We offer the following clinics and services:-
- general management of medical conditions
- health promotion advice – the nurses are trained to advise both men and women
- emergency care (if appropriate)
- referral for other services
- urgently required care for patients temporarily resident
Antenatal Clinic
Run by our community midwife every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30 onwards.
Once you know you are pregnant, plan to see her anytime from eight weeks from the date of your last period. She can provide a wealth of information and will guide you right through your pregnancy until after your baby is born.
Asthma Clinic
Run by Usha, our asthma nurse, and designed to help you stay on top of your asthma control.
Do please arrange to see her at regular intervals (at least once per year) We would rather see you about your asthma when you are well and help you stay that way, than have to rescue you in an asthmatic emergency.
Everyone with asthma should know what their best peak flow rate is, understand the difference between preventers and relievers, and know what to do if their asthma gets worse - do you?
Child Immunisation Clinic
One of the practice nurses gives the immunisations every Tuesday afternoon and your child should automatically be sent an appointment.
The childhood immunisation programme in the UK protects children from unpleasant and sometimes dangerous diseases. We understand that some parents have anxieties about immunising their children and we would ask you to discuss your child's protection with the health visitor, your doctor or the nursing sister before making any decisions.
You might also like to look at Immunisation - the safest way to protect your child and Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine (MMR), Department of Health.
Contraception
All the doctors provide contraceptive advice in routine surgeries. In addition, Dr Chesworth fits intrauterine contraceptive devices ['coils'], so if you would like to discuss the possibility of having a coil fitted, please arrange an appointment with her.
If you need emergency contraception, you can buy the morning-after pill directly from any pharmacy or obtain it on prescription in an appointment with one of the doctors. It needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.
Don't forget that although the pill is a good contraceptive, it is very sensible to use a condom as well to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections.
Cryotherapy
Marjorie, one of the practice nurses, runs this clinic to freeze small skin lesions such as warts, skin tags, solar and seborrhoeic keratoses, on a Thursday afternoon once a month.
Please see your usual doctor first before booking an appointment for cryotherapy, as not all skin lesions are suitable. The freezing process last only a matter of seconds, but it stings a little and is not usually tolerated by children under the age of 8.
Diabetic Clinic
We try hard to invite everybody with diabetes to come for a yearly review in this clinic, which currently is every three weeks on Wednesday mornings.
We send out an invitation well in advance, and ask you to have a blood test two weeks ahead of your clinic appointment so the results are available when you come. We aim to discuss your ideas and concerns about your diabetes, as well as carrying out essential checks such as eye and feet examinations. We also recommend that you attend an annual retinal screening examination at Watford General Hospital - you should be recalled for this automatically unless you are already attending one of the consultant eye clinics, in which case you don't need the additional screening.
The emphasis is largely on helping you to be in control. If you don't know what your HbA1c is, you need to come and see us.
Minor Illness Clinic
Increasingly the nursing team are seeing patients with a range of minor illnesses (although we know they're not minor when you're suffering from them) This frees the doctors to deal with patients' more complex health problems. The clinics, run by Linda, Usha and Claire, who have all undergone special training, are designed to help you with:
- Colds and coughs
- Throat/Ear infections
- Conjunctivitis Rashes
- Wounds/Bites/Stings
- Cystitis
- Thrush
- Diarrhoea/Vomiting
- Head lice
- Morning-after pill
When you ring to make an appointment, the receptionist will recommend you see the nurse if your problem is one of these.
The nurses will always ask one of the doctors to see you if it turns out to be necessary.
Well Man Clinic
For men who don't usually see much of their doctor!
The nurse is available to check and discuss a wide range of issues such as blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, smoking and worries about male cancers. If you are a reluctant visitor to your GP, at least make use of this service to find out what your blood pressure is and perhaps work out what your heart disease risk is and how to reduce it.
Well Woman Clinic
Run by the nurses and available to discuss all aspects of women's health as well as carrying out cervical smear tests and advising about breast self-examination.
Anticoagulation Clinic
For patients on warfarin treatment. The nurse will check your INR and give you a written record of your daily dosing and next appointment.
We also carry out the following
adult vaccinations and and travel advice – see the practice nurse - child health surveillance – mostly provided by the health visitor team
- maternity services – the midwife’s clinic is held weekly (see above)
- influenza immunisations - every autumn for those over 65 and at risk
In addition, patients aged 16 -75 who have not been seen for 3 years, and patients aged over 75 who have not been seen in the previous 12 months, may request a consultation. (If you are unable to attend the surgery for these checks because of your medical condition a home visit may be arranged.)