Services Provided By The Practice

Under the terms of the new GMS contract, General Medical Services are categorised as Essential Services, Additional Services, and Enhanced Services. The practice will provide Essential Services and Additional Services. Essential Services are provided to registered patients and temporary residents who are or believe themselves to be ill, with a condition from which they are expected to recover, are terminally ill or suffering from a chronic disease. In addition the practice provides the following Additional Services:

• Cervical Screening Services
• Contraceptive Services
• Vaccinations and Immunisations
• Childhood Vaccinations and Immunisations
• Child Health Surveillance Services
• Maternity Medical Services
• Minor Surgery

The practice also provides the following Directed Enhanced Services:
• Childhood Immunisations
• Influenza Immunisations for those over 65 and at risk
• Minor Surgery (level 2 & 3)
• Long-term Conditions (eg Respiratory) Management
• Anti-coagulation Monitoring (for patients taking Warfarin)
• Monitoring of Amber Drugs
• Brief Intervention for Alcohol
• Nexplanon - insertion and removal
• Medical Care Planning for patients with Chronic Conditions
• Medical Care Oganisation for patients in Nursing Homes
• Pertussis Vaccinations for female patients who are pregnant
• Counselling Services for patients with Mild to Moderate Depression
• 12 Month stroke Reviews

The practice nurses will see patients for such things as:
• Asthma • Spirometry/COPD
• Diabetes Monitoring • Oral Contraceptive Pill Checks
• Cervical Smears • Menopause and HRT advice
• Advising on Breast Awareness • Childhood Vaccinations • Flu & Pneumoccocal Vaccinations
• Travel Vaccinations • Smoking Cessation
• Weight Control • New Patient Health Checks
• Blood Pressure Monitoring • Coronary Heart Disease Monitoring
• Smoking Cessation Counselling • Anticoagulation Monitoring

Special Clinics

The practice operates a number of clinics which offer specialist services. Details of these are below.

Antenatal Clinics

Thursday 9.00 to 10.00am and 1.00 to 2.00pm

These are for antenatal booking. The doctor refers patients to this clinic after their pregnancy has been confirmed. The clinic is run by the team of midwives who are attached to the practice.

Patients should bring a sample of urine to the clinic and can expect to spend at least one hour of their time with the midwife. Before leaving this clinic, the midwife will tell the patient when they need to return for their review appointment. Review appointments are held on a Tuesday morning and can be booked at reception before leaving the health centre.

Friday 9.00 to 10.30am

This is the antenatal review clinic and is again facilitated by the midwives. Patients should bring a sample of urine to the clinic. The review appointment will normally only take between five and ten minutes. The waiting time is minimal, as there are usually at least two midwives on duty, which means that two patients are being seen at any one time.

Patients who have reached 16 weeks' gestation will be advised to attend the Practice Nurse for their pertussis vaccination.  Patients can make an appointment for this at the reception desk.

A doctor is always available during the review clinic. The midwife may refer a patient to the doctor if she has any particular concerns.

Well Woman Clinics

Friday 3.00 to 4.30pm (Nurse White)

Patients can discuss all issues relating to women's health eg breast self-examination, family planning, HRT, cervical screening etc.

Well Baby Clinic

Tuesday 9.00 to 11.00am

This clinic is run for the purposes of carrying out child health surveillance (developmental assessments) and administering childhood vaccinations. Sick children and babies cannot be seen at this clinic. If your child is sick, you will need to make a doctor's appointment.
Both the doctor and the health visitor are available at this clinic.

Pre-school Clinic

Tuesday 11.30am to 12 noon

Parents are invited to bring their pre-school child to this clinic for their booster immunisations. The clinic is fully facilitated by the health visitors.  Parents are strongly encouraged to attend this clinic to ensure that their child is protected from a variety of ailments to which they can become exposed once they start school.

Asthma Clinic

First two Wednesdays of each month from 9.00 to 11.00am - Nurse Pennick.
Third, fourth and fifth Wednesday of each month - 2.00 to 3.00pm - Nurse Pennick

The doctor refers patients to this clinic for appropriate education, advice and supervision of treatment. Patients also attend this clinic when they are due for Asthma Medication Review which is usually when their authorised repeat medication has expired.

Minor Surgery

Tuesday or Thursday 9.00 to 10.00am (depending on Dr McClune's schedule).

Minor surgery is provided by Dr McClune. Patients may self-refer to this clinic for cauterisation of warts. The practice also provides Minor Surgery as an Enhanced Service. Under this service, patients can be referred for joint injections so appointments can only be obtained via Dr McClune or one of the other GPs.

Diabetic Clinic

First two Wednesdays of the month 2.00 to 4.30pm and as required throughout the week (Nurse White and Dr O'Donnell). Patients with Type 2 Diabetes are referred to this clinic so that their condition can be carefully monitored. Dr O'Donnell is the clinical lead for Diabetes, while Nurse White facilitates the clinic. Newly diagnosed patients will be referred to the Community Chiropodist and the Dietician for initial assessment.

Hypertension Clinic

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings - 9.00 to 10.00am. Patients diagnosed with hypertension are referred to this clinic by the GPs so that their condition can be carefully monitored. The nurse will check blood pressure, compliance with medication, discuss lifestyle issues and take any necessary blood samples.

Spirometry/COPD

Patients who are deemed to be 'at risk of developing' COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are invited to attend the Practice Nurse for Spirometry Testing, which can confirm a diagnosis of COPD. If the diagnosis is confirmed, patients are then monitored on a regular basis by the Practice Nurse and will be referred back to their GP if appropriate.

Other Services

If necessary, patients can be referred to other specialist services. Such services include:
• Chiropody
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Audiology
• Physiotherapy
• Dietetics
• Continence Services
• Community Mental Health
• Addiction Treatment Services

Non-NHS Services

Some patients will require services which do not fall under the terms of the doctors’ contract with the National Health Service. Such services include medical examinations and reports in relation to insurance, PSV license, certain sports, fitness to drive, holiday cancellations etc. Whilst the doctors are able to provide such services, normal surgery demands permitting, patients are advised that doctors are permitted to charge a BMA recommended fee for doing so. Patients can obtain details of all such fees from the receptionists. Patients are also advised that such requests can take from 5 to 10 working days to be ready.

Children's Immunisations

It is important that all babies and children are fully immunised. Children will be scheduled for their vaccinations at the following stages:


In the coming years some other vaccinations may be added to this regime.