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Five Million More GP Appointments Delivered In February Than Before Pandemic
GP teams delivered over 30 million appointments for patients last month (February 2024), up almost a quarter on the same period pre-pandemic, as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan.
New NHS data published today shows there were 30.5 million appointments (excluding Covid vaccinations) delivered by GPs and their teams in February 2024, compared with 24.7 million in February 2020 – an increase of 5.8 million (23.4%).
Almost seven in ten appointments took place within 7 days of booking, while two thirds of appointments took place face-to-face.
The NHS promised 50 million more appointments by March 2024 compared to 2018/19, and the figures show that GPs and their teams have delivered an extra 57.5 million appointments (excluding Covid vaccinations) over the last year compared to 2018/19 – significantly above and ahead of the target.
GPs delivered 364.8 million appointments excluding Covid vaccinations over the last twelve months (March 2023 – February 2024).
On average, the NHS is now offering more than 1.4 million GP appointments every working day.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:
"The NHS is meeting its targets, with hard working GPs and their teams making tremendous progress across the country. But we know there is more to do – that's why the NHS is implementing the major plan we announced last year to improve access to GP services, which includes upgrading telephone systems to make it easier for patients to contact their surgery, and we've boosted the workforce with an additional 36,000 staff joining GP teams since 2019, all helping to deliver even more appointments."
Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom said:
"We are determined to make our healthcare system faster, simpler and fairer for all patients, and this data shows that through the incredible work of GPs and their teams, we are now delivering significantly more appointments per working day compared to the same time last year.
"We are committed to ensuring that everyone who needs an appointment is able to get one, and our primary care recovery plan demonstrates how we will deliver for all patients who use our fantastic NHS.
"Our goals are clear, and we have already delivered on a number of pledges – including exceeding our target of 50 million additional general practice appointments per year, several months ahead of schedule."
The NHS primary care access recovery plan also gives people more choice in how they access care, with more than 10,000 pharmacies now treating people for 7 common conditions including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women over the age of 65.
The action is expected to free up to 10 million GP appointments a year and, with 80% of people in England living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, the move will give the public more choice in where and how they access care.
Shingles News, Research And Latest Updates
Shingles News, Research and Latest Updates Keep abreast with the latest news related to Shingles there are 146 news items on Shingles that covers updates, breakthroughs and in-depth reports.We provide you with a free downloadable secure widget for your website to carry news related to Shingles.
In 'Shingles' or 'Herpes Zoster' painful skin rashes appear usually on the side of chest wall. It is caused by chicken pox virus called varicella zoster.
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Shingles Under The Breast: Signs, Prevention, And Management
If you get shingles under the breast, you'll notice a blistering rash that extends sideways toward your back. You may experience pain, itchiness, and general flu-like symptoms for up to 5 weeks.
If you've had chickenpox, you could get shingles (herpes zoster) later in life if the varicella-zoster virus reactivates.
A shingles rash may develop anywhere in your body, including the face, although it's more common in the torso. When it affects the nerve pathways supplying the chest, a rash around or under one breast that extends in a swath-like formation to the back may appear.
Rashes under the breast in males and females may result from multiple conditions, making it hard to diagnose shingles at home. Consulting a healthcare professional is advised.
Shingles may cause early symptoms before a rash becomes evident. Some of these symptoms may mimic a common cold or the flu.
You may experience:
You may also have localized symptoms around and under the breast, even if you can't see a rash yet. These symptoms may include:
You may feel as if something is constantly rubbing against your skin causing a burning sensation.
The shingles pain may peak as a rash starts developing. You may notice raised bumps first and then tiny fluid-filled blisters will appear. The rash may take anywhere between 4 days and 2 weeks to develop.
Shingles rashes are distinctive in that they appear in clusters and follow a strip- or belt-like area on one side of the body only. They may resemble a burn.
In its early stages, shingles can look bright red, especially on light skin. On dark skin, the rash may appear discolored, skin-toned, or darker than the surrounding area.
No matter what your skin tone, a shingles rash will have tiny fluid-filled blisters in it. When the blisters start to dry out and scab over, the rash may turn brown on light skin and gray on dark skin tones.
You may also experience itching after the shingles rash has healed.
Pictures of shingles under the breast on light and dark skinHere's what a shingles rash beneath the breast may look like on different skin tones in both males and females.
Other conditions that may cause a rash under the breastConsulting a healthcare professional is highly advised if you experience any painful rash or one that doesn't heal or improve.
Shingles is highly contagious, so you may also want to confirm the diagnosis to take the corresponding precautions. If you are nursing a baby, you may also want to cover the rash around your breast and avoid direct contact between this area and your baby.
Early treatment with prescription antiviral medications may reduce the severity and duration of shingles. It could also reduce the possibility of complications, such as skin infections and long-term pain (postherpetic neuralgia) due to nerve damage.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. You can't get shingles unless you've already had chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox, either as a child or adult, can get shingles.
The varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox doesn't leave the body, even after the illness resolves. Instead, it lodges in the nerve endings located near the spine and brain. Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus becomes reactivated.
If the virus reactivates in the nerve pathways that innervate the chest area, you may develop symptoms under and around one breast.
Risk factors for shinglesHaving a weakened immune system is the most common contributing factor to getting shingles. This may be related to:
Shingles is treated with antiviral medications. The goal of treatment is to reduce the chance of complications and lower the severity and duration of your symptoms.
In addition to antiviral drugs, your healthcare team may also recommend keeping the area clean and dry, and using pain relief medications, including over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, and prescription analgesics.
Topical treatments may also be used to reduce the pain of a shingles rash under the breast if the rash has resolved but you still experience pain. These may include prescription or over-the-counter pain patches.
To reduce shingles itching, oral antihistamines may help once the blisters have dried and scabbed over.
If you're over age 50 years, the best way to reduce the chance of getting shingles is to get the shingles vaccine. It's a two-dose vaccine that is more than 90% effective against shingles.
A healthcare professional may also recommend the shingles vaccine to younger people with weak immune systems.
Managing stress may also help. Strategies such as meditation, yoga, and exercise work as stress relievers.
A painful and blistering rash under the breast that extends to one side only may indicate a shingles infection. It may also be itchy and look like a burn.
Only people who've had chickenpox before may develop shingles. This may happen at any age and the rash may appear anywhere in the body, although it's more common on one side of the torso.
If you're over age 50 years, the shingles vaccine may reduce your chances of getting shingles.
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