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EAST IPSWICH PRIMARY CARE NETWORK

Orchard Medical Practice is part of the East Ipswich Primary Care Network (PCN).  We work closely with Ravenswood Medical Practice and Dr Solway, Mallick & Roy Practice.  We jointly employ and share a number of staff who work across all three practices, currently those staff  employed by the PCN, consist of Paramedics, Pharmacists and Social Prescribers - By working together closely we aim to learn good practice from each other to Improve our services and access to healthcare for the 36000 patients that live locally and are registered with our practices.  

The long term objective is to continually improve and develop our teams in a way that only working at scale can achieve.  This means for you the patient, that we aim to have a wider range of expert practitioners within our teams enabling you to consult with the most appropriate person.  

As the PCN develops we will keep you updated as to any significant changes that may affect the way our services are delivered.

Do you suffer with Hay Fever?

Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

Hay Fever

https://ipswichandeastsuffolkccg.nhs.uk/Portals/1/Content/Members%20Area/Clinical%20Area/Medicine%20managment/Self%20care%20and%20patient%20information%20leaflets/IESCCG%20Selfcare%20reminder%20-%20hayfever%202021.pdf

Check if you have hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

  • sneezing and coughing
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • itchy, red or watery eyes
  • itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
  • loss of smell
  • pain around your temples and forehead
  • headache
  • earache
  • feeling tired

If you have asthma, you might also:

  • have a tight feeling in your chest
  • be short of breath
  • wheeze and cough

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

How to treat hay fever yourself

There's currently no cure for hay fever and you can't prevent it. But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

Do

  • put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
  • wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes
  • shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash pollen off
  • stay indoors whenever possible
  • keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
  • vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
  • buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a special HEPA filter

Don't

  • cut grass or walk on grass
  • spend too much time outside
  • keep fresh flowers in the house
  • smoke or be around smoke – it makes your symptoms worse
  • dry clothes outside – they can catch pollen
  • let pets into the house if possible – they can carry pollen indoors

A pharmacist can help with hay fever

Speak to your pharmacist if you have hay fever. They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, like antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays to help with:

  • itchy and watery eyes and sneezing
  • a blocked nose

Information from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/

Check the pollen forecast HERE

More information can be found on the Ipswich and Suffolk CCG website: HERE

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