services offered

NEW PATIENT REGISTRATION MEDICALS

All patients over the age of five are asked to see the practice nurse for a health check as soon as possible after registration. This allows us to discuss your medical history and advise on current healthcare. Background information is also useful should an emergency arise before your full medical records have been transferred to this practice.

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FAMILY PLANNING

We offer a full range of family planning care. Emergency contraception is also available. Your initial appointment must be made with a doctor but subsequent appointments can be made with the practice nurse if you would like a repeat prescription. If you have a significant problem, such as wanting to change your pill, it would be more appropriate to see your doctor.
Emergency contraception is also available from your GP or our family planning nurse.

Please remember that all our services are entirely confidential.

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CERVICAL SMEAR TESTS

Cervical smears should be done regularly from the ages of 25 to 65 and you will receive an invitation when this is due. All those aged 25-49 will be called every three years, and all those aged 50-64 will be called every five years. Please check with the practice nurse if you feel your appointment is overdue or you feel such examination is necessary when moving into the area. Patients are informed of their results in writing, with an appropriate explanation. If, however, you have not heard from us within three months of your test please contact the practice.

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CARE DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

If you are pregnant we recommend booking to see your GP between six to eight weeks of pregnancy (dating back to the first day of your last period). Antenatal patients are seen by the doctor and midwife by appointment during normal surgery time throughout their pregnancy. Following baby’s birth, care is given in the home by the midwife and health visitor. All mothers are offered a six week postnatal check and family planning advice from their doctor.

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CHILD HEALTH PROMOTION CLINICS

Baby Clinic 2-3.30 Thursday. No appointment needed. Regular developmental checks for the under fives are undertaken by the doctors and health visitors and vaccination clinics are held by the practice nurses. It is important that all children undergo these checks and are fully immunised against childhood diseases.

Child health clinics are for well children only. If your child is unwell, you will need to make an appointment to see your doctor during normal surgery.

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Complementary Therapy

Dr Muir's patients have access under the NHS to counselling, acupuncture, physiotherapy, nutritional advice, and some other complementary therapies when available, by referral Mr Piers Spencer, a private osteopath, practices from the Belgrave Medical centre and can accept referrals under private health schemes.

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INR Testing and MINOR Surgery

The practice has joined up with others in the locality to offer Near Patient anticoagulation monitoring for patients taking Warfarin, and also minor surgery, by a trained surgeon

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TRAVEL IMMUNISATIONS

Advice and all travel immunisations, including Yellow Fever, are available from the practice nurse. Please make an appointment if you wish to discuss this at least six weeks and preferably three months, before you intend to travel.

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INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL INJECTIONS

Our practice nurses run flu clinics during October. Injections are recommended for those over 65 or with chronic medical conditions. At-risk patients are also invited to have a pneumococcal vaccination.

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DISEASE MANAGEMENT CLINICS

All doctors and nurses are available for lifestyle advice and health promotion. We have dedicated nurse/doctor-led clinics for diabetes, as well as nurse-led clinics for coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, asthma, COPD and epilepsy. Practice nurses are trained as smoking-cessation advisers and give help and support to those quitting smoking and advice on the use of nicotine replacement therapy. Weight management is a priority for the practice and all nurses can provide support for patients on a weight loss programme.

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COUNSELLING SERVICE

The practice has limited access to an on-site counsellor to whom referrals for very specific problems may be made.

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SICK CERTIFICATES

Sickness absence less than seven days: Complete form SC2, available from employers, post offices etc.

Sickness absence more than six days: A certificate will be issued by a doctor. If your employer insists on a sick certificate from your doctor for an illness of less than six days this is a private sick note for which a charge will be made by the practice.

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NON-NHS EXAMINATIONS

Medical examinations for special purposes, eg HGV/PSV driver, pre-employment, fitness for sports, fitness to travel, insurance medicals etc can be arranged outside normal surgery times. A fee, as recommended by the British Medical Association, is payable for these examinations.

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