New Patient Medicals

Patients newly registered at the Practice are offered a check-up either via questionnaire or in person with our Health Care Assistant or Practice Pharmacist. It is important that all new patients take this opportunity to be seen especially if they have a complex medical history or take regular medications, as it can take between 6 – 8 weeks for your medical notes to arrive from your previous GP.

The HCA or Practice Pharmacist will take details of your repeat medications, height, weight and any other important illness that we need to be aware of.

Free NHS Health Check (patients aged 40-74)

We are currently contacting our patients in this age range to invite them to attend for a Health Check every 5 years.

If you have not received your letter yet then please speak to our team who will arrange an appointment for you.

Those patients who attend our specialised clinics already for diabetes, heart conditions, strokes, and high blood pressure will not be invited to attend a health check as all relevant checks are done in these clinics.

Non NHS Medical Examinations

These include medical examination for HGV licences and insurance purposes.

These are by appointment with your Doctor and will be charged as recommended by BMA.

Other clinics we provide:

• Chronic Disease Management
• MSK Practitioner/First Contact Physio
• Mental Health Link Worker
• Social Prescriber
• Clinical Pharmacist

The NHS already has a bowel-screening programme in place, which offers screening to all men and women aged 60 to 69 every two years.

This involves sending out a “faecal occult blood test kit” to use at home and send back for analysis.

If you’re aged 70 or over you can choose to participate by requesting a screening kit.

For more information visit the NHS Screening website.

Who do I see?
Self-Referral to Choose You – Quit smoking, loose weight and feel healthier

0800 013 0553

Advice:
You can also visit Smokefree, or find out more from NHS UK.

In the UK, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 35 (after breast cancer). About 2,800 women a year are diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme aims to reduce the number of women who develop cervical cancer and the number of women who die from the disease.

All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening. Being screened regularly means that any abnormal changes in the cervix can be identified early on and, if necessary, treated to stop cancer developing.

It is estimated that early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers from developing.

• Women aged 25–64 are invited for screening every five years.
• Women aged 65 or over are only screened if they have not been screened since they were 50 or have had recent abnormal test results.

For more information about cervical smears visit The NHS.

Can be performed in appropriate cases.

Minor operations such as skin biopsies. ingrowing toenail removal, cyst drainage & removal can be performed, as well as treatment for benign lesions such as seborrhoeic warts, skin tags and warts where these are causing symptomatic concerns. Patients must see a clinician before being added to the waiting list if appropriate.

Joint injections may be administered for short term pain relief for certain conditions such as osteoarthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, where appropriate.

We are pleased to offer a travel advice and immunisation service to registered patients..

Contact the practice via our online form and complete an admin request for travel vaccinations. 

Please note requests should be no less than 8 weeks before travel, with a separate form submitted for each traveller.

You will be sent a questionnaire which the nurse will assess on return and send you advice or an appointment invite via text message.

The practice offers  in house anticoagulation testing for Warfarin control by our Practice Nurses with GP support.

This is done via a finger prick blood test and computer support system.

We offer a limited in house phlebotomy service primarily for our patients aged 60 and over and those requiring certain chronic disease reviews.

However, this is dependent on appointments being available within our phlebotomy service and you may still be asked to book at Gilbert Hitchcock house if there is no capacity at the surgery.

PLEASE NOTE there may be occasions when a patient under 60 is offered an inhouse phlebotomy appointment – this will only be possible if we find that within 2 working days of a clinic there are empty appointments and we can therefore offer them to fully utilise the service and relieve pressure on the hospital.

Phlebotomy Service at Gilbert Hitchcock House (North Wing) Bedford Hospital

Patients booking system for blood tests at Gilbert Hitchcock House (North Wing) MK40 2AW

Blood tests including URGENT ones need to be pre booked with an appointment via the Sangix booking system.

Patients are now able to book appointments by:

• Using the online booking service (available 24/7). Patients will need to register online.
• The automated telephone booking service (available 24/7). The telephone number is: 01234 607075.
• Booking an appointment in person by visiting the department between 13:00-16:00.

Booking Paediatric Blood Tests

There is a new online system and phone number for booking paediatric blood tests (under 16 years old) at Bedford Hospital.

Parents should use the online system (booking, cancellations and changes available 24/7) – www.bedfordpaediatrics.sangix.co.uk – or the automated telephone booking service (available 24/7) on 01234 868006.

When booking the appointment, parents or guardians must register with the child’s details.

We have three Minor Illness Nurses who are trained to diagnose and treat minor illnesses, including issuing prescriptions and sickness certificates. They cannot, however, issue repeat prescriptions.

The appointments are available to be booked either on the same day or 1 day and 7 day in advance.