Clinics
New Patient Health Checks are carried out by the practice nurses and offered to all new patients over the age of 5. You will be asked about past medical history, any current significant problems and any medication you are taking. You will also receive a general health check including height, weight and blood pressure.
Mental Health clinics are run weekly in the surgery by Carol Mitchell, an expert counsellor from the Community Mental Health Team. Regular sessions are held in the surgery on Thursday afternoons, offering hourly appointments for patients who have been referred by their doctor or need advice.
Travel Advice clinics are held by appointment with one of our practice nurses. They offer advice to patients regarding sun-protection, vaccinations, malaria, insect bites and air-travel precautions. Early booking is essential and we recommend that you allow eight weeks to complete your travel health preparation. While we are able to claim reimbursement for many of the drugs we use, you may be asked to pay for certain travel vaccinations that are not reclaimable and the nurse will be able to provide you with details of costs. Payment should be made at reception using cash or cheque, as we cannot currently accept credit or debit cards. We are a registered Yellow Fever Clinic.
Essential Hypertension clinics are held on Friday afternoons with Tracy Huffer. Invitations to attend the clinic are sent out by the surgery.
Childhood Immunisations are normally given on Friday afternoons between 2pm and 4.30pm but other appointment times can be arranged if necessary. Mothers are asked to bring the Child Health Record (the red book) with them for each appointment.
Multi clinics are held for patients with one or more chronic illness. They are designed to provide continuity of care, to save you the time and inconvenience of attending several appointments and having fewer tests repeated. All patients with asthma, diabetes, chronic lung disease or who have had heart problems or strokes are invited to attend the clinic around their birth month each year. These comprehensive annual check-ups include cholesterol and diabetes checks, lifestyle advice and medication reviews. Appointments are usually 30 minutes each and clinics are held on Mondays. Invitations to attend the clinic are sent out by the surgery.
Quit Smoking clinics are conducted by the nurses. Practical help and encouragement along with nicotine replacement/Zyban therapy has shown to produce good success rates.
HEALTH PROMOTION
All patients are encouraged to have a general health check every three years with the practice nurse. The health care assistant will offer all patients over 75 a general health check annually. We are involved in the following health promotion activities: well person, well women, cardiovascular disease prevention, chest disease prevention, quit smoking, diabetes, weight reduction, child health surveillance, immunisation and travel advice.
MINOR SURGERY
Our doctors perform minor surgery, minor operations, joint injections, the removal of cysts of the skin and treatment of in-growing toenails at Ludlow Hospital. Please ask your GP.
CHAPERONES
We always strive to offer a chaperone whenever an intimate examination is necessary. Very occasionally a chaperone may not be available, and then you will be offered another appointment if you wish.