Q. Why should I have a flu jab?

A. The flu vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus that can cause severe illness especially if you at risk.

You can easily obtain one at your GP practice (who have your records), or at a local Pharmacy.

This is free for those in the “at risk” groups.

If you’re otherwise healthy –the flu will usually clear up on its own within a week.

The ‘at risk groups’ include the over 65s, pregnant women, anyone with a weakened immune system or children and adults with an underlying health condition (such as long-term heart or respiratory disease), and also carers.

Anyone in these groups is more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection), so we recommend having a flu vaccine every year to protect them.

For children the flu vaccine is given as a nasal spray.

In others it is a quick injection.

Studies have shown that the flu jab will help prevent you getting the flu. It won't stop all flu viruses and the level of protection may vary, so it's not a 100% guarantee that you'll be flu-free, but if you do get flu after vaccination it's likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been.

So whilst the decision is ultimately yours, there is good evidence to suggest that prevention is better than the illness!

Q. I have lots of moles – should I be worried?

A. Moles are small coloured spots on the skin – often a brownish colour.

They can be flat or raised, smooth or rough, and some have hair growing from them.

Moles are usually circular or oval with a smooth edge.

Moles can change in number and appearance.

Some fade away over time, often without you realising.

They also sometimes respond to hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy (they may get darker), teenage years (they may increase) or older age (they may decrease).

While some are present at birth, most develop during the first 30 years of life.

People with fair skin often have more moles than people with darker skin.

Most moles are completely harmless.

You should check your skin every few months for any new moles that develop or any changes to existing moles.

A mole can change in weeks or months.

Things to look for include:

Moles with uneven colouring – most moles only have one or two colours, but melanomas have lots of different shades

Moles with an uneven or ragged edge – moles are usually circular or oval with a smooth border

Bleeding, itching, red, inflamed (swollen) or crusty moles

Moles that get a lot bigger – most moles are no bigger than the width of a pencil

If you notice any changes to your moles like these, see a clinician as this may be an early indication of something more serious.

Otherwise no, you shouldn’t worry about them.