The doctors are happy to undertake medical examinations for insurance companies, HGV, PSV, taxi drivers, fitness to undertake sports/travel etc. These are done by appointment, usually outside normal surgery hours and a fee will be charged in accordance with recommended BMA rates.
Certain other services provided by your doctor are not covered by the NHS and you will be asked to pay for them. These include insurance claim forms, private sick notes, passport forms and holiday cancellations.
Phlebotomy
We offer phlebotomy services from 7.30am on :
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Other services offered by the surgery
Smears
Travel vaccinations
Dietary advice
Blood pressure checks
Minor surgery
Lifestyle Checks and advice
Child health surveillance
Childhood Immunisations
Contraception
NHS Health Checks
Smoking Cessation
Maternity
The doctors and midwives provide care before and after delivery.
The midwife provides the following clinics:
Booking clinic (for newly pregnant ladies) – Tuesday mornings between 10.00am and noon
Routine follow-up clinics – Wednesday between 9.00am and 16.00pm
In addition there is a doctor-led post-natal six week mum and baby check held on Tuesday afternoons from 2.00pm until 4.00pm.
Self help advice and tools
For 24 hours General Medical Advice telephone 111 or visit the NHS 111 website.
Click any of the images or titles below to visit the relevant website
Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods.Information on how the health and social care system works.
Sign posting you to the most appropriate service/s.
Healthier Together has been developed for parents and healthcare staff which focus on children aged under 5 years.
APPs for iPhone or Android smartphones are available Advice and guidance on: – Is your child unwell? – Who should i speak to? – Parenting – Expectant mothers
A wide range of NHS approved healthcare apps to help you monitor your conditions or achieve your goals. For example fitness, smoking, alcohol, weight loss, pregnancy, depression, blood pressure, sexual health, etc.
Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods. Symptom checker Wellbeing = health, fitness, nutrition, parenting Medications
The Self Care Forum aims to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life. Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness.
Back Pain
Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year.
Symptoms usually respond to 24 hours rest lying on a firm bed followed by gentle exercise and return to normal activities.
Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will help to relieve pain and local heat from a hot water bottle may also help.
Avoid straining your back while exercising and take great care with lifting even when the pain has subsided
When sitting, an upright chair with support for the small of the back lessens strain on the spine.
If the pain does not start to improve within a few days, then consult your doctor for advice.
Insect Bites and Stings
Most need no treatment.
Anti-histamine tablets and/or cream can be obtained from the chemist without prescriptions and will relieve most symptoms.
Burns
Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and continue until the pain subsides: but running cold water is the most effective.
This may take some time. If the skin is unbroken but blisters, apply a loose dry dressing.
If the burn is larger than 10cm (4 inches) in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Do not use creams such as Germoline or Savlon
Chicken Pox
On the first day a rash appears with small red spots.
Within a few hours these develop small blisters at the centre.
Over the next 3 or 4 days further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off.
Calamine lotion will soothe the itching and cool baths may help.
The most infectious period is 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres, usually 7-10 days after the onset of the rash.
Children may return to school as soon as the last crusts have dropped off.
The incubation period of chicken pox is 14-21 days.
Colds and Flu
These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and muscular aches.
They are usually caused by viruses for which antibiotics will have no effect.
Paracetamol helps the temperature and aches whilst decongestants and throat lozenges may also help to relieve symptoms.
It is important to drink plenty of fluid, but do not worry if you do not eat for a few days – you will come to no harm
However no more than eight paracetamols should be taken within any 24 hours
Diarrhoea and Vomiting
In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting is usually caused by a virus.
Treatment consists of replacing fluid lost with small amounts of water, or fizzy lemonade taken frequently and not eating for 24 hours.
If the diarrhoea contains blood, if there is severe pain or high fever you should consult your doctor.
Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and your doctor will be happy to advise you over the phone and arrange to see you if necessary.
Elderly people and those with medical conditions (e.g. diabetes) should consult a doctor.
Women taking the oral contraceptive pill may need to take extra precautions.
Headlice
These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene.
Daily combing with a fine tooth comb after application of conditioner is also effective
Meningitis
This is an infection of the covering of the brain and the most serious from is caused by the meningococcus bacteria and requires urgent medical attention.
Warning signs include a “blood spot” rash that does not blanch under pressure, and neck stiffness.
In infants there may be drowsiness, change in the cry, irritability, fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.
In adults, as well as neck stiffness and rash there may be high temperature, vomiting, headache and back or joint pains
Blanch = press the side of a clear drinking glass onto the rash or bruises and checking that they fade.
Nose Bleeds
Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped.
If the bleeding continues or if your are taking blood-thinning tablets (anticoagulants): consult your doctor.
Avoid blowing your nose for 48 hours and hot food and drink for 24 hours.
Sprains and Strains
Apply a cold compress (e.g. a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a wet tea towel) to reduce swelling: then apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.
Sunburn
Try to prevent this by avoiding exposure to the sun in the heat of the day and using sun screens.
Treat sunburn by cooling the skin with cool water or calamine lotion and take Paracetamol or anti-histamine tablets as necessary.
Temperature
A raised temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections.
In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and they should be given Paracetamol syrup which may be bought from the chemist.
If they are still feverish they should be gently sponged with tepid water as in a bath or shower to cool them (this may take up to 20 minutes)
If a temperature is very high and does not come down with this treatment or the child appears very unwell you should consult your doctor.
A child or adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being brought by car or by pram to the surgery.
Travel Immunisations
Holiday Travel
If you are travelling abroad it is sensible to make provision well in advance of your expected date of travel, we require a minimum of eight to twelve weeks notice before travel.
Eightlands Surgery only provides the vaccines that are available free on the NHS, these are:
Protection against tetanus and polio should be kept up to date. A full primary course with a booster at 15 should be followed by at least two boosters at 10 year intervals to protect throughout life.
Pre-pregnancy advice
Pre-pregnancy advice is offered by the doctors and midwife for those thinking of becoming pregnant. It is essential that you stop smoking, reduce your alcohol intake to a minimum, ensure an adequate daily intake of the vitamin folic acid in your diet, and check with your doctor about any medication you are taking. As a general rule don’t take any drugs, including those bought over the counter, in pregnancy, unless advised by your doctor. All pregnant women should attend the antenatal clinic as soon as possible.
Influenza
Annual protection against influenza is offered to senior citizens and those at high risk, e.g., with chronic heart, chest, some breathing disorders, and diabetes.
Health Checks
NHS Health Checks are available for patients aged between 40 and 74 who have not had a check in the last five years. This involves an assessment of your risks for developing heart disease and a simple examination, e.g., blood pressure, urine check and cholesterol level if appropriate. This is particularly important if you smoke, or have a family history of coronary heart disease at an early age (less than 60 years). Our practice nurses will give advice and follow-up support on giving up smoking, losing weight, lowering your cholesterol levels and following a healthy lifestyle.