Children’s Health

Keeping children well now and in the future; Little Moments Together Campaign, Childhood and Teenage Mental Health, Childhood Immunisations and Neonatal Checks

Little Moments Together Campaign

Early Childhood is a crucial time for brain development, when a young developing brain changes shape and size in response to everything it encounters.  In January 2024 The Department for Education (DfE) in partnership with with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) will launch its Start for Life “Little Moments Together” Campaign.  More information can be found accessing the link below

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/early-learning-development

Childhood and Teenage Mental Health

While it is commonly believed that depression only effects adults, around 10% of children in Great Britain aged between 5 and 16 have a recognisable mental disorder; with about 4% of children suffering from an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.

The problem for many is that depression is difficult to spot and often regarded as teenage mood swings. However, if your child is appearing to have an extreme emotional response to a life event or has lost interest in activities which previously interested them they may be suffering from an emotional disorder.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health please visit your GP, who will be able to offer a range of support to help both you and your child. There are a range of talking therapies which are highly effective in dealing with both short term and long term depression, for more information on these therapies please view the NHS Talking Therapy Guide.

While it is commonly believed that depression only effects adults, around 10% of children in Great Britain aged between 5 and 16 have a recognisable mental disorder; with about 4% of children suffering from an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.

The problem for many is that depression is difficult to spot and often regarded as teenage mood swings. However, if your child is appearing to have an extreme emotional response to a life event or has lost interest in activities which previously interested them they may be suffering from an emotional disorder.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health please visit your GP, who will be able to offer a range of support to help both you and your child. There are a range of talking therapies which are highly effective in dealing with both short term and long term depression, for more information on these therapies please view the NHS Talking Therapy Guide.

Useful links

Childhood Immunisations

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are.

Please call the surgery to make an appointment.

For more information please visit the websites below:

Useful links

Neonatal Checks

Some newborn babies are released from hospital without a detailed examination. If this is the case, our GPs are happy to perform the relevant checks, either in the surgery, or in the comfort of your own home, depending on which is easier for you.

In most cases, the Practice will contact new mums to arrange for this to happen, on rare occasions where we are unaware of the birth, please feel free to give us a call and arrange an appointment or visit.

Cancer Screening

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Ballater Surgery to help with cancer screening.

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon, rectum or the small bowel.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

  • Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
  • A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 4 to 6 weeks
  • A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
  • A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
  • Losing weight
  • Pain in your abdomen or back passage
  • A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.

Bowel cancer screening

How do I get a screening kit?

If you are aged 60-69 years, you will be sent your screening invitation automatically through the post. All you need to do is make sure that your GP has your correct address.

‘People aged 70 years and over or under the age of 60, who wish to be screened, should request a kit. Simply telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.’

Macmillan Cancer Support

Have questions about cancer? Visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 000 free (Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm).

Breast Screening

The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.

The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50.  If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.

Cervical screening test

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 15 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Support on social media #CervicalScreeningAwarenessWeek

Coronavirus might have made #CervicalScreening more difficult, but @JoTrust are there for you. In #CervicalScreeningAwarenessWeek, help ensure everyone who has questions or concerns know where to get answers and support www.jostrust.org.uk/csaw

Useful links

Weight Monitoring

Besides helping those who wish to lose weight, advice is available from our nurses for patients with special dietary needs.

Flu vaccination

Flu vaccination is recommended for all patients over 65 years and those with long-standing chest complaints, diabetes, liver or kidney disease and many other chronic illnesses.

Diabetes

There is a regular clinic with advice available from the doctors, dietitian and nurses. Long-term complications are minimised by appropriate care and control. All diabetic patients should register with the clinic.

Child health and immunisation

 Full immunisation is recommended for all children. Development and regular health checks are given by the doctors. Appointments with the Health Visitor can be made by telephoning Eldred Drive Clinic on 01689 837005.

Cervical smears 

Cervical screening (a smear test) is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It’s offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. The link below offers NHS information on cervical screening.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening.

Further information and support can also be found on Jo’s trust cervical smears.

Jo’s cervical trust, understands the importance of regular cervical smears for women’s health. Their mission is to raise awareness and provide support for all women in their cervical screening journey Their website provides information on the Smear and what to expect https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening

Blood pressure or hypertension

This is a major cause of heart and circulatory problems. All patients are requested to use the surgery blood pressure machine located in reception on each visit.

Asthma

Regular clinics are held for those suffering from asthma. Treatment is continually advancing and we can help you to understand how to minimise the effect asthma has on you.

Post-natal care 

Full pregnancy care and post-natal checks are provided. You will receive a call from the practice for your 10 week baby post natal and baby check from the Practice.