GP Registrars
We welcome Dr Naheeda Parkar and Dr Shilpy Kumar our new GP Registrars. Dr Parkar is a trainee GP and will be with us for one year, sitting in on some consultations prior to working on her own under the supervision of Dr Faerestrand. Dr Kumar is also a trainee GP but will only be with us a short time prior to commencing her maternity leave. She will also be sitting in on some consultations prior to working on her own under the supervision of Dr Faerestrand.
Chlamydia Screening Programme
What is Chlamydia?
Chlamydia (kla-mid-ee-a) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the UK. It’s most common in men and women under 25 years of age. You don’t need to have had lots of sexual partners to be at risk. The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) has discovered that 1 in 10 people under the age of 25 who have had a test are infected. Most people with Chlamydia have no symptoms, so they may not know they have the infection. If left untreated, Chlamydia can spread to other parts of the body and this can lead to long term health problems, such as infertility (not being able to have a baby) and pain, especially in the abdomen (area below your belly button).
There is now an NHS National Screening Programme for Chlamydia for the under 25s, the group most at risk. Kits for tests can be picked up in local centres or you can even arrange to have a home testing kit delivered through the post. The test is FREE, confidential, simple and painless. You don't have to be examined. For further details about the local screening programme in Essex visit the following website ruClear? (www.ruclear.nhs.uk/) and for details about the National Programme visit National Chlamydia Screening Programme (www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk/index.htm).
Further information about Chlamydia is available in the following patient information leaflet from the Family Planning Association: Chlamydia—Looking after your sexual health(http://www.fpa.org.uk/attachments/published/129/PDF%20Chlamydia%20October%202007.pdf)
HPV Vaccine Programme
The HPV Vaccine Programme starts in September 2008.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that infects the deepest layer of the skin and, for example, the lining of the cervix. There are about 100 types of HPV, of which around 40 infect the genital area. Of these, thirteen are known to cause cervical cancer, and two of these (types 16 and 18) cause over 70% of all cases.
The HPV Vaccination Programme begins in September 2008 for girls in Year 8 and Year 12 at school. A catch up programme will follow for the years in between.
To read more about the new HPV vaccination programme for girls see:
HPV Vaccine—NHS Immunisation information (www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV")
Cervical Cancer Vaccine—Cancer Research UK Information Leaflet (www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default_printer_friend.asp?page=16024")
The vaccine programme will be managed by Public Health and the School Nursing Service and will not be given in Primary Care (GP Surgeries).
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