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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.

Pregnant women rights questioned

The right of women to choose whether they have home births is being questioned by a leading medical journal.

Drug prescribed after web search

A father persuades the NHS to give his sick daughter a "miracle" drug he found on the internet.

Addiction drugs 'aid weight loss'

A combination pill of two drugs used to treat addiction may help people lose weight, say US researchers.

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.

Yahoo Health

Chicken producers debate 'natural' label (AP)

In this photo taken Dec. 19, 2008, chickens are seen on a farm near Vacaville, Calif. A disagreement among poultry producers about whether chicken injected with salt, water and other ingredients can be promoted as 'natural' has prompted federal officials to consider changing labeling guidelines. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

AP - A disagreement among poultry producers about whether chicken injected with salt, water and other ingredients can be promoted as "natural" has prompted federal officials to consider changing labeling guidelines.

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.

The pill equally effective in obese, thin women (Reuters)

Reuters - Despite studies suggesting that birth control pills might not work as well in obese women, a new study suggests that they prevent pregnancy the same no matter what a woman weighs.

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

Pandemic Flu Strain Will Be Component of Seasonal Vaccine

(MedPage Today) -- As expected, the U.S. flu vaccine for next fall will include the pandemic flu that has swept the world, the FDA said.

Women Big Winners With Health Reform Law

(MedPage Today) -- An estimated 30 million women will be helped by the new healthcare reform law over the next 10 years, according to a report from The Commonwealth Fund.

Bone Density May Predict Prostate Cancer in Old Age (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Bone scans might help identify men at high risk for aggressive prostate tumors as they age, researchers said.

Vitamin D May Boost Teens' Arterial Health (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Vitamin D supplements reduce the arterial stiffness associated with pervasive vitamin D deficiency among black teens, even in sunny climes, researchers found.

Stalled Stem Cell Trial for Spine Injury Cleared Again

(MedPage Today) -- The on-again, off-again clinical trial of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) therapy for spinal cord injury is on again, its sponsor said.

Ablate and Wait in Liver CA, Experts Suggest (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Outcomes in all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma might improve with an "ablate-and-wait" strategy versus rapid transplantation, according to a group of clinicians who have regularly used the strategy.

Weight-Loss Combo Appears Effective (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A sustained-release formulation combining bupropion and naltrexone (Contrave) appears to be an effective treatment for weight loss in obese patients, researchers have found.

Steroid Shots Soothe Some Sciatica (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Injection of steroids into the affected spinal nerve appears to ease lumbar radicular pain better than other types of injections, but still in only a proportion of patients, according to a randomized trial.

Fever Often Missing in Mild Pandemic Flu (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Physicians using standard diagnostic criteria -- which include fever -- may miss mild cases of the pandemic flu, researchers reported.

Risk of MI May Go Up With Calcium Supplements (CME/CE, with video)

(MedPage Today) -- Calcium supplementation appears to increase the risk of myocardial infarction, a meta-analysis showed.

Welcome to Westside Surgery Online

Westside Surgery in Boston aims to provide the highest quality health care to patients in the area. 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.

As well as a source of information about our practice, the staff and the services we provide, we hope you will use this website as a useful resource for other health-related information. Please have a look around and do send us some feedback if you like. We can use your ideas to improve our online services and further develop the content of this site.

Book appointments by telephone or online 24 hours a day!

You can now book a doctor's appointment when the surgery is closed! To use this service (SystmOnline) you need a username and password. Please ask at reception and bring photo ID (driving licence or passport) and we will issue you with your logon details. You will then be able to book, cancel or check your doctor's appointment or cancel or check any appointment.

Alternatively, you can use our new automated telephone booking service from any touch tone telephone. You can use this service to book, check or cancel any doctor's appointment. You don't need to register to use the automated telephone service, but you will need to provide an up to date telephone number.

These services aren't available for our nurses' appointments as these require more guidance when booking from our receptionists.

You can, of course, still choose to speak direct to a receptionist if you prefer. Just select option 2 on the telephone.

Order repeat prescriptions online

If you click on the link at the bottom of this page to order prescriptions, it will direct you to SystmOnline, which is linked directly to your clinical record. To register to use SystmOnline, you will need to bring some valid photo ID (passport or driving licence) to reception where you will be given a logon and password. Once you have this, you will also be able to book or cancel appointments using SystmOnline.

Click here to order your repeat prescription online

Click here to book/cancel your appointment online

Practice Information

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

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