night, or after hours, then you may not be able to access it via a high street pharmacy. If this is the situation you are in, you to go to your nearest urgent treatment centre or your local A&E to get access to the medication.
You cannot use the 111-emergency prescription service to get access to antibiotics, which may have been prescribed for a new or recent issue. You also cannot use the 111 service to access drugs that require identification to collect, such as emergency contraception or asthma medication.
If you need any help accessing your prescription or are having issues navigating getting your prescription ordered, please contact us here.
Your health is important. As such, it needs to be maintained.
However, since the pandemic of 2020, fewer people than ever are attending or booking screening tests with their GP. This means that they could be inadvertently missing the early warning signs of many serious diseases.
So, if you have not attended your regular health screenings, then read on, as here, the importance of screening services will be explored.
Looking at the definition first, a health screening is a health check-up that looks at a general picture of your health while you are asymptomatic or in good health. It also helps your GP to note if you are at a higher risk, or have the risk factors for a certain health problem.
There are health screening tests that are available to certain people in set age groups, which include screening for breast cancer in older women, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysm aaa in people aged 65 and over.
When you attend your GP surgery for a health screening, you can expect them to ask about your medical history and your family history. This is to explore if you, or anyone in your immediate family have a history of conditions like high cholesterol or heart disease. If there is a history of high cholesterol, a blood test will be taken and, if there is heart disease in your family, then you may be referred for an ECG or EKG.
You will also need to have blood pressure screening, especially if you are an older individual or if you have diabetes – and this can be done as part of your NHS health check. This will help your GP to assess your risk for heart failure and potentially prescribe medications like beta blockers if needed.
You will also be asked about your sexual health. If you have had many sexual partners, you will need to undertake screening to check for sexually transmitted diseases. There are many STIs or STDs which do not present with symptoms, such as chlamydia, which can cause long-term problems with fertility if not treated. Luckily, STIs like chlamydia are treatable with antibiotics and there is nothing to be ashamed of!
If you are a woman, you will be asked about your smear test history to assess if you are at a higher risk of cervical cancer. If you have missed your most recent smear, you will be booked in for one.
If you need access to an NHS health check, you will need to ensure that you are registered with an NHS GP. To Do this, please search online for GP Pathfinder Clinics, which allows you to book both in-person consultations and online GP video consultations.
That way, you can keep your health as a priority and keep your health up to date. Once you have had your health screening, you will get the test results in around three weeks’ time. These will be accessible via the NHS app, or you can contact us here to access the results.
Do you live in the UK and are unhappy about services that you have received from the National Health Service, or NHS?
If you want to start the NHS complaints process, this article will show you how to do it, when to do it, and, of course, what to do if you are unhappy with the outcome.
If you wish to give feedback or make a complaint about the NHS service, you must fall into the following groups.
Patient- You must have received care or treatment from an NHS service. It does not matter if you received this treatment away from the area you live in; you can begin the complaints process about any service in the NHS, just be sure to include information about the hospital, an NHS GP surgery, dental surgery, or other service and why you attended.
Family Members, Carers, or Representatives- You can complain about the standard of care that a loved one or someone you care for has received. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, you will need to state how you know them, and they will have to give their consent
When you or a loved one have received NHS care that you are unhappy with, you have 12 months to start the complaints process from the date of the incident, or when you became aware of the issue. Please note that this deadline can be extended, if there is just cause as to why the complaints process was not started in the set timeframe.
To start the complaints process, you need to raise the complaint with the NHS organisation itself. This could be a GP surgery, a mental health service, and so on. Each department has their own complaints procedure, and if you aren’t sure who you need to contact, please call the Patient Advice and Liaison Service, or PALS, for help.
You can start complaints in writing, electronically, or verbally. When you make a complaint to the NHS, please state clearly what the issues are and what your desired outcome is.
Once the complaint is received, the NHS will acknowledge your complaint within three working days. According to the NHS constitution, an investigation will follow, and you should receive a written response that breaks down the findings. There is no timeframe in the NHS guidelines which states when the issue needs to be resolved, bit you should be given an idea of how long it will take.
It may be the case that you or the person you represent are unhappy with the outcome. You can escalate the complaint to the parliamentary and health service Ombudsman. The health service ombudsman is independent from the NHS and will carry out their own investigation if necessary. You can contact them via email or telephone at 0345 015 4033. Remember, it is expected that before you contact the Ombudsman, that you will have taken the steps mentioned above and will have proof.
For more information on how to raise a complaint in the NHS, please contact us.
Have you ever been advised by your GP, a nurse, or even 111 to talk to a pharmacist about a medical issue?
In the UK, pharmacists that work for the NHS ensure patient safety, as well as effective medication use, while also easing the pressure on both GP’s and A&E departments.
If you aren’t entirely sure about the role of pharmacists in your care, read on to learn more about it.
One of the main roles of a pharmacist is dispensing medication, as well as other day to day pharmacy services. These can include helping patients to choose the most suitable over-the-counter medication, assisting with health checks, answering questions about medication, and triaging the severity of illnesses.
A community pharmacy may even offer more specialised services, such as health checks for pregnant women, or for those who are over a certain age.
A pharmacist will offer advice and treatment for minor issues to reduce the pressure on other healthcare professionals, such as a local GP practice. These include common colds, headaches, migraines, skin issues, and common health complaints in children, such as headlice. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can also administer vaccines without patients having to book an appointment, and is trained to answer any questions that a patient may have about the side effects.
Many pharmacists undertake additional training at pharmacy schools to become independent prescribers of medicine. This has allowed them to prescribe medications for common ailments like high blood pressure without the need for an NHS GP or a nurse to provide input.
In some hospitals, you may even find pharmacists working alongside specialists, to help with treatment plans and medication, ensuring that it is tailored to the individuals needs. This is known as collaborative prescribing and brings the knowledge that these trained professionals have of the pharmaceutical industry into care plans to make sure that each patient is safe.
Pharmacists often work in hospitals, and are there to ensure the safety of the medication for both the inpatients and the outpatients. This role may involve interaction with patients on the wards, as well as working closely with doctors, specialists and nurses to devise the most suitable treatment plans, alongside monitoring the progress of the patients on different medications and assessing the effects.
Pharmacists in hospitals can also help with the medication plans of patients when they leave the hospital, making sure that they continue to receive the best care at home.
There are also urgent care pharmacies, that patients in the community may be referred to by an NHS service like 111. These pharmacies are equipped to provide out-of-hours care, as well as provide patients with their emergency prescriptions if needed. They can also advise patients on the best steps to take to get treatment in the cases of medical emergencies, by acting as a community triage point. This reduces the strain on hospitals and doctor’s surgeries, and also allows patients to get the best care that they can without needing to make a GP appointment.
If you would like to know more about your nearest urgent care pharmacy, please contact us here.
It happens to everyone.
You need to book an appointment with your GP, and then something comes up and you can no longer attend the consultation. In the UK, it is estimated that around 15 million GP appointments are missed every year in the NHS, which equates to a lot of money and a lot of wasted time for doctors.
So, if you want to learn more about how you can either reschedule or cancel a GP appointment, read on.
We all know that from time to time people forget things, and cancelling GP appointments is just one of them. However, this is no longer a case of just forgetting to do something, and it can have ramifications.
It is important to attend booked appointments with your NHS GP, to help manage your health and to keep track of long-standing health problems. So, when booking appointments, try to ensure that you allow for around 1 hour for the appointment window, as it is common for NHS GPs to run a bit behind schedule at times.
However, it may be the case that you cannot attend your appointment time, due to work or an emergency. So, please contact your GP to cancel an appointment as soon as you can. This will allow the GP surgery to offer the appointment to someone else. Of course, people forget things, cancelling GP appointments can be intimidating, but, please, remember that by cancelling, you allow the appointment to go to someone else.
You can cancel your appointment up to 30 minutes before the appointment time, which will help the GP staff to reallocate it. You can cancel your appointment by contacting your GP surgery directly via phone, or you can do so via the NHS App, which allows you to manage your appointments online. Please note that you have to be signed up for these services to manage and cancel appointments.
If you fail to attend an appointment, or the GP surgery is notified less than 30 minutes before the appointment time, this will be registered as a DNA or did not attend/failed to attend. Cancellations notified with less than 30 minutes warning will lead to an appointment slot not being used and a waste of GP resources. This can lead to your GP surgery potentially deciding to discontinue offering you appointments. So, be sure to keep your GP appointment please, and if you cannot attend, remember to cancel your appointment a minimum of 30 minutes beforehand.
It may be the case that you still need to see your NHS GP, and you want to reschedule your appointment. So, much as before, if you are signed up to the NHS App, you will be able to log on and reschedule your appointment by clicking the ‘reschedule appointment’ button, rather than the ‘cancel appointment’ button. Or, again, you can contact your GP surgery directly via phone. Just make sure you do so a minimum of 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
If you need any help managing, rescheduling, or cancelling your NHS GP appointment, please contact us for more information.
Have you recently been prescribed a new medication by a GP, consultant, or nurse?
In the UK, there are an estimated 3.2 million new medications prescribed every day. As well as this, it is estimated that 1.8 million devices are prescribed per year to members of the public, to help manage health issues.
However, one of the most common issues that people have with new medications is the side effects. Yes, it is a requirement that all medications and devices come with booklets that look at side effects, but many people note that when they start medication, they experience side effects that are not listed.
So, with that in mind, what should you do if you note unusual side effects of medications to the NHS?
If you think you are experiencing an unusual reaction to medication, and are wondering how to report side effects of medication, you can report suspected side effects via the Yellow Card system.
Yellow Card reporting allows members of the public to report an adverse drug reaction via an app or on the Yellow Card website. You can search on both the app and the site for the medicine or medical device if you have experienced a side effect that was not listed in the pamphlet that came with the medicines and healthcare products.
Please note that you should contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have immediate concerns about the side effects, or if you are experiencing side effects from medicines or medical devices that you have been using or taking for a while, as this could point to a more serious issues, such as liver or kidney toxicity, or a potential overdosing of the medication.
Also, if you have read reports of side effects from vaccines or medical devices and you are concerned that you are experiencing them, or you are at a higher risk of experiencing them, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact us at the NHS directly to report these side effects on our website.
If you have been online or have been advised to call 0800 731 6789 to report a suspected adverse side effect from medication or medical devices, it is advised that you should also stop using the medication or device and seek additional medical advice from an NHS GP if you can. If this is not immediately available to you, you should contact 111 for triage about how to manage the medical condition that the medication or device was prescribed for. This will allow you to get help in the interim and will also ensure that the underlying issue is addressed and managed.
When it comes to prescription charge exemptions, age plays a significant role. If you are either under the age of 16 or over 60, you do not have to pay for a prescription. There are some instances where a medication side effect becomes a medical emergency. This is also the case with some vaccine side effects as well as side effects from medical devices. If you or a loved one experience difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue or around the mouth, or develop sudden, intense chest pain that radiates down the left arm, seizures, or collapse, please call 999.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 and are in full-time education, such as college, you are able to receive an exemption from paying for prescriptions.
Specific medical conditions allow you to apply for a medical exemption certificate, so you won’t have to pay for any prescriptions. You can get your medical exemption certificate from your GP, and you and your GP must fill out the form.
There is such a thing as a maternity exemption certificate for expecting mothers and mothers who have had their child within the last 12 months. With this certificate, you can access free prescriptions. It also includes free dental care. You’ll need to seek out a form from your GP, midwife, or doctor to get a maternity exemption certificate.
If you have serviced in the armed forces and are under the age of 60, you can get a war pension exemption certificate, which allows you to get prescriptions without the charges.
If you have a low income, there is the NHS low income scheme, which covers medical costs, including prescriptions, eye care, and dentistry. To gain access to this scheme, you’ll need to have under £16,000 in savings (unless you live in a care home – in this case, your savings must be under £23,250). Depending on your income and overall circumstances, you may be entitled to fully free NHS prescriptions or partial coverage.
You do have to pay for prescriptions if any of the above does not apply to you. If you are a healthy adult who is not pregnant and has a higher-than-low income, you will likely need to pay for your prescriptions.
If you have any prescriptions about your NHS prescriptions or wish to set up online healthcare, feel free to contact us here at NHS GP Pathfinder Clinics. We are more than happy to assist you in any way.
The NHS in the UK makes most medical care free. That doesn’t include absolutely everything, though. While you don’t have to pay to book an appointment with your NHS GP, you still have to pay for things like dentistry, sight tests, and prescriptions.
The good news is that there are certain exemptions in some cases, particularly when it comes to paying for prescriptions. The question is, when do you have to start paying for prescriptions, and which circumstances make you exempt?
Right now, prescriptions are £9.65 per item. However, this charge typically increases every April, so you might find that it’s slightly more.
Certain prescription items are free no matter what. For example, medications prescribed to inpatients at a hospital come with no cost, as do contraception prescriptions.
Understanding when you have to pay for a prescription helps to know when you don’t. If you fall under any of the following categories, you are exempt from paying.
When it comes to prescription charge exemptions, age plays a significant role. If you are either under the age of 16 or over 60, you do not have to pay for a prescription.
If you are between the ages of 16 and 18 and are in full-time education, such as college, you are able to receive an exemption from paying for prescriptions.
Specific medical conditions allow you to apply for a medical exemption certificate, so you won’t have to pay for any prescriptions. You can get your medical exemption certificate from your GP, and you and your GP must fill out the form.
There is such a thing as a maternity exemption certificate for expecting mothers and mothers who have had their child within the last 12 months. With this certificate, you can access free prescriptions. It also includes free dental care. You’ll need to seek out a form from your GP, midwife, or doctor to get a maternity exemption certificate.
If you have serviced in the armed forces and are under the age of 60, you can get a war pension exemption certificate, which allows you to get prescriptions without the charges.
If you have a low income, there is the NHS low income scheme, which covers medical costs, including prescriptions, eye care, and dentistry. To gain access to this scheme, you’ll need to have under £16,000 in savings (unless you live in a care home – in this case, your savings must be under £23,250). Depending on your income and overall circumstances, you may be entitled to fully free NHS prescriptions or partial coverage.
You do have to pay for prescriptions if any of the above does not apply to you. If you are a healthy adult who is not pregnant and has a higher-than-low income, you will likely need to pay for your prescriptions.
If you have any prescriptions about your NHS prescriptions or wish to set up online healthcare, feel free to contact us here at NHS GP Pathfinder Clinics. We are more than happy to assist you in any way.
Do you want to view your medical records? You might wish to do so for any number of reasons. That doesn’t truly matter, though – you have the legal right to access your medical record and information at any time, and you don’t need to present a reason for this.
Seeing your medical records means you feel more in control of yourself and your overall health. You can look back and see every ailment you have had and any prescriptions you may have taken over the years. You’ll also be able to see which vaccinations you have been given.
If you’re experiencing a medical issue, looking at your medical history may help you understand it better. Or, you may be completely healthy but would like to see your health record simply because you’re curious and want to know as much about your health as possible. All are valid reasons.
Your medical record will show things like prescriptions given, vaccinations, allergies, test results, GP notes, conditions, and hospital letters.
There are several ways to access your medical records: through the NHS app, online, or by requesting your medical records in writing. Generally, accessing them through the NHS app is the easiest way to get a copy of your health record, but you can still use the other methods.
To access your medical record through the NHS app, download the free NHS app and connect it to your GP surgery. Once you do this, you’ll be able to easily find your record on the app, which will show you things like test results and hospital letters.
You can also find your health record by logging into the NHS website online if you are over 16. You’ll need an account to do this and to prove your identity. If you’re unsure about setting this up or don’t know your login details, speak to your GP.
To request your health record in writing, you’ll need to write a formal letter or email to your GP with the request. This may be useful if you’re not used to online technology, don’t have internet access, or simply prefer hard records. Your NHS GP should respond to your request promptly, but they may ask more questions, such as exactly what information you’re looking for.
There may be some instances in which you need to access the health records of a family member in order to make health care decisions. For example, parents or guardians may need access to their child’s health record, or an adult may wish to access their elderly parent’s health information to help find them care. In some cases, a medical power of attorney may need to access them for their client.
Accessing your health records shouldn’t be difficult – you have the legal right to access them at any time. If you’re struggling with gaining access to your records or want to sign up for online services, contact us today. We are happy to make the process as easy as possible for you.
