Mental Health Support Network provided by Chasing the sigma.
Travel Clinic
If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.
The practice only provides immunisations that are free on the NHS.
The following vaccinations are available, free of charge, from the NHS and will be provided by us if recommended:
- Hepatitis
- Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio
- Typhoid
Please complete our ‘Travel Health Questionnaire’. The nurses will look at the health questionnaire to see if you need any of the free NHS vaccines available.
The surgery will then contact you to arrange an appointment if necessary. Travel injection appointments should be booked 6-8 weeks before your holiday or business trip.
Long Term Disease Management Clinic
The LTDM clinic is run by healthcare assistants, practice nurses and doctors, all working together.
Patients who have conditions which require us to carry out a blood or urine test will have an initial appointment with the healthcare assistant who will take a blood sample and fill in a basic questionnaire with the patient as well as checking height, weight and blood pressure.
A follow up appointment will be made to see the doctor/nurse team once the test results are returned to us. The LTDM clinic team will spend as much time as it takes to review your conditions and make any adjustments necessary to your medication.
There will also be time available for you to get any advice or help needed in managing your condition. If there are any problems, the LTDM team will make any necessary follow-up appointments.
Flu and Pneumonia Immunisations
We offer immunisations each autumn to all patients over 65 years old or those, including children, who have conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chest and heart disease.
Please contact reception for further information or to book an appointment.
Cervical Smears
Cervical smears are routinely recommended every 3 years for women between age 25 and 49. After this every 5 years until 65 years old.
You will be sent an invitation to attend from screening services when your smear is due. Even if you do not wish to have a smear, please discuss this important issue with your doctor or nurse.
Contraception and Sexual Health Services
Our specialist family planning nurses and doctors will advise you on the best method of contraception for you.
We provide a full range of contraception services including the provision of the pill, condoms and the fitting of the contraceptive implant and a full range of coils.
Free condoms available to anyone aged 13 -24
- 12 condoms/lube of your choice are given out in each C-Card pack, along with information about the C-Card scheme, and instructions on how to use a condom effectively.
- Should you need dams or female condoms please ask for them at the C-Card point as they may have them available.
Ear Syringing / Ear Care
If there is a build-up of wax in your ear(s) please read our self-help guide as you may not need an appointment.
- If you have tried the tips listed in our self-care guide, but still feel an appointment is necessary, please contact reception.
Antenatal Clinics
Antenatal clinics are held weekly by the midwife at the surgery.
Postnatal appointments are offered with the practice nurse at the time of the baby’s first injection.
Chargeable Services
Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.
- The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
Examples of chargeable services include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.).
- GP reports for insurance purposes.
- Miscellaneous claim form completion.
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad.
- Private sick notes.
- Vaccination certificates.
Why does my doctor charge fees?
When your doctor is asked to give medical information about you in the form of a report, letter or certificate, the request kick starts a series of processes.
This takes time and is not always straightforward or simple to complete. Some of the information is not available easily and will mean the doctor has to sort and select the right information for the request.
The doctor also must establish who is funding this work and if it is not part of their NHS work, agree a fee for this.
Surely the work is paid for by the NHS?
Many patients see their doctor as the embodiment of the NHS and all that it provides – free care at the point of delivery. However not all work doctors are asked to do is paid for by the NHS and many GPs are self-employed.
This means they must cover their time and costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS only pays for NHS work, any work outside of the NHS must be funded by other means and this is why fees are charged.
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged.
Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.
Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
– Accident/sickness insurance certificates
– Certain travel vaccinations
– Private medical insurance reports
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
– Medical reports for an insurance company
– Some reports for the DSS/Benefits agency
– Examinations of local authority employees
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
– Accident/sickness insurance certificates
– Certain travel vaccinations
– Private medical insurance reports
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
– Medical reports for an insurance company
– Some reports for the DSS/Benefits agency
– Examinations of local authority employees
Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?
The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?
When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the medical register that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council or even the police.
How much will it cost?
The fee charged will depend on the service required. Some simple requests can be as little as £10.00, but more complex requests will incur a higher fee. When you request a private medical service, you will be quoted an exact figure, so you are able to make an informed decision on whether to proceed.
How can I pay?
You can pay by cash, cheque or debit card. You will be required to pay on the day of your examination or upon collection of your form/letter.
Why does it take so long?
Your doctor receives large amounts of request and which is often to do with whether your general health allows you to do something e.g. to work, receive benefits, drive, play sport, attend school, own a house, a firearm or it is for insurance, court or other medico-legal reasons.
All requests will vary in complexity, volume and consistency ranging from signing a certificate which can take minutes, to an in-depth report with an examination that can take hours.
What is the doctor signing?
When your doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true.
In order to complete even the simplest of forms, they may have to check your entire medical record (some of which may not be accessible on a computer or on site).
Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the Police.
Why does my doctor seem reluctant or say no to this request?
Your doctor is inundated with work. They have to balance their time with treating the sick, keeping their practice afloat and making sure they are doing all of this safely and within their professional duties as a doctor.
With certain exceptions written within their contract, doctors do not have to carry out non-NHS work. However, many choose to for the benefit of you and other families they treat.
Where a doctor chooses to undertake the work, we advise them to inform and always agree a fee in advance of undertaking work.
Should their volume of work prove to be greater or more complex than expected, the doctor will contact you to discuss how to proceed.
What can I do to help?
– Not all documents need a signature by a doctor and can be done by other professionals. Please check the form and accompanying guidance as you may get a quicker response that way.
– If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your doctor if he or she is prepared to complete them at the same time to speed up the process.
– Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. Urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more.
– Don’t book an appointment with your doctor to complete forms without checking with your doctor’s administrative staff as to whether you need to or not.
Get test results
Getting your test results
When you attend a test of any kind, you will be told how long you should expect to wait for the results. This is a guideline, and we ask that you wait this time before checking for your results.
Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them:
- in your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- telephone the practice on 01953 453166 – Option 2, after 2pm where possible
Please note that results are only available once the doctor has reviewed them. If you don’t have access to your record online, please request this in your online account or ask our reception team for help, ideally after 2 pm
Please note that the results of tests carried out during hospital visits are not normally sent to the practice.
General Information about Test Results
Why have I been asked to have a repeat test?
If a doctor asks you to have a repeat test, it is usually because:
- The result was borderline or unclear, and the doctor wants another sample to monitor the situation or to re-check the results.
- The result is abnormal, and the doctor cannot interpret the result without further tests and has asked you to come in for more tests.
Please do not worry if the doctor has asked you for a repeat test. The doctor will speak to you or request to see you directly if they need to discuss the results.
Blood Tests
If your doctor asks you to have a blood test, please request an appointment to see a healthcare assistant.
Blood Test Results
If your doctor has asked you to come back to discuss the blood test result, please allow a week between having the blood taken and seeing your doctor again. We also offer telephone appointments if you are happy to discuss the results over the phone.
Fasting Blood Tests
Sometimes your doctor may ask for a fasting blood test. Please make your appointment early in a morning surgery so that you can fast overnight. You should have nothing to eat or drink other than water for 14 hours before the blood test.