Services

 

Diabetic Clinic

The practice has a long history of providing excellent diabetic care for its patients. Dedicated clinics are held on Tuesday mornings and are run by Dr Thakore with two nurses trained in looking after patients with diabetes. Patients can make appointments via reception and will be given a form for fasting blood tests which should be done about a week before the appointment date. The trained diabetic nurses will assess and examine patients for any of the complications of diabetes. Specialist podiatry care, dietician advice and eye screening can also be arranged. Patients can see the doctor running the clinic on the same day.

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Asthma and COPD Clinic

This clinic takes place every Thursday afternoon and Dr Nguyen is the lead doctor. At these clinics we offer respiratory management as well as spirometry testing for lung function. Patient’s treatment will be assessed and changed if necessary and follow up arranged as required.

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Cardiovascular Clinic

Dr Thakore looks after patients with high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and those who have had strokes or mini-strokes in this clinic. It is aimed at preventing vascular disease as well as minimising the risks of those patients who have had a heart attack or stroke from having a reoccurrence. Patients will be asked to attend this clinic on a regular basis and will be sent a form for blood tests a few weeks beforehand so that the results can be available at the appointment. The clinic is held on Friday afternoons.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Clinic

All patients on HRT or who want to discuss the menopause are asked to attend this clinic which occurs on every other Tuesday morning. The menopause can be a difficult time for some women especially as there are so many conflicting messages about the risks and benefits of HRT in the media. We are able to offer referral for bone mineral density and ultra sound scans as necessary and give up to date advice on treatment and monitoring.

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Anticoagulation Clinic

Our practice nurses are trained in the accurate monitoring of anticoagulation therapy (warfarin). They are able to test patient’s blood on site and by using a computer programme they can work out a regime tailored to that patient’s individual needs. They are backed up by our doctors on site and if necessary have direct access to a consultant haematologist in a local hospital. This means patients treatment can be monitored near to where they live rather than going to the hospital for regular checks.

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Maternal and Child Health Clinic

This clinic takes place on Thursday mornings and enables patients who are pregnant or who have just delivered their baby to have their routine checks and ask for advice. Patients attending for their antenatal checks will first be seen by one of the practice nurses and then by the doctor. Please inform the receptionist when making an appointment whether this is a first (booking) appointment, antenatal follow up or postnatal appointment.

We recommend that patients make their first appointment about 6-8 weeks following the first day of their last menstrual period and following a positive home pregnancy test. We usually offer shared care with the hospital of your choice.

The clinic also offers child health advice, baby developmental checks by the doctor at 8 weeks and 8 months and childhood immunisations. One of our health visitors and her assistant are also available during the clinic for baby weighing, advice and routine health checks. Please do not bring babies or small children who are unwell to this clinic as they may pass on infection.

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Childhood Immunisation

All immunisations for children are offered by the practice. These can either be done in the Maternal and Child Health Clinic or by one of our practice nurses in a routine clinic which may be more convenient. Please bring the child’s Red Book to the appointment so that the immunisations given can be accurately entered at the time they are given.

pdf icon View childhood immunisation schedule

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Travel Advice and Immunisation

We offer a comprehensive travel advice service where a personal immunisation plan can be given for each patient by our practice nurses. Some of the immunisations are not free and a fee will be charged. Please contact the surgery for an appointment at least six weeks before departure is planned.

pdf icon Please click here to view the fees for travel immunisations.

The practice is registered as a Yellow Fever Centre

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Minor Surgery

We have a fully equipped minor operations theatre within the surgery. Dr Thakore assisted by one of the practice nurses performs removal of lumps and bumps, joint injections and cryotherapy all day on Mondays. Please book in via reception and ask for a Minor Surgery appointment.

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Family Planning

All our doctors and nurses are able to provide contraceptive advice. If you have chosen to use the oral contraceptive pill we would like you to be seen by one of the doctors for your first appointment. We also fit caps and diaphragms and provide depo contraceptive injections. We are soon to offer coil (IUD or IUS) fitting as well as long term contraceptive implants (Implanon). Patients can either book an appointment to see one of the nurses or doctors or attend the walk-in Women’s Health Clinic held on Tuesday afternoons.

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Women’s Health Clinic

Dr Grant has many years of experience in gynaecology and women’s health and offers and excellent service with the practice nurses at this popular clinic. It takes place on Tuesday afternoons from 1.00pm and offers family planning advice as well as Cervical Smear testing and screening for Chlamydia. No appointment is necessary for this clinic. Just turn up from 1.00pm to 4.30pm.

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Acupuncture

Cecil Chen offers routine appointments for acupuncture which take place on Fridays. Please book appointments either through main reception or by telephoning 07973 251599.

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Influenza Immunisation

All our patients are offered a free influenza immunisation if they are over 65 years old or high-risk ( patients with asthma, heart disease or renal disease etc.). Invitations to attend special clinics during the week or on Saturday mornings are sent out in September, about a month before the campaign starts. These are walk in clinics, but immunisations can also be given during routine, booked appointments. Influenza immunisations are very safe and can be given to pregnant women who are high risk. If you do not fall into one of these groups eligible for free NHS influenza immunisation but would like to be immunised, a small fee will be payable.

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Pneumococcal Vaccination

This is a once in a life time vaccination that prevents a serious form of pneumonia. All patients over 65 years of age or considered to be in an 'at risk' group -diabetic, asthmatic, heart disease etc. are entitled to have this vaccination. Please ask one of our nurses or a receptionist.

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Medical Check –Ups

All patients who are newly registered with the practice are offered a medical check up involving a life style questionnaire with advice and medical history, height and weight measurements and urine testing and appropriate blood test screening. These checks are mainly undertaken by our Health Care Assistant or one of the Practice Nurses who are able to refer to a doctor directly if necessary. Other routine checks are also possible on request.

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Counselling

Life can be challenging and sometimes feels too much. Counselling is a way of talking with a professional in confidence in order to clarify issues; understand our relationships; express emotion; understand triggers and patterns of behaviour, sometimes to come to terms with issues and/or reflect on our lives both in the past and present. So if you are feeling anxious, depressed or want to talk about your experiences, let your nurse or doctor know.

You may have problems with:

  • Sexual or physical abuse
  • Bereavement or death
  • Broken family or relationships
  • Fear of losing control
  • Self-harm
  • Gender or sexuality issues
  • Finding it hard to cope
  • Loneliness/being afraid
  • Employment issues
  • Life getting too much and other life struggles

Discuss the idea with your doctor or nurse as to whether you would benefit from counselling.

If you both agree that it might be useful, your doctor or nurse will make a referral. There is often a wait for a first session, depending on demand. You will receive a letter or a telephone call offering you an appointment when there is space.

If the counsellor and you agree that regular sessions would help, then you will be offered these at the surgery. There may be a little longer to wait for these to start. It is a space to think things through, but it is of a time limited nature.

Sometimes, the counsellor will suggest referring you on to a specialist organisation or another service.

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Smoking Cessation

No Smoking logo

 

The nurses at the practice are trained to provide help and support for patients wishing to stop smoking. They are fully up to date with all the new medications that help smokers to quit. All patients who are smokers are encouraged to stop smoking and the practice has an excellent record of success. Please contact reception for details.

 

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Dietician

A dietician visits the practice weekly on Thursdays to advise and support patients on weight reduction, low fat diets, high protein diets etc. The dietician will also advise patients on other local services such as drop-in weigh-in clinics.

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