In our recent community event, Dr Claire Agathou and Dr Michael Zemenides answered your questions on healthcare, looking after your family, and the care they offer at the A-Z General Practice. In this article, they share their expert insights from this event, exploring a range of healthcare topics and sharing how the A-Z General Practice can support you.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding simply means looking out for people — especially children and vulnerable adults — to make sure they’re safe and supported. It’s not about blame or suspicion. In healthcare, it’s just part of our duty of care to step in gently if we’re worried someone might be at risk and offer them appropriate support.
Prostate cancer – when is getting up in the night something to worry about?
Waking once to go to the loo can be very normal, particularly as men get older. It’s worth checking in if it’s a new change, getting progressively worse, or if there are other symptoms like difficulty starting to urinate, a weak stream, discomfort, or blood in the urine, or indeed at any time if there is a family history of prostate cancer. Most urinary symptoms are not cancer — but they should always be assessed properly for reassurance. We would recommend that all men over 40 should have a one-off prostate check to establish a baseline.
Is there a link between stress and eczema?
Definitely. Stress is one of the most common triggers we see for eczema flares. Skin and stress are very closely linked — when life feels overwhelming, it often shows up on the skin.
Can psoriasis and eczema be treated the same way? Can they appear suddenly?
They’re different conditions, although they can sometimes look similar. Moisturisers are important for both, but other treatments differ — which is why getting the diagnosis right matters. And yes, both can appear at any stage of life, sometimes quite suddenly, often triggered by stress, illness or hormonal changes.
Do you offer weight-loss injections and how do you monitor progress?
Yes, we offer a doctor-led weight management service and can prescribe medications such as Wegovy or Mounjaro when clinically appropriate. We review patients monthly to monitor weight, waist measurements and overall wellbeing, alongside nutritional, exercise and lifestyle guidance. It’s very much about safe, supported progress rather than quick fixes.
How often do you see patients on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
We usually review around three months after starting or adjusting HRT to see how symptoms are responding. Once someone is stable and feeling well, we can move to annual reviews — although we’re always happy to see patients sooner if needed and are easily accessible to support them via our practice email.
What do you advise for sleep issues? What about supplements? Why isn’t a blood test enough?
Sleep is often affected by stress, hormones, lifestyle and anxiety — so we look at the bigger picture. We focus on practical strategies like sleep routines, reducing screen time, managing stress, and reviewing caffeine and alcohol intake.
Blood tests are helpful to rule out medical causes like thyroid or iron problems, but most insomnia isn’t caused by something that shows up on a blood test. Supplements like magnesium or melatonin can help some people, but they’re supportive rather than a cure. A holistic approach usually works best.
What does your private practice offer?
We’re a private family GP service offering longer, unhurried appointments, same-day access where possible, comprehensive health screening, on-site blood tests, dedicated perimenopause/menopause and medical weight loss clinics, fast referrals for imaging and specialists, paediatric support, and same day prescription delivery within the M25. The aim is accessible, personalised care for the whole family.
To find out more about the services offered by the A-Z General Practice, visit https://www.azgp.co.uk
