Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) saves more lives around the world than any other treatment.

A relatively new phenomenon is that pharmacies cannot obtain some medications. This can happen for a number of reasons.

It is sold under the trade name of Dioratyle, but is simple to make at home from commonly available ingredients found in most domestic kitchens - find out more here.

This is an accurate test for diabetes, and is done when we suspect a diagnosis of diabetes, but you don’t yet meet our hospital’s referral criteria.

It involves a fasting blood test to measure your basal glucose levels. It is important to be fasting because some elements of food increase your blood sugar and would result in an abnormal result.

You are given a drink containing a fixed amount of sugar.

You rest for two hours while your body deals with the sugar. It is important to rest, because movement causes your muscles to burn sugar giving a false result. You are advised to bring a good book, magazine or knitting to pass the time.

After two hours of resting, a further glucose blood test is taken.

If you are struggling to decide if Statin is right for you, then please visit the QIntervention® website which enables you to work out your risk of diabetes, heart disease, or stroke over the next 10 years and show you how that risk could change with interventions such as stopping smoking, losing weight, lowering your blood pressure or taking cholesterol lowering medication.

It also shows unintended effects of statins. Find out more on the QIntervention® website.

Vasectomy

Vasectomy should be considered an irreversible and very effective form of contraception. It can technically be reversed, but the technique is expensive and frequently ineffective. After the procedure semen analysis is required to ensure that it has worked before relying on it for contraception.

In Jersey the options are threefold:

1. GP, Dr Richard Le Cuirot at Island Medical Centre (516151) does them there under local anaesthetic (awake). He can be approached directly. IMC fee £700 including initial appointment and semen analysis afterwards.

2. Mr Hughes at the hospital under general anaesthetic (asleep) as a public patient. Waiting time approx 8 months. Hospital fee approx £900.

3. Mr Hughes at the hospital under general anaesthetic as a private patient. Fee approx £1300 includes theatre, anaesthetist, post-op semen

etc). Waiting time approx. 2 months.

For more information on having a vasectomy, please visit Wikipedia.

This information is correct on 2nd September 2021.