Pinelandsfamilypractice

21/09/2022

Outstanding service and care
Whether you’re coming in for an acute illness or something more serious, we take great pride in providing you with the best possible services and care. Our doctors are thorough, attentive and engaging with their patients, allowing them to make accurate diagnoses.

We are also passionate about helping people avoid certain illnesses through implementing key preventative measures and encouraging patients to make healthier lifestyle choices. We take the time to explain things to you in a manner you’ll understand, and we clarify anything that needs further elaboration.

Come experience the relaxing ambience of our lounge and reception area. We aim to eliminate long waiting times, while still ensuring the short time spent in our lounge is comfortable. At our practice, our goal is to make each person that walks through our door feel safe and secure in the hands of our dedicated doctors.

18/02/2022

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says they are investigating typhoid outbreaks in the Western Cape areas of the Cape Town Metro, Winelands and the Garden Route.

Typhoid fever is a systemic illness characterised by:
1) fever that is intermittent during the first week, but becomes sustained (lasting > 48 hours) thereafter;
2) headache (43-90%),
3) gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain/cramps, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea.

It affects children and adults. Children with gastro are at higher risk of dehydration than adults and require a quicker response to diarrhoea and vomiting.

Typhoid is spread by faeco-oral contact, or through contaminated food or water. Persons who have typhoid may spread typhoid to others if sanitation is poor.

Typhoid is treatable with antibiotics called Ciprofloxacin.

27/12/2021

New South African COVID guidelines, a welcome relief but keep your guard up.

11/10/2021

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ask Dr Crombie or Dr Ward for a referral form for a mammogram - Morton and Partners Radiology offers discounted mammograms in October.

Give yourself a breast self-exam once a month. Look for any changes in breast tissue, such as changes in size, feeling a palpable lump, dimpling or puckering of the breast, inversion of the ni**le, redness or scaliness of the breast skin, redness or scaliness of the ni**le/areola area, or discharge of secretions from the ni**le.

If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes, it is very important that you see a physician immediately. Though 8 out of 10 lumps are benign, all require evaluation to confirm that they are not cancerous.

07/09/2021

This is not fake news. Vaccines work - please get vaccinated for your sake and others.

28/02/2021

I got my vaccine today! So grateful and relieved. It feels like the beginning of the end of COVID for SA!!

01/01/2021

Happy New Year 2021 from Jen and Ruth and Elaine! We trust that 2021 will be a healthier and happier year for you 🌻

01/10/2020

Do you want to decrease your risk of colon cancer? Eat plenty of fruit and veg, and take a magnesium supplement (taken at night, magnesium also aids muscle relaxation and sleep). Also, cut back on meat and alcohol.

An evidence review in The BMJ examines 80 meta-analyses of interventional and observational studies of colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention using medications, vitamins, supplements and dietary factors. The review suggests that the following factors are associated with a decreased incidence of CRC: asp...

16/08/2020

With infection rates falling, it's time for level 2! But wear a mask, wash hands and stay safe.

27/06/2020

Good morning all. This article contains everything that doctors in SA would love to say to every person right now. It is an excellent summary of practical information and so so helpful. PLEASE read it and share.

Understand the three things that can make the most difference to easing the lockdown and reopening South Africa with the least risk, whether you are using a taxi, socialising, working, working out, or running a shop.

21/03/2020

FLATTEN THE CURVE.
This is the goal but what does it mean? It means slowing down the spread of the virus so as not to overwhelm our health system leading to unnecessary deaths. This is done through social distancing - but more on that next time.

The 2 pictures show
1.) A sudden spread - with more cases than our health care system can handle (i.e. number of hospital beds, oxygen ports and ventilators in the country).
2.) A slow spread where the influx of sick patients is manageable.

This article contains 4 models of spread (skip to the animated blocks)
1.) No containment of spread
2.) Quarantine of sick people only
3.) Social distancing (what SA is doing)
4.) The ultimate lockdown of all people

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

17/03/2020

Corona Virus has unfortunately hit SA and we are sure you have been inundated with information.

These are 3 official websites that we would recommend:

http://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/frequently-asked-questions/

https://www.gov.za/NovelCoronavirus

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/department-of-health/coronavirus

We will aim to post updates about the virus every few days.

Drs Jen Crombie Ruth Ward