Services Provided by Surgery

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Diabetes

We have a specialist nurse clinic which runs on a Wednesday morning. Dr Bromige has a specialist interest in Diabetes; we run a weekly clinic offering annual reviews on all aspects of your diabetic care.

Asthma

We have a specialist asthma nurse. If you are asthmatic, it is important that you come for a check every 6 months to review your technique and step your asthma medicines up or down appropriately in order to achieve optimal control. 

COPD

As with Asthma, we have a specialist COPD nurse. It is important that you attend regular review appointments.

Coronary Heart Disease

We have a specialist CHD nurse who together with Dr Ansley hold up to two specialist surgeries each week to manage patients proactively in Primary Care.

Phlebotomy Service
 

Our fully qualified Health Care Assistants take bloods, ECGs, audiograms, lung tests and blood pressures.

With increasing routine blood tests needed for our chronic disease clinics, our phlebotomists are very busy. There may be a wait for routine blood tests.

For fasting blood tests, please have nothing to eat or drink (except a little water if needed) from 6pm the night before a booked early morning blood test.

INR service

For patients on warfarin or other similar anticoagulants, a doctor reviews the blood test result and you will need to call the surgery on 855897 between 4pm and 6pm on the day following your INR test.

If your test is an emergency, you may phone on the day of the test.

Please advise the surgery if you wish a carer, relative or nurse to receive your result on your behalf.

If your blood tests is taken at home by the district nurse, please advise us when you call for your result and will will arrange for your next blood test to be taken when it is due.

Minor Operations and steroid injections

Our male doctor are now undertaking minor operations at Brixham Hospital; please book through King Street or Galmpton reception. Our female doctors are still undertaking minor operations at King Street or Galmpton surgeries.

If you feel you may need a steroid joint injection, please let reception know when you book your appointment.

Contraceptive Services / Gynaecological Procedures

If you are booking for a possible gynaecological examination, swabs, or cervical smear please try and inform reception, this allows us to provide the time required and also a nurse or chaperone where needed.

If you need emergency contraceptive advice please let reception know so they can ensure you speak to a member of our healthcare team the same day. Levonelle 2, the emergency contraceptive pill, can now be bought confidentially over the counter at chemists provided you are over 16 years of age. Please speak to your chemist for further details.

If you cannot book an appointment for a contraceptive procedure such as IUD / IUS (coil) within the timeframe you would like, please contact the Family Planning Office at Castle Circus (Torquay) on 01803 295153.

Carers Support Worker

We have a practice based Carer Support Worker to support our patients who have caring responsibilities for a spouse, relative, friend or neighbour. The support extends to either consultations at the Practice or in the Carers home. A number of group meetings are arranged throughout the year. Mary can be contacted by either leaving a message at the surgery to be called back on the following Wednesday or by leaving a short message on the following mobile phone number: 07964 293070. Further information is avaiable via a leaflet in the surgery.

The Practice also supports the Expert patient Programme, a Government initiative to provide support to those patients with a long term disability or chronic condition.

Hospital Car Service

If you need to use this facility, please contact our reception staff for information on booking your hospital car as soon as you receive confirmation of your appointment.

Cervical Smear

You have a choice of Practice Nurse or Doctor to perform your smear. The test can detect cell changes in the cervix (neck of the womb), that can sometimes lead to cancer in the future. If the changes are present, treatment is nearly always simple, effective and of a minor nature. We recommend a test every five years and we would especially encourage ladies aged 25-65 to have it done. Patients who have had a total hysterectomy do not need a smear. As your GP or Practice Nurse if you are not sure.

Immunisations

The Practice Nurse immunises children under 5 years of age by appointment. Adult immunisations are also by appointment with the Practice Nurse. It is recommended that adults have a tetanus injection every 10 years - we can advise you when your last one was recorded, so if you need one, please make an appointment.

Child Immunisations

Recommended ages for immunisations are as follows:
 

Children who are behind in this schedule should catch up as soon as possible. Ask your Health Visitor for advice.

Non NHS Service

Medical examinations for HGV and PSV licences and for pre-employment, are not paid for by the NHS. Some insurance forms such as the certificates for Elderly Drivers Insurance appear simple, but need a full medical examination for their completion. Examinations of this nature take time and therefore a fee has to be charged. A special appointment will be required and the fee is payable by the patient at the time of examination.

Examinations for Life Insurance will also need a special appointment. They can take between half an hour to an hour to complete. The fee in this case is usually paid by the Life Insurance company concerned.

Forms Requiring Signature

A special appointment will be required and you will be advised if you need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. Any remaining fee is payable by the patient at the time of the examination.

Passport Applications - The Doctor is only allowed to sign a passport application if he has known you personally for 2 years.

School Certificates - Certificates for school should be signed by a parent or guardian.

Sickness Certificates - Certificates for sickness for periods less than a week should usually be signed by the patient themselves using form SC2 (available from your place of work and reception). A medical certificate is not required. If your employer insists on the production of a medical certificate, a fee will be charged.

Holiday Cancellation - Holiday cancellation insurance does not need a doctors letter, it needs an official claim for obtainable from your insurers (a doctor does need to fill a part of it in). A fee is normally charged for completion of private certificates. Please ask at reception for details.

Letters of Support

As a general rule the practice does not provide letters of support for Housing, CAB or Police related matters. In exceptional circumstances these will be provided at the doctors discretion. There may be a charge for this. We request one weeks notice and for all requests to be made in writing. 

Aortic Screening Services

Patients aged 65 may be called for aortic screening by Torbay Hospital.

Bowel Screening

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all mean and women aged 60 to 69. People over 70 can request a screening kit by calling a freephone helpline. Invitations and screening kits are sent directly to the patients with no involvement from the surgery other than receipt of the results.

Breast Screening

Women aged 50-64 are recalled every three years with the next local screening due in 2010.