FREQUENCY, DURATION AND THE PURPOSE OF CLINICS

Most of the clinics are done in an opportunistic way according to patient’s convenience.

Practice Nurse Clinics

Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma, well man, well woman, over 75 checks, contraception and new patient checks. The Practice Nurse is also available if you need help with dressings, ear syringing, pill check, cervical smear, dietary advice, anti-smoking and other health services.

Asthma Reviews: In recognition of the increasing prevalence of asthma in our community we hold Asthma Clinics to ensure that treatment is effective by checking inhaler technique and measuring lung function regularly, referring you to your usual doctor.

REMINDER: Would all patients attending for Asthma appointments please remember to always bring along their inhalers.

COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung condition encompassing diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema. Patients suffering from this condition are usually over 40 years of age, get breathless on exertion, may have a chronic cough and usually (but not always) have a history of smoking. The Practice runs a specialised service to help patients with COPD, and appointments for the clinics can be made with our Reception Staff.

Family Planning: The Practice offers a full range of contraceptive services. Please ask our Reception Staff for details.

Diabetic Review: Our nurse specialises in diabetes and will see those patients with more complex needs. Please ask our Reception Staff for details.

Flu Vaccinations: An influenza vaccination is particularly recommended for patients with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes and residents of nursing and rest homes. Please contact our Reception Staff in early October for details of the vaccination dates. If you are housebound, a home visit will be arranged to administer this vaccination.

Immunisation: We immunise against infectious diseases which can cause death and disability and strongly recommend that all children should receive their full course of immunisation.

Adults should receive a Tetanus booster every 10 years. Other immunisations (e.g. Hepatitis B; Flu or Rubella) are advised according to age or risk. Please ask our Reception Staff for details.

Pneumonia Vaccinations: If you are aged 65 or over, you are strongly advised to have a pneumonia vaccination. Appointments with the nurse can be booked with our Reception Staff.

Smoking Cessation: Please contact Stop Smoking Services on 0121 612 2772 to help support people who are motivated to stop smoking.

Travel Vaccinations: The travel clinic is run by nurses with special training in overseas health. Patients who are planning to travel overseas, whether on business or pleasure should contact our Reception Staff at least 8 weeks beforehand to enquire about their specific vaccination requirements so that the Practice Nurse can ascertain what vaccinations you will require for your trip and enable her to give you the best possible advice on all health issues, as well as administer the vaccinations.

There is a charge for some travel immunisations and prescriptions not covered by the NHS – a list of these charges is available from our Reception Staff.

Well-Woman: Smear tests for women involve an examination of the Cervix (neck of the womb) to check for changes which occur before cancer develops. These changes can be treated before cancer develops.

We recommend that women between the ages of 24 and 49 years are encouraged to have a smear every three years and those aged between 50 and 64 every five years, unless advised otherwise by a doctor.

Smear tests are usually performed by the Practice Nurse. We have a recall system in place to advice women in advance of their next smear test.

If you are newly registered with the Practice, please inform us of the approximate date of the last cervical smear in order that we can put you into our recall system.

Patients wishing to check their results (and it is always wise to do this) should wait between 4 & 5 weeks before doing so - the approximate time taken by the laboratory to process the tests.

Aurna Gangimalla (Locum Nurse) is available Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.30am – 1.00pm and 3.30pm – 6.30pm.

Child Health Clinic and Vaccinations

The Practice urges all parents to have their children fully immunised. If you require to see the doctor and / or the Practice nurse, please make an appointment with either.

Immunisation time-table: Many potentially fatal childhood diseases have been virtually eradicated in the UK due to the availability of vaccinations. It is very important that all children are fully immunised. Reminders are sent out by the Health Authority.

Current recommendations are:

Two months

1st diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio injection

1st HIB

1st Prevenar

1st Rotavirus

Three month

2nd diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio injection

2nd HIB/Menc

2nd Rotavirus

Four months

3rd diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio injection

3rd HIB/Menc

2nd Prevenar

12 – 13 months

Hib/MenC

MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella [German Measles])

3rd Prevenar

3 ½ Years

15 – 18 years

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio

Measles, mumps and rubella

Tetanus, diphtheria and polio

MenC

Tetanus infections may develop in wounds picked up in the garden or street. We recommend that everyone has a booster every 10 years.

HIB (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) can cause:

A type of Meningitis

A severe form of Croup (Epiglottitis)

Blood Poisoning (Septicaemia)

Joint & Bone Infections

Pneumonia

Each year about 1,300 children in the UK are infected by HIB and over half of these children develop HIB Meningitis. HIB immunisation is now offered to all babies and children up to four years old. We strongly recommend that all children under four receive this immunisation.

Antenatal clinic

Every Thursday between 9:30am and 11:30am. After confirmation of your pregnancy, you will be referred to one of the local maternity units. After an initial hospital visit, most of your antenatal care will be done at the antenatal clinic run by the community midwife.

Family planning Clinic

A full range of services and advice about family planning is offered. Pregnancy counselling, including advice on termination is also available.

Emergency Contraception/Fraser Guidelines

If patient needs emergency contraception, we offer an emergency appointment for the same day. For patients under the age of 16, we adhere to the Fraser Guidelines