Clinics & Services
MINOR SURGERY
Certain surgical procedures can be performed by the doctors within the surgery. This may save unnecessary visits to the hospital. Arrangements are made after you have seen one of the doctors at the practice. Drs Inmonger and Bennett undertake much of the minor surgery, but most of the doctors can do basic joint injections.
ANTENATAL
Antenatal clinics are held between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Wednesdays by appointment. They are run by the community midwife. As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact the surgery to arrange ante-natal care. Using the skills of our midwifery team we try to minimise the need to attend hospital whilst ensuring safe monitoring and support for your pregnancy. Our team supports home births whenever it's considered safe to do so.
IMMUNISATION
We run a full immunisation and vaccination service including tetanus, influenza, pneumonia and travel immunisations, all by appointment. It is essential to book a nurse appointment for the first consultation regarding travel advice. Childhood immunisations are also carried out by the nurses or health visitors.
CERVICAL CANCER-SMEAR TESTS
There is a "call and recall" system operated across all of Lancashire on behalf of the GP surgeries to remind you about "smear tests". They are carried out any weekday by appointment with the practice nurses.
CONTRACEPTION
The practice nurses undertake contraceptive checks once you are settled on your regular pill by the doctor or Family Planning Clinic. Let the receptionist know when you are booking that it's for a pill check-up.
The nurses can also do annual Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) checks.
HEALTH CHECKS
These are run by the health visitors and practice nurses. Lifestyle advice and general screening is done. As well as ourselves booking patients into these clinics we are very pleased for you to refer yourself directly through the receptionist. All new patients receive a check-up as they register with the practice. We arrange referral to the local "Exercise on prescription" and "Stop smoking" services as necessary, and can provide stop smoking nicotine replacement therapy.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHECKS
Dr Martin and Dr Hall, along with the practice health visitors, provides full child health surveillance, monitoring physical and social development. Parents will be notified when these are due and invited to make an appointment for their child. This service is provided on Tuesday afternoons.
DISEASE MANAGEMENT CLINICS
These are run by the the practice nurses, with advice from the practice doctors and medicines' management pharmacist as necessary. They are for patients with diseases in which more complex management plans can reduce the risk of complications. The surgery initiate bookings in these clinics. Examples include asthma, diabetes, hypertension, COPD and heart disease.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATES
For DSS certificates to be issued the doctor must have previously seen the patient or have evidence of the condition from another doctor. Sickness certificates are not required for the first 7 days of absence- you MUST use a self-certificate for those days. Where a certificate is requested which is not covered by DSS regulations, there is a charge payable. Charges vary according to the amount of time involved in processing the certificate. Details are available in reception.
NON-NHS SERVICES
All doctors provide some services not covered under the NHS including some medical examinations, certificates and a few vaccinations. A charge will be made for all non NHS services. The receptionists will inform you of the costs involved.
(page updated 03-05-2010)