In Memoriam – Dr Kesten Challen, The Calverton Practice Feb 1996 to July 2010 News

Many of you will no doubt have already heard the very sad news regarding Dr Challen who passed away just before Christmas. Kesten was diagnosed with Cancer in July 2010 and it very quickly became clear that she would not be able to continue at work. In fact the rapidity of her illness surprised and shocked us all as she went from being at work on Monday, having tests on Tuesday and receiving her results later the same week. It was apparent from the outset that her cancer was a particularly aggressive type and that time was of the essence if there was to be any chance of success. Her treatment was intensive and debilitating but she hung in there and at a year had defied the odds by being both with us and looking remarkably well. There seemed hope that she was to a degree winning the battle, however sadly her illness progressed from that point and despite further treatment eventually her disease prevailed. Needless to say this was very upsetting for all of us who had known Kesten for so long and I know that many of her patients have found both her departure from the practice and this latest development equally distressing and difficult. So it seems entirely appropriate at this time to remember her and all that she did for so many involved with the Calverton Practice (both staff and patients alike).

Kesten grew up in South London and trained as a doctor in Sheffield. She briefly flirted with a career in Anaesthetics before moving to Nottingham to find her vocation as a GP. She did her training on the Nottingham GP Programme and worked here at Calverton for a spell with Dr Stoddart as her mentor. In many ways she never left and returned to work for several years as a salaried assistant then becoming a partner in early 1996. Initially living in Nottingham, Kesten and her family moved to Bleasby and became very active members of both the local sailing club and community. Whilst diminutive in size, Kesten was massive in personality and truly a force to be reckoned with. She became our IT lead and tirelessly ran our practice diabetic clinic with the able assistance of Practice Nurse Shirley Wragg. In many ways Kesten was the archetypal ‘traditional’ GP, valuing personal care and always prepared to go the extra mile for her patients. Whatever was happening in the practice or outside, Kesten could be relied on to be a rock of support and all of us in the surgery at varying times have looked to her for guidance and advice. At Kesten’s memorial service the church in Bleasby was full and overflowing, testament in itself to the impact she had made on so many. The particularly moving poem ‘She Is Gone’ was read and to use some of its lines –

‘You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived,
You can remember her and only that she’s gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on’

I think it is fair to say that we have all shed many tears but hopefully in time we can learn to look back and smile and remember the so many positive things that were Kesten.

Phil Rayner, The Calverton Practice

Happy New Year 2012

Traditionally January brings a raft of New Year resolutions, unfortunately many do not last. If yours happened to include health related good intentions then you may want to make the surgery or pharmacy your first port of call. Smoking cessation assistance is available both through New Leaf (0800 389 7712) and our local pharmacy Burrows and Close. Weight loss and healthy living guidance can be accessed through a Well Man or Woman appointment with our Health care assistants or Practice nurses; so if you are overdue a health MOT give us a call!

During the Summer I wrote about the Department of Health guidelines to cope with hot weather. Recently we received similar information for patients needing to keep warm. You may have heard the term ‘fuel poverty’ (where a household spends more that 10% of its income just to keep warm) which is particularly relevant at present with falling household incomes and rising fuel prices. The latest evidence is that cold weather can lead to serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia & depression. The risks are greater for those who are aged over 60, have low incomes, other health problems (e.g. heart lung or kidney disease) or are disabled. So what is current advice?

Keep your house warm – 18-21C in the main living room and a minimum of 16C elsewhere; wrap up warm with layers of clothing, (hats gloves & scarves really help); keep active (moving around keeps you warm – ideally once per hour); check on elderly neighbours or relatives (particularly so that they don’t need to go out for e.g. food or medicines when it is very cold weather).

If you are worried about an elderly neighbour or relative, ring the Age UK helpline on 0800 00 99 66. Financial help may also be available. The Warm Front Scheme can provide grants for heating and insulation improvements (tel 0800 316 2805 or visit their website). Winter Fuel Payments are available once in your sixtieth year or beyond (tel 08459 151515 or www.direct.gov.uk/winterfuel) & Cold Weather Payments may be available to patients on some benefits or with a disabled child under 5 (Jobcentre Plus or www.direct.gov.uk/coldweatherpayment have more information).

Finally regular readers will know that the Rayner household is a veritable menagerie of beasts (and that’s just the children!). I was particularly taken with a recent article in the British Medical Journal about a scheme promoting pets on prescription. The Harefield Hospital in London with the Dogs Trust is offering cardiac patients the opportunity to walk dogs as part of their recovery. Indeed GPs all over the country are being encouraged to prescribe a ‘daily dose of dog’ using a 10 point Dog Prescription document to highlight the mental and physical benefits of dog ownership. So find out more by Rov(er)ing their website www.dogstrust.org.uk!

All that remains therefore is to wish you once again on behalf of all at the surgery, a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Best Wishes, Phil Rayner

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