Travel immunisation is arranged by making an appointment with the Practice Nurse.
We are unable to offer a private travel vaccination service and are only able to offer limited vaccines.
We strongly advice you to check with the surgery which vaccinations you require at least two months before travelling. Adults — are you up to date with your Tetanus & Polio?
If in doubt please contact reception.
Women aged between 24 and 64 should have a cervical screening every 3 to 5 years to help prevent cervical cancer. The screening is quick and painless and can be done here in the practice.
If you are aged over 24 and have never had a smear test, or if it has been more than 3 to 5 years since your last screening, you should arrange an appointment with our Practice Nurse. You should not have the test while you are having a period or in the 4 days before or after your period as this can affect the sample.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb).
A sample of cells is taken from the cervix for analysis. A doctor or nurse inserts an instrument (a speculum) to open the woman’s vagina and uses a spatula to sweep around the cervix. Most women consider the procedure to be only mildly uncomfortable.
Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 percent of cancers developing but like other screening tests, it is not perfect. It may not always detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer.
All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five years The NHS call and recall system invites women who are registered with a GP. It also keeps track of any follow-up investigation, and, if all is well, recalls the woman for screening in three or five years time. It is therefore important that all women ensure their GP has their correct name and address details and inform them if these change.
Women who have not had a recent test may be offered one when they attend their GP or family planning clinic on another matter. Women should receive their first invitation for routine screening at 25.
This is because changes in the young cervix are normal. If they were thought to be abnormal this could lead to unnecessary treatment which could have consequences for women’s childbearing. Any abnormal changes can be easily picked up and treated from the age of 25. Rarely, younger women experience symptoms such as unexpected bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. In this case they should see their GP for advice.
Women aged 65 and over who have had three consecutive negative results are taken out of the call recall system. The natural history and progression of cervical cancer means it is highly unlikely that such women will go on to develop the disease. Women aged 65 and over who have never had a test are entitled to one.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 25 and 64 for cervical screening. But if a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed.
We do not say no risk, only very low risk. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend that she continues screening.
We are happy to provide, by appointment, services such as medical examinations, reports for insurance companies, employers and solicitors, private sick notes, vaccination certificates and fitness medicals for sports and elderly drivers.
As the NHS does not cover these services, fees have to be charged and all payment is required in advance.
Please contact reception on 01253 955 561 for further details about these services and the charges.
Yes. If you are aged 65 years or over or you are at higher risk.
On Saturday 23 September we will be holding our flu clinic for over 65 year olds. This will be held at The Village Practice, Thornton Medical Centre. We will be contacting patients under 65 and with underlying conditions in the near future, once we have received an update from NHSE.
Everybody aged 65 and over should now be immunised to help protect them against pneumococcal infection which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and meningitis. Please phone the surgery during September to make an appointment if the above applies to you.
If a vaccine is given when a baby still has antibodies to the disease, the antibodies can stop the vaccine working. This is why routine childhood immunisations do not start until a baby is two months old, before the antibodies a baby gets from its mother have stopped working. This is also why it is important for parents to stick to the immunisation schedule, as a delay can leave a baby unprotected. A delay can increase the chance of adverse reactions to some vaccines, such as pertussis (whooping cough).
There are some excellent websites that will answer all your questions and queries about immunisation and vaccination. If you are worried about giving the MMR vaccine, you should access the MMR site.
The NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) combines electronic booking with a choice of place, date and time for first hospital or clinic appointments. Patients can choose their initial hospital or clinic appointment, book it in the GP surgery at the point of referral, or later at home on the phone or online.
If you’re a patient, find out more about appointment booking on the NHS.UK website.
Whether you’re using e-RS for the first time, or an existing user wanting to make the most of the service, NHS Digital provides a range of material for referrers (such as a general practice), providers (a hospital or clinic) and commissioners.
Dr Stafford & Dr Sobha provide minor surgery. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Family Planning and Contraceptive Advice – please book a routine appointment with one of our practice nurses or alternatively pick up a list of local family planning clinics in the area from our reception desk.
Diabetic clinics, run by Sister Linda Walsh (appointment only) for the monitoring and treatment of Type II diabetes.
Dr Steiner and our Health Visitors run Child Health Surveillance clinics. We offer checks at 8 weeks & 7 months of age. Details on Childhood Immunisations can be obtained from the Health Visitors by telephoning 01253 821457 or by clicking here.
