We aim to offer services which are young people friendly. We welcome young people and aim to put them at ease when they come to the practice.
We have compiled some useful information which young people have told us is important to them when it comes to their health.
We have also provided information on your rights as a young person. Please click here
Health Checks
40 Plus Health Checks
Everyone aged 40-74 who does not have a pre-existing heart condition is eligible for a health check once every five years. It is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as:
Annual health check Learning Disability and Autism
All patients aged 14 years and over with a learning disability and/or autism are eligible for an annual health check. An annual health check can help you stay well by talking to a doctor or nurse about your health and finding any problems early, so they can be sorted out.
You do not have to be ill to have a health check – in fact, most people have their annual health check when they are feeling well.
If you have a learning disability or care for somebody who does, make sure we are aware of this because not everyone may be on the practice’s Learning Disability register. You can do this by telling our reception team, doctor or nurse.
Once on the register you will receive an invite each year to attend an appointment.
The carers health check is the same as the NHS Health Check but is about looking after you as a Carer. It will focus on your own health and wellbeing and whether there are any areas you need support with. It is a chance to talk about your concerns and hopes for the future. The check covers the questions which Carers have told us are important.
Please get in touch to book your appointment.
NHS Services
Your guide to using NHS services in England, including GPs, Dentists, Opticians and Pharmacies.
Prior to travelling please allow as much time as possible to arrange your appointment for the Travel Clinic (preferably at least 6 weeks or more), which will be with the Practice Nurse. The Nurse will require to know which countries, and areas within countries, that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.
It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible, 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.
Vaccines
Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.
Please note only the undernoted vaccines are available on NHS Prescriptions:
Immunisation against infectious Hepatitis (Hepatitis A) is available free of charge on the NHS in connection with travel abroad. However Hepatitis B is not routinely available free of charge and therefore you may be charged for this vaccination when requested in connection with travel abroad.
Private Travel Clinics
If you are unable to wait for our next available travel advice appointment, as advised by the reception staff, then you can attend any Private Travel Clinic (you can obtain these numbers in the Yellow Pages see link below i.e. type in “travel clinic” then “your area”, to display a list of clinics) charges will apply at these clinics.
Under NHS legislation, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for people when they leave the United Kingdom. However, to ensure good patient care the following guidance is offered. People travelling to Europe should be advised to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card.
Medication required for a pre-existing condition should be provided in sufficient quantity to cover the journey and to allow the patient to obtain medical attention abroad. If the patient is returning within the timescale of their usual prescription, then this should be issued (the maximum duration of a prescription is recommended by the Care Trust to be two months, although it is recognised that prescription quantities are sometimes greater than this).
Patients are entitled to carry prescribed medicines, even if originally classed as controlled drugs, for example, morphine sulphate tablets.
For longer visits abroad, the patient should be advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication (this may need to be paid for by the patient).
General practitioners are not responsible for prescriptions of items required for conditions which may arise while travelling, for example travel sickness or diarrhoea. Patients should be advised to purchase these items from community pharmacies prior to travel.
The Patient Transport Service provides ambulances to patients who need support to reach their healthcare appointment, or for their admission to and discharge from hospital, due to their medical/clinical needs.
The Practice Nurses Provide The Following Services
Well Person Screening
Both men and women are welcome at these clinics. The aim is to promote a healthier lifestyle and included in the appointment will be a blood pressure check, urine testing for diabetes, diet, alcohol and exercise advice and a cholesterol check if necessary
Women’s Health Screening Family planning, menopause and HRT, cervical smear tests and breast self-awareness.
Travel Immunisation Advice
Disease Management i. Diabetes ii. Asthma iii. Heart Disease iv. High Blood Pressure v. High Cholesterol
Stop Smoking Advice
The Health Care Assistants Provide The Following Services
New patient checks
Blood pressure
ECGs
Bloods
Spirometry
Smoking cessation
Flu injections
Please enquire at reception for further details and/or an appointment.
NHS screening
The NHS offers screening, free of charge, to identify pre-existing health problems of which you may not be aware, nor be exhibiting any symptoms. The NHS screening may be as part of a national programme for specific demographic groups or may be opportunistic screening when a patient discusses a related problem with their GP.
An interpreting service is available free of charge for patients using GP and NHS Hospital Services in England. This includes interpreting for people who are deaf or deaf/blind.
We do not allow children to act as interpreters during your treatment or appointments.
A member of the Team from the Practice or the Hospital Department dealing with your treatment or appointment will arrange the interpreter. To make sure we can support you effectively we need you to do certain things so please do let us know you need interpreting help as soon as possible.
Preferably, this should be as soon as you make an appointment with your GP.
If you are going into Hospital, contact the Ward or Department to let them know you need an interpreter, as soon as you receive your Hospital appointment. You may need a friend or relative who speaks English to tell us that you need an interpreter, the first time.
Be sure to let us know if you will not be coming for your appointment or treatment. If you do not tell us you might stop another patient getting the help they need.
Be sure to tell us if you will be late for your appointment or treatment. Another patient somewhere else might need the interpreter. If you are late the next patient might miss their appointment or not get the help they need.
Let us know if you have had any problems with communication during your appointment or treatment. This will help us improve the service.
Tell us if communication was good. This also helps us provide a good service.
Cervical Screening
Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix, which is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be invited by letter.
During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
The sample is tested for changes to the cells of your cervix.
Finding abnormal changes early means they can be monitored or treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
Approximately 2 weeks after screening, you will get your results by letter.
To arrange a cervical screening appointment, please telephone the Practice.
Cervical screening saves 5000 lives a year. It is not a test for cervical cancer, it is a screening test to detect abnormalities in the cells of the cervix at an early stage.
When you receive an invitation to cervical screening from the Practice, please, don’t ignore it. It takes just a few minutes and could save your life.
First time being screen, or nervous? tell the Nurse/Doctor, and try to relax and distract your mind
Worried about discomfort? Ask the Nurse/Doctor to use a smaller speculum
Feeling embarrassed? Wear a skirt to your appointment as you can keep this on during the procedure
Don’t want to go alone? Take a friend with you, to keep you company in the Waiting Room, and be there for you after the screening
Undergone FGM/cutting in the past? Tell the Nurse/Doctor
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. GPs are self-employed and are contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.
Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority people free of charge, but there are exceptions: for example, medical reports for insurance companies.
Surely the Doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the Doctor’s costs.
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 to do non-medical work 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
statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
Holiday cancellation claim forms
Referral for private care forms
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 occupational health
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload – the majority work up to 70 hours a week – and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.
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.
What can I do to help?
If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once.
Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight
Examples of Non-NHS Services include the following:
Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Insurance Claim Forms
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Private Sick Notes
Vaccination Certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and Practice Reception Staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.