Please note that Ashford Borough Council have notified the Practice as from 1st March 2023 that they have stopped accepting sharps boxes at the Gateways and Civic Centre and are directing anyone who brings them in for them to sign up for a home collection instead. 

Please visit Ashford Borough Council's website (Information and guidance on how to dispose of sharps, syringes and clinical waste. (ashford.gov.uk) for details of collection of used needle boxes once full direct from your home address.

Collections can be booked regularly (such as monthly) or just on an as and when required basis. The online sharps collection request form can be found on ABC's website or please call 01233 331111.

Please see below links promoting Breast Cancer Screening and Awareness in Nepalese patients.

https://youtu.be/lbyp_QLtIvs?si=3QLR8RAsmlTW2eXI

https://youtu.be/dZkIyzvFp_E?si=Z30oFJDlpHU2e42W

An English transcript can also be viewed here.

It's important to do your research if you're thinking about having surgery abroad.

It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards may not be as high.

Please see below document and link with further information.

Is a cosmetic procedure right for me? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Some patients choose to undertake bariatric surgery privately. Not all bariatric centres offer a complete service and this could cause difficulties for patients and their care. If you arrange bariatric surgery privately you cannot rely on the NHS for dietary supplements or follow-up care in relation to this.

To help guide your choice of provider, the following gives important details you need to consider;  

Psychological Support
Psychological (mental health) support is usually needed by all patients before and after bariatric surgery. Support can be provided in many different ways including in a group or on your own. Please talk to your bariatric centre to agree the support which is best for you.

What care should you expect before you have bariatric surgery?
Before you book your surgery, the bariatric centre which you have chosen should carry out certain assessments which should include:
A complete nutrition assessment by a specialist dietitian, who is an expert in bariatric nutrition.

The dietitian should offer you support and provide important information as part of the process to help you to prepare for your surgery;

• Blood tests which look at nutrition deficiencies, diabetes, cholesterol level and kidney function (routine blood tests not related to bariatric surgery will still be provided by the NHS)
• Any nutrition deficiencies which are identified may need to be treated before bariatric surgery can go ahead.
• Your chosen bariatric centre may advise you to follow a low calorie/low carbohydrate diet before your operation to reduce the size of your liver.
• Because low calorie/low carbohydrate diets may not provide all the nutrients you need, you may need to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement. Your chosen bariatric centre should tell you whether you need to do this and the type of supplement and amount to take - you should buy any vitamin and mineral supplements yourself.

What care should you expect after you have bariatric surgery?
It is important to understand that people who have chosen to have bariatric surgery privately, either abroad or in the UK, are not entitled to NHS follow-up care. People who have had bariatric surgery need lifelong follow up care to ensure that their nutrition needs are met. Providing this follow‐up care, including the monitoring of your nutritional needs is the responsibility of your chosen bariatric centre for at least two years after your surgery. It should be included in the package you have agreed with your chosen bariatric centre.

After the first two year follow up period, further follow up of your nutrition needs is still important and should be assessed at least once a year. This may be provided by your GP if they have agreed to do this with your bariatric centre. However, if your chosen bariatric centre has told you that your surgery causes malabsorption (a condition caused by the gut not absorbing nutrients), they should provide follow up care for you for longer than two years.

What nutritional supplements will you need after you have bariatric surgery?
After any bariatric surgery, you will need to take a complete multivitamin and mineral supplement every day. You will need to buy this yourself and you should take the amount advised by your chosen
bariatric centre.

Some examples of easily available, suitable multivitamin and mineral supplements are:

• Asda A-Z Multivitamin & Minerals Tablets
• Morrison’s A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals
• Numark/Rowlands A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals
• Sainsbury’s A-Z Multivitamins & Minerals
• Sanatogen Complete A-Z
• Superdrug A-Z Multivitamin + Minerals
• Tesco A-Z Multivitamins And Minerals
• Vega ZM3 Multivitamin and Mineral Formula