CLINICS

Minor Surgery

The practice is able to perform certain minor operations in the surgery. Your doctor will usually be able to tell you what procedures can be performed. We hope to be able to expand this facility in the near future.

Family Planning

Clinics are held in the Apollo Centre on Wednesday mornings (nurse-led) and Wednesday afternoons jointly between Dr Pope and one of the practice nurses. A full range of family planning services is available including the fitting of coils and contraceptive implants.

Antenatal Care

Full antenatal care is provided by all the doctors with the help of the midwives. Please let your doctor know as soon as you think you might be pregnant.

Cervical Smear Tests

All female patients between the ages of 25 and 65 are advised to have three-yearly smear tests. These are very important indeed because they can detect early signs of disease which can be treated. The recommendation is for a smear test to be done once every three years. We run a computerised recall system and you will normally be reminded when you are due. If, however, you think you have not had a smear test done in the past three years, please discuss this with your doctor or the practice nurse.

Protocol for Cervical Screening

Age group Frequency 25 years First invitation 25 - 49 3-yearly 50 - 64 5-yearly 65 + Screening for patients whose last three tests included an abnormal result.

 

Child Health

All the doctors in the practice are approved to do child health screening. We strongly recommend that all children be immunised as and when due. You will normally receive an appointment through the post when your baby's immunisation is due. The baby will also be assessed by the doctor from time to time during their development. Usual times are at six weeks of age as part of the postnatal check-up, at one year, between 3-31/2 and again at 15 years old. The health visitor will also monitor the child's development and will be happy to advise on any problems regarding child care.

Adult Vaccination

We offer vaccinations for adults when necessary, eg tetanus vaccination booster dose.

During the winter months we also offer flu vaccination. This is available to everyone over the age of 65 and anybody who has chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, those who are carers or poultry workers.
Pneumonia vaccine is also recommended for all those over the age of 65 and in the same high risk groups for flu. This is a one-off vaccine and can be given at any time of year. If you fit the above criteria and have never had a pneumonia vaccine, please book in to see the nurse.
Tetanus vaccination no longer requires a booster every 10 years. If you have had five tetanus in your lifetime, this should be sufficient cover. However, if you have a serious wound that is particularly dirty, you are at risk from tetanus whether or not you have had all five doses of vaccine. Your doctor/practice nurse will assess your wound and will decide if you need an additional tetanus shot or tetanus anti-serum.

Travel Clinic

There is a travel clinic at the Apollo Centre next door to the main health centre. Vaccinations may be booked for patients travelling abroad. Please allow six to eight weeks for a long haul immunisation schedule. Some vaccinations are chargeable and a list of prices is available at the Apollo Centre or you can download a copy here: Click here to download

Diabetic Clinic

The practice runs three clinics a week; two are held jointly by either Dr Andrews or Dr Gisbertz with practice nurses, and the third solely by nurses. All patients with diabetes will be invited to attend for an annual review of their diabetes and at other times in between, where appropriate. This is a screening and monitoring clinic. Patients with urgent problems related to their diabetes should see their own doctor first who may then refer on to the clinic.

Asthma Clinic

All our asthmatics are strongly recommended to attend the asthma clinics which are run by our practice nurses, where they will be monitored and given advice on asthma care.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Clinic

COPD is a chronic lung condition usually consequential to smoking or a long history of asthma. Your doctor will advise you if you have COPD and you will be invited to attend the clinic to have the diagnosis confirmed and receive advice regarding treatment. All patients with COPD are advised to have a yearly flu jab and pneumonia vaccine.

Smoking Cessation

Patients may ask their doctor to refer them to the smoking cessation clinic, or they may book directly with the clinic which is held at the Princes Park Health Centre. Literature is available from the surgery.

Princes Park clinic times and days:

Tuesdays drop in from 10.00 - 11.30am
Thursdays drop in from 12.00 - 2.00pm

Booked 1:1 appointments can be made by calling 0800 917 8896 and pressing option 1 for appointments.

More information can be found at www.stopsmokingineastsussex.co.uk

Hypertension Clinic

This clinic is run by the practice nurses to monitor those patients who have a diagnosis of high blood pressure. You will receive an invitation to attend this clinic if you are being treated for your blood pressure.

Coronary Heart Disease Clinic

This clinic is run by the practice nurses. All patients with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease will be invited annually to attend for a blood test and monitoring of their state of health. This will include all those who have had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery or a stroke or who suffer with angina or peripheral vascular disease.

Warfarin (INR) Clinic

All patients who take Warfarin will be invited to attend this clinic for their blood tests. It takes place in the Apollo Centre and has patients visiting from other practices in the town by invitation. Your doctor will refer you to this clinic if needed.

Well Person Clinic

This is run by the practice nurses. Your doctor may wish to refer you to this clinic for screening tests. Procedures that can be carried out here include blood pressure measurements, height and weight, advice on breast awareness and cervical smear tests. Blood and urine screening is given where appropriate.

Advice is also given by the practice nurse on various health care matters. For more information about the services offered by the clinic, please consult your doctor.

Initial/Periodic Health Checks

The practice is able to offer these. You may:

- Be offered a health check when you join a GP practice for the first time.
- Ask for a health check if you are between 16 and 74 and have not seen your GP for the last three years.
- Be offered a health check once a year in your GP's surgery, or at your own home if you are housebound.

Private (non-NHS) Services

Insurance medicals, employment medicals, fitness to drive medicals, certain medical reports, private notes for employment, completion of private health insurance forms and certain other similar services are not covered by the NHS. We do, therefore, have to charge a fee for those services. Details are available at the reception or you can download a copy here: Click here to download