Patient Information

From 1 September 2024, those who turn 75 and those age 75 to 79 will be eligible for a free vaccine to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including:

• cough
• sore throat
• sneezing
• a runny or blocked nose

It can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life threatening conditions.

For further detailed information please see Your guide to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for older adults on gov.uk.

Dehydration can be a significant risk to people taking certain medicines. The Sick Day Rules help patients understand which medicines they should stop taking temporarily during illness which can result in dehydration (for example, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever). It is very important that you restart your medicine once you have recovered from the illness. This would normally be after 24 to 48 hours of eating and drinking normally.

Which medicines and why?

This is not an exhaustive list but are highlighted because:

• ACE inhibitors: names ending in ‘pril’, examples: lisinopril, perindopril, ramipril. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
• ARBs: names ending in ‘sartan’, examples: losartan, candesartan, valsartan. A medicine for high blood pressure and heart conditions. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
• Diuretics: sometimes called ‘water pills’, examples: furosemide, bendroflumethiazide, indapamide, spironolactone. Used for excess fluid and high blood pressure. These medicines can make dehydration more likely.
• NSAIDs: anti inflammatory pain killers, examples: ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac. If you are dehydrated, these medicines can stop your kidneys working properly.
• Metformin: for diabetes. Dehydration can make it more likely that you will develop a serious side effect called lactic acidosis.
• SGLT2 inhibitors: names ending in ‘flozin’, examples: canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin. A medication used to treatment of Diabetes, Kidney disease or Heart Failure. These medicines can make dehydration more likely and if you have diabetes can cause acid to build up if you are unwell.

For Patients on Insulin

• Basal Insulin: Continue taking your long-acting insulin as usual.
• Bolus Insulin: You may need to adjust your rapid-acting insulin doses as advised by your healthcare professional.
• Stay Hydrated drink plenty of sugar free fluids, aim for 100 millilitres every hour

Contact Information

• NHS 111 For non emergency medical advice or 999 for urgent assistance.
• Your GP or Diabetes Care Team Stafford Hospital (01785 230233) 9am to 5pm.