Clinics and Services

Our Clinics and Services

Some of the non-routine appointments offered:

  • Smears
  • HGV Medicals
  • Insurance Medicals
  • Taxi Medicals
  • Minor Ops
  • Post Natal
  • Baby Six Week Checks
  • NHS Health Checks

Minor Injury Service

This service is for the assessment and treatment of patients with minor injuries.  It is available 8.00am-6.00pm Monday to Friday inclusive and can be used by the local community as well as those visiting the area.

Please note that dependent upon the result of the initial assessment, it may be necessary for the patient to be directed for further assistance to the local A&E department, if the treatment required is out of the remit of the Minor Injury Service.

The service covers a range of minor injuries including:

  • cuts and grazes
  • bruises
  • sprains and strains
  • minor dislocations of fingers/toes
  • splinters
  • superficial foreign bodies in the eyes
  • minor head injuries
  • following recent injury regarding more than simple first aid.

If you require this service please telephone the Practice on 01759 302500.

FREE NHS Health Checks

These health checks are available to those people aged between 40 and 74 without a pre-existing medical condition.  They can take place every 5 years and will help you learn about your risk of developing common but preventable health conditions, how your lifestyle can influence your risk and provide support to live a healthier lifestyle.

Chaperones

If you require a chaperone for any appointment you attend at the Practice, please let this be known at the time of booking so this can be arranged for you.

Dignity and Respect

INTRODUCTION

This policy sets out the Practice provision to ensure that patients are afforded privacy and dignity, and are treated respectfully, in all appropriate circumstances where there is the potential for embarrassment or for the patient to feel “ill at ease”.

The requirement to respect patients is the responsibility of all staff, not just those in direct clinical contact with the patient.

Vulnerable patients in this respect may include:

    • Elderly
    • Infirm
    • Disabled
  • Those with racial or cultural beliefs
  • Illiterate
  • Homeless / no fixed abode
  • Those with specific conditions
  • Patients with communication difficulties
  • Those patients with gender requirements
  • Those known to staff / known by staff
  • Family members

PROVISIONS

Reception

  • The Practice will not stereotype patients based on perceived characteristics
  • Patients will be referred to with respect even in private discussions in the surgery
  • Patients will be addressed by their preferred method and titles (Mr, Mrs etc) will be used as a first preference by staff
  • A sign will be available in reception to offer the facility of a private discussion with a receptionist if required
  • Guide dogs will be permitted in all parts of the building. See Guide Dogs Policy [*]
  • Under no circumstances will staff enter through a closed consultation room / treatment room door without first knocking, and waiting for permission to enter (if occupied), or pausing to determine that the room is empty

Consultations

  •  Patients will be allowed free choice of gender of doctor and nurse, where available, and will be able to wait or delay an appointment to see their choice of clinician Where clinically urgent patients will be encouraged to see a clinician appropriate for their “best care” however undue pressure is not appropriate
  • Consultations will not be interrupted unless there is an emergency, in which case the room will be telephoned as a first step, before knocking at the door and awaiting specific permission from the clinician to enter
  • A chaperone will be offered where an examination is to take place.
  • Clinical staff will be sensitive to the needs of the individual and will ensure that they are comfortable in complying with any requests with the potential to cause embarrassment
  • Patients will be afforded as much time and privacy as is required to recover from the delivery of “bad news”, and the clinical staff will, where possible, anticipate this need and arrange their appointments accordingly
  • Patients will be able to dress and undress privately in a treatment room, or, where a separate treatment room is not available, a screen will be provided for that purpose. Patients using this facility will be requested to advise the clinician when they are ready to be seen, and they will be afforded sufficient time to do this bearing in mind infirmity etc.
  • A clean sheet will be available in each examination / treatment room, changed after each patient, and the patient will be advised of its availability
  • Clinicians and staff will allow “personal space” where possible and respect this
  • Patients will be given adequate opportunity, time and privacy for the provision of samples on the premises without feeling under duress or time limitation
  • The area used for dressing / undressing will be equipped with coat / clothes hangers, pegs, or similar for clothes, and will have a chair with arms at a suitable height and design available and suitable for the patient to use
  • Patients with difficulty in understanding due to language may have a family member or friend available to interpret or assist
  • Communication by staff to patients will be individual according to the needs of the individual patient (e.g. those with speech difficulties, hearing, or learning difficulties may need an individual approach)
  • Where an intimate examination is considered necessary to be performed on a patient with difficulty in understanding due to language or other issues (e.g. consent or cultural issues) it is recommended that a Chaperone or family member / carer should always be present
  • Areas used by patients for dressing / undressing will be secure from interruption or ingress (i.e. there will be no unlocked door to either a corridor or to any room not occupied by the consulter who is attending that patient
  • Patients who may have difficulty in undressing may be offered the services of a second (same gender) clinician or trained Chaperone to assist
  • Patients will be requested only to remove a minimum of clothing necessary for the examination
  • Consultations in the patient’s home will be sensitive to the location and any other persons who may be present or may overhear

Post – Consultation

  • Clinicians and staff will respect the dignity of patients and will not discuss issues arising from the above procedures unless in a confidential clinical setting appropriate to the care of the patient (respectful of the patient even when not there)