A free and quick NHS scan can tell if you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
If you are a man aged 65 or over then you can have this simple screening test. Most men have never heard of abdominal aortic aneurysms and there are usually no symptoms. But thousands of older men die each year after an aneurysm bursts.
Attending AAA screening is your choice. For more information, please visit AAA Screening or talk to your GP.
For further information please call 0121 424 3612.
If you are looking for information about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and being breast aware, please see Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s website.
Being breast aware simply means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, being on the lookout for any unusual changes and getting them checked out by your doctor.
It’s as simple as TLC
All their resources can be ordered or downloaded for free. A full list of all their publications can be found on their website.
The practice nurses provide a cervical cancer screening service.
The test involves the nurse doing a vaginal examination and taking a sample of the cells on the surface of the neck of the womb (the cervix). The sample is then examined under the microscope at the lab.
The aim is to look for and identify cancer warning cells. If these are found then treatment can be organised to prevent cervical cancer ever developing.
To have your smear test simply book an appointment with the practice nurses.
NHS Choices for the following advice and information:
In addition to the health visitor appointments, the practice offers 6 week checks for mums and babies whitch include:
Antenatal Clinics are run by our team of Midwives – when you become pregnant please complete a self referral to the midwifery team. Most pregnancies are managed mainly by midwife-led care at the surgery.
Our Diabetes Clinics are available at both Ashfurlong and James Preston, and appointments are provided by a number of the nursing team.
Our aim is to provide a service that encourages partnership in decision-making, supports you in managing your diabetes, prevent the development of complications, optimise the treatment of diabetes and helps you to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Your recent blood test results may indicate that you have a condition known as ‘pre-diabetes’. Pre-diabetes occurs when glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. You may also hear pre-diabetes being described as Impaired glucose regulation (IGR).
As the name suggests people with pre-diabetes have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (50% over 5 years). Having pre-diabetes has also been shown to put a person at risk of having heart disease, kidney, eye and nerve disease.
The important thing to remember is that if you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, you do not have to develop diabetes.
If you are overweight, the right changes in diet and weight can even return sugar control to normal levels. Concentrate on reducing carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, rice, biscuits and cakes to less than a handful per meal.
It is of great importance that you don’t develop diabetes and these changes have the best evidence for helping you.
To keep well and healthy, everyone with diabetes needs good and regular healthcare. The early detection, treatment and continued control of your diabetes is very important as this will reduce your chances of developing the complications linked to diabetes.
Providing further information on Diabetes:
We like to see all our patients who have been diagnosed with COPD at least yearly.
Depending on the severity of your diagnosis we may invite you to come to the clinic more often in order to ensure we give you the care you require.
You can find out more about COPD by following the links below:
We offer an annual appointment to patients with established heart disease.
The purpose of this clinic is to support you in managing your heart condition and to ensure that the quality of your health remains at its best. It has been proven that correct management of people with cardiovascular disease will reduce the risks of death, heart attacks and admission to hospital.
At the clinic we will review risk factors, discuss lifestyle changes, review medications and arm you with the knowledge you need to manage your condition.
Prior to your appointment you will need to have a blood test. This will mean that your cholesterol and other blood tests will be available for discussion at the clinic.
The cardiac monitoring clinic also sees patients who have a high risk of heart disease, but have not actually had a heart attack. They do this through a once off appointment in the clinic and then with support via the practice nursing clinic with any ongoing lifestyle issues. To access this clinic you need to be referred by your GP or practice nurse.
If you are interested in accessing further information on heart disease and how to manage it the British Heart Foundation offers a wealth of information to help you.
Cardiac Risk Calculator – This will help you to calculate your risk of heart disease, but cannot be used if you have already had a cardiac event (Heart Attack/Stroke).
Our Asthma Clinics is run by our Nurse Practitioner, Marie Nokes for children and adults with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the aim of achieving the best control of asthma symptoms.
Asthma remains a serious illness and if you are at all concerned that your asthma is getting worse you should ask for an emergency appointment with your doctor or nurse. Please make it clear to reception staff that you are asthmatic when you phone.
Our practice nurses have specialist asthma qualifications. They run clinics in order that asthma may be assessed, advice offered, queries answered and correct treatment ensured.
Patients on asthma medication should be seen at least once a year in the asthma clinic for a check up with the nurse.
The following websites give information and advice on a variety of asthma related topics:
In order to assist us to make a full assessment of the potential risks to your health from your planned travel, we would ask that you make a Travel Clinic appointment with our Practice Nurses. Ideally, this appointment should be made around the time of booking your holiday, at least 6 weeks before you travel.
As some vaccines are not available on the NHS there may be a private fee charged and this will be discussed at your appointment.
At your appointment we may ask the following questions to help us plan for your trip:-
It would help us greatly if you had some awareness of the travel problems that you may be at risk from on your trip before you come for your appointment.
Please see fit for travel, a NHS website giving useful travel health information for the county you are visiting.
We look forward to seeing you at your appointment.