Nurse appointments

Appointments with the Treatment Room nurse, the Women’s Health clinic and for nurse monitoring of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension can all be pre-booked. They do not have to be made on the day.

Blood tests

Blood tests can be done at the surgery where we run a phlebotomy service five mornings a week. Appointments for this can be made via the reception desk.

Alternatively, you can have your blood test at the hospital where a walk-in service is available on week days between 8.30 to 4.30. As this is a walk-in service you may have a long wait. Monday and Thursday mornings tend to be particularly busy.

Some blood tests e.g. glucose tolerance tests are  done at the hospital on an appointment only basis.

Chronic Disease Clinics

We run special clinics for patients with hypertension, asthma,and respiratory problems, diabetes and heart disease. These are run by specially trained nurses. Patients with these conditions will be notified by their doctors when they need to book an appointment .

Specialist Nurses

The specialist nurses deal with a wide variety of illnesses including infections (such as sore throats, earaches, coughs), rashes, minor injuries and general advice. If you are not sure who you should see, explaining your problem to a receptionist will allow her to guide you to the appropriate health practitioner. Any discussions with reception staff are  confidential.

District Nurses / Health Visitors / Midwives

These health care workers are employed by the PCT and work as attached staff within the practice. District Nurses deal with people in the community who have nursing needs, but cannot leave their homes.

The District nurses can be contacted on 0844 477 3400

Our Health Visitors are now based at Gillies Health Centre and can be contaced on 01256 320567.

The Midwives work both at the practice and the community. You will first meet them when you are 8-10 weeks pregnant at a booking appointment and subsequently at regular intervals throughout your pregnancy. Appointments are made via the reception desk.

Once you have delivered they will visit you at home for the first 10 days of the postnatal period.

Women's Health

The Women’s Health nurses see patients for smears, contraception advice, and advice on the menopause and its management.

Immunisations

Babies are immunised against a variety of infectious diseases as outlined below. You will receive an appointment for these.

Our immunisation clinic is held on Tuesday 1.30 – 2.30pm. If you cannot attend the clinic please let us know and we will organise an alternative appointment. If you have any concerns about your baby being immunised, please discuss it with your Health Visitor or Doctor.

SCHEDULE OF IMMUNISATIONS

8 Weeks
1st - Diphtheria, Tetanus, aPertussis, Polio Hib
1st - Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine

12 Weeks
2nd - Diphtheria, Tetanus, aPertussis, Polio Hib
1st - Meningitis C

16 Weeks
3rd - Diphtheria, Tetanus, aPertussis, polio Hib
2nd - Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine
2nd - Meningitis C

52 Weeks
H.I.B. Booster
Meningitis C Booster

56 Weeks
1st - MMR Pheumococcal Conjugate vaccine Booster

178 Weeks
Diphtheria, Tetanus, aPertussis, Polio Booster
2nd - MMR

Dental Problems

Please be aware that doctors do not have any dental training and will not be able to diagnose and treat dental problems.

In the event of a dental emergency you should contact your own dentist in the first instance. An out of hours service for emergencies only operates from the Bramblys Grange site on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647

To book an appointment for the out of hours service telephone 355095.

If you do not have a dentist contact the Hampshire Dental Help Line on 0845 0508345 or http://www.hampshiredentalhelpline.nhs.uk/ .

The surgery runs several travel clinics during the week. If you are going abroad and believe you may need specific vaccinations please make an appointment.  Please allow as much time as possible prior to your holiday.  When you attend your appointment the nurse will require the following information:

1. The country you are visiting
2. The length of your stay 
3. The type of holiday you are having (e.g. Tourist resort/back packing) 
4. Your leaving date 

The following vaccinations are provided free of charge:

• Diphtheria / Tetanus
• Polio
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A 

The following vaccinations will incur a charge: 

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies Meningitis ACWY Vacc
• Yellow Fever 

Current charges for these are displayed in the Reception.

Japanese Encephalitis and tick borne Encephalitis need private prescription and you need to buy the vaccination at the chemist. 

Some Malaria tablets may be bought at the chemist without a prescription while others are only available with a private prescription from the doctor.
 
These travel vaccinations can also be arranged at the following Private Travel Clinics:

Useful Telephone Numbers

Masta Advice and health brief tel 09065501402 (£1.00 a min) 

Masta Travel clinics:- 

Reading - Grovelands Medical Centre, 701 Oxford Road, RG3 1HG. For appts Tel: 0118 957 5101.

London - 52 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SQ. For appts Tel: 0207 291 9333.

Hampshire Clinic, Basingstoke. Advice and appts Tel: 01256 357111
 
Sarum Rd Hospital, Winchester. Advice 01256 472002. Walk in clinic, no appt needed Tuesday 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

B.A travel clinics
213 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HQ, no appt needed. Mon to Fri, 09:30 to 5:30pm, Sat 10:00 to 4:00pm. 
101 Cheapside, London EC2V 6D.  Appts only, tel 0845 600 2236 

Further advice on recommended immunisations and Malaria protection is available on:
 
www.masta.org/healthbrief - Will charge £3.49 for info on line

Websites offering advice on recommendation immunisations and malaria protection

www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk - free service

www.traveldoctor.co.uk - free service

www.cdc.gov/travel - free service

www.travelpharm.com - To buy antimalarials cheaper than most pharmacies (post your prescription), and other travel goods.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

How do I get a sick certificate?

Illness which necessitates less than 7 days off work can be self-certified. Self-certification forms are generally available from Personnel Department within companies and from the DSS.

If you are off sick for more than 7 days you will require a doctor’s certificate. Doctors can only issue an initial certificate if you have been seen during your illness by a medical practitioner (this does not necessarily have to be a doctor at the practice; it may be a hospital doctor or an out of hour’s doctor). If you require a renewal of your sick certificate please ring the surgery (after 10:30) when the certificate is due to run out. You will be asked your:

1. Name
2. Address and telephone numbers
3. Dates that you require the certificate to cover
4. Your medical condition

If the doctor has a query over your certificate they may telephone you or ask you to attend the surgery.

Sick certificates, like prescriptions, take 3  full working days to process.

If your employer insists on a certificate for the first week of illness (i.e. the normal self certified period) a private certificate can be issued. These certificates will incur a charge.

How do I get forms completed by a doctor?

Some forms require completion by a doctor. These forms may include:-

• Private sick notes
• Holiday cancellation forms
• Private letters
• Insurance claims
• Passport applications

Completion of these forms will carry a charge as this is not part of our NHS responsibility. A list of charges is held in reception. Please leave such forms with the reception staff who will pass them on to the doctor. Please allow 2 - 3 working days for completion.