The Limes Medical Centre
Tel: 01992 566501

Thrifts Mead Branch Surgery
Tel: 01992 812450

North Weald Branch
Tel: 01992 524383

News:

Announcements

01 May - 01 Aug
Sex - Worth Talking About

Talking about sex doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Whether it’s knowing about your contraceptive choices, explaining STIs, coping with emotions or understanding your body, you'll find straightforward information and advice to make it easier to discuss everything to do with sexual health, right here

30 Apr - 01 Aug
Change for Life

Would you like loads of tips and help to make changes for a healthier future? As part of Change4Life, you will receive tons of helpful information, recipes, tools, tips, and games for the kids.

29 Apr - 01 Aug
NHS Smokefree

Find out about all of the free NHS services available to support you as you go try to give up smoking.

BBC Health

Calcium pills 'raise' heart risk

Calcium supplements taken by many older people could be increasing their risk of a heart attack, research shows.

Child heart op ban 'should stay'

Children's heart surgery should remain suspended at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where four babies died, a report says.

Public health fear in NHS revamp

The overhaul of the NHS may harm the public health drive, a health think tank is warning.

Say fat not obese, says minister

GPs and other health professionals should tell people they are fat rather than obese, England's public health minister says.

Hip hope from stem cell technique

Doctors may soon be able to patch up damaged bones and joints anywhere in the body with a simple shot in the arm.

Alcohol can 'lessen' arthritis

Drinking alcohol can reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, a study has found

Warning for obese mothers-to-be

Obesity levels among pregnant women have reached epidemic levels, putting the health of their babies at risk, experts say.

'Emergency fund' for cancer drugs

The government announces a £50m fund aimed at giving patients access to cancer drugs sooner.

Rugby head injury reporting worry

Rugby ruling bodies are concerned after a BBC investigation finds some players are failing to report head injuries suffered in matches.

Face transplant man appears on TV

A Spanish man who underwent the world's first full face transplant reveals his new look before TV cameras.

Yahoo Health

Hands-only CPR, pushy dispatchers are lifesavers (AP)

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2006 file photo a person participates in an American Red Cross CPR training in Washington. Two new studies conclude that 'hands only' chest compression is enough to save a life. The American Heart Association has been promoting 'hands only' CPR for two years, though it's not clear how much it's caught on. The new studies should help, experts say. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

AP - More bystanders are willing to attempt CPR if an emergency dispatcher gives them firm and direct instructions — especially if they can just press on the chest and skip the mouth-to-mouth, according to new research.

DC pushes female condoms to fight HIV epidemic (AP)

AP - Charlene Cotton will talk to anyone about sex. Several days a week she stands behind a table decorated with a bowl of flavored condoms and safer sex pamphlets, calling to women passing on the street, "Come check out my table. Don't be scared."

NYC looks to stop spreading bedbug infestations (AP)

FILE - In this undated photo released by the University of Florida, a common bedbug is engorged with blood after feeding on a human. One of every 15 New Yorkers battled bedbugs last year, officials said Wednesday, July 28, 2010, as they announced a plan to fight the spreading infestation, including a public-awareness campaign and a top entomologist to head the effort. (AP Photo/University of Florida, File) NO SALES

AP - One of every 15 New Yorkers battled bedbugs last year, officials said Wednesday as they announced a plan to fight the spreading infestation, including a public-awareness campaign and a top entomologist to head the effort.

New program rebuilding faces of soldiers, veterans (AP)

In this photo taken June 23, 2010, Master Sgt. Todd Nelson is reflected in a mirror as Dr. Joe Villalobos makes adjustments to a prosthetics ear at Wilford Hall Medical Center, in San Antonio. Nelson was injured in 2007 by an explosion while serving in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AP - Master Sgt. Todd Nelson lost his right eye and ear in a flash when a car bomb in Afghanistan exploded, sending fire up his arm and over his head.

Tests aim to settle if fresher blood works better (AP)

Dr. Wenche Jy, research assistant professor, watches as Eleanor De Asis, assistant lab manager, washes blood, Friday, July 23, 2010, at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. This summer, hospitals around the country are launching major new research to settle if fresher blood really is better for at least some patients. And if so, they're also hunting ways to turn back the clock for older blood — like the University of Miami's work to wash away some cellular debris — and offset any deterioration. The University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital is testing whether 'washing' blood before transfusing it could help, by ridding blood of microparticles that accumulate the longer it's stored. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

AP - Facing surgery? You could receive blood that's been stored for a week, or three weeks, or nearly six — and there's growing concern that people who get the older blood might not fare as well.

Japanese women extend life expectancy to new high (AP)

Elderly people work out with wooden dumb-bells at a temple in Tokyo in September 2008. Japanese people are living longer than ever, with the average life expectancy now a world-record 86.44 years for women and 79.59 years for men, the health and welfare ministry said Monday.(AFP/File/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

AP - Japanese women are expected to live almost 86 1/2 years, topping the world longevity ratings for the 25th straight year, the government reported Monday.

Obese patients lose weight on new Orexigen drug (Reuters)

Reuters - Overweight volunteers who took Orexigen's experimental drug Contrave, designed to reduce cravings, lost about 13 pounds (6 kg) over a year, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

New Study Finds HPV Vaccine Protects Against Genital Warts (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects not only against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, but also helps prevent genital warts and low-grade cervical growths.

Clinical Trials Update: July 29, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Health Tip: Dealing With Separation Anxiety (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- It's common for young children to have a tough time when mom or dad leaves them with someone else.

MedPage Today

TZD Use Linked to Fracture Risk in Women 50 and Older (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Patients with type 2 diabetes may face an increased fracture risk when treated with thiazolidinedione (TZD) drugs, data from a large observational study suggest.

Renal Troubles Spell Acute Injury Risk (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Reduced kidney function and protein leaking into the urine may be warning signs for acute kidney injury, researchers warned.

Estradiol Spray May Pose Risk for Kids and Pets

(MedPage Today) -- Menopausal women who use a spray form of topical estradiol (Evamist) to control hot flushes should avoid touching children and pets with treated areas of the skin, the FDA warned.

Pandemic Strain Dominated Most Recent Flu Season (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Pandemic H1NI influenza was almost the only type of flu virus circulating in the U.S. during the 2009-2010 flu season -- and it disproportionately affected younger age groups, according to the CDC.

Less Pain, More Gain in OA With Regular Exercise (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) who stick to a recommended exercise program and increase their overall physical activity have less pain and more improvement in physical functioning, according to a Dutch observational study.

FDA Finds Pneumonia Risk with Daptomycin

(MedPage Today) -- The FDA said that the intravenous antibiotic daptomycin (Cubicin) may be linked to an increased risk of eosinophilic pneumonia -- a rare but serious potential side effect -- and requested that a new drug label warning be added.

Number of Uninsured Varies Greatly by State

Massachusetts (MedPage Today) -- a state with a universal health insurance program -- has the nation's lowest rate of uninsured residents under age 65, at 7.8%, according to data released by the Census Bureau.

Reports Alert FDA to Possible Contamination

(MedPage Today) -- Over a seven-month period, manufacturers and distributors have reported 125 food safety issues directly to the FDA, most concerning Salmonella or allergens, the agency said.

FDA Approves Drug to Control Kids' Chronic Drooling

(MedPage Today) -- A new formulation of glycopyrrolate (Cuvposa) has received FDA approval to treat chronic severe drooling in children ages 3 to 16, the agency said.

Stem Cell Transplant Benefits Severe Lupus (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation resulted in improvements in disease activity, serologic markers, and renal function in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a pilot study conducted in China found.

Welcome to The Limes Medical Centre Online

The Limes Medical Centre in Epping is a six-partner teaching/training practice with a list size of approximately 15,500 patients. Our doctors, nurses and all our other staff are dedicated to offering a professional service and this surgery website will help us to keep all our patients up to date with news and information about our practice.

Coming Soon - New Telephone System

The Limes Medical Centre is pleased to announce that shortly we will be implementing a state of the art telephone system.

This system has been chosen using patient, staff and service user feedback and we are confident that it will incorporate all of the features suggested.

In addition to being able to speak with our reception team we are very pleased with the addition of an exciting feature called "Patient Partner". This is a new and automated way of cancelling, checking or booking your own follow up appointments with your surgery, any time, night and day, 24/7 access.

Our telephone numbers are NOT changing and so you can telephone the surgery as normal. If you choose the option from the menu to use the Automated Booking Service and then follow the simple instructions you will be able to see how simple this new method of access is.

All you need to use this new technology is a touch-tone telephone, your contact number and date of birth.

Remember - You can telephone the surgery around the clock, 7 days a week.

Note - You must inform the surgery if you change your contact telephone numbers - your home and mobile.

Please note that your call may be monitored for training and safety.

Practice of the Year Award Winners

The Limes is pleased to announce that on 8 October 2008 the practice won the Management in Practice - Practice of the Year Award 2008. The award looked to recognise the practice team that had had the biggest positive impact on all aspects of surgery management from patient care delivery and systems implementation to staff motivation and budget management.

Teaching at The Limes

We have a long established record of both under graduate and post graduate teaching at The Limes, having been involved in the undergraduate teaching process for over 12 years (and post graduate teaching for far longer).

We are involved in the undergraduate teaching of medical students from Barts and The Royal London (QMC) medical students, and several GPs and nursing staff in the practice regularly teach medical students. The courses we run range from a first year course on the role of "medicine in society", through taking second year students for a course that extends their exposure to meeting patients and learning the basics of taking histories and learning examination techniques.

We also run courses for third and fourth year students on all aspects of medicine, paediatrics and human development. This latter topic encompases the broader topics of child health, gynaecology and obstetrics. We are proud to say that we teach from our strengths, having many team members who have specialist knowledge and also make full use of the wider team, including the nursing team, midwives, health visitors and pharmacists where we feel that this will improve the student experience.

Opening Hours

See the appointments page for full details of our opening and consulting times.

Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

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