Our Services

We offer a full range of primary health care services to our local community.  We are available for our patients to consult with any questions or concerns about their health and seek to provide on-going care for those with long term health problems and their families.

Maternity Care

If you are planning a pregnancy, your doctor will be pleased to discuss any queries you may have about this. It is advisable to check that you are immune to rubella (German measles). You should take folic acid 400 micrograms daily (available from any chemist) from before conception, and continue for the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are a smoker, you should try to stop.

If you think that you are pregnant, we suggest that you confirm this with a pregnancy test (from the chemist) when your period is about 2 weeks overdue, and then make an appointment to see the doctor. Your antenatal care will then be managed jointly by your doctor and the midwife. The midwife comes to the surgery on Friday mornings. Please book appointments in advance.

Child Health Clinic

The Child Health Clinic is held every Thursday afternoon from 13:30-15:30 by the Health Visitor. You do not need to make an appointment in advance. Childhood immunisations are given by the practice nurse between 14:00-15:30, also on Thursday afternoons . Appointments can be booked in advance.

Developmental checks are carried out to review your child's progress. You can have your baby weighed, and get advice on matters such as feeding and weaning. You can also discuss any other concerns you may have about your child's health and development.

Family Planning/Contraception

Full contraceptive/family planning services are available. Please book an appointment with our nurse Practitioner, Denise Madden, or with your doctor.

Minor Surgery

We offer a minor surgery service dealing with the treatment of warts, the removal of small skin lumps, soft tissue injections, etc.. Please make an appointment to see your doctor first, so that the treatment can be planned.

Anticoagulant Clinic

Ann Gardner runs a clinic on Wednesday mornings for patients on long-term Warfarin treatment.

Counselling

We offer a short-term confidential counselling service, with appointments on Wednesdays  If you feel that this could be helpful, please make an appointment to see your doctor first. Our Counsellor is Margaret Pike.

Blood Tests

Our Health Care Assistant is trained to take blood samples and we hold a clinic for this on most weekday mornings. If you have been asked to get a blood test done, please book an appointment in advance. Early morning appointments are available (between 8:10 and 8:30 am) if you would like to be seen before going to work.

Preventive Health Services

We also offer a range of preventive health services, including:

• Immunisations
• Smoking cessation support

Other services include:

• Ear syringing.
• Dressings.
• Removal of stitches.

Cervical Smear Tests

Smear tests for women involve an examination of the cervix (the neck of the womb) to check for changes which occur before cancer develops. These changes can be treated and cancer prevented. We recommend that all women between the ages of 20 and 65 should have regular smear unless advised otherwise by a doctor. Smear tests are carried out by a practice nurse or doctor. You will be sent a reminder when your smear is due, but if you have any doubt please ask. Smear results will be sent to you by post.

Smears are very important, so even if you do not wish to have a smear (which is your right) please come and discuss it with your doctor and don't just ignore the letter.

Blood Pressure And General Health Checks

We are keen to review the health of all our new patients, and also those who have not seen a doctor for several years, particularly men aged between 35 and 60.

Diabetes Checks

Our Nurse Practitioner, Denise Madden, is our diabetes specialist and provides regular monitoring for our diabetic patients.

Asthma Checks

Patients with Asthma should have a check up at least once a year.  An appointment can be made with our nurse specialist, Ann Gardner or with one of the other practice nurses or doctors

Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements.  This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required. 

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible  - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations.  These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine.  Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.  This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday.  To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Find Local Services In Your Area

Enter all or part of your postcode in the box below and click one of the buttons to find those services that are local to you.