Clinics & Services

All our Practice Nurses are available for wound care, suture removal and dressings following minor surgery or discharge from hospital.  If you need assistance with any of these please make an appointment. There are also specialised clinics as follows:

Diabetic Clinic

All patients with diabetes are encouraged to attend the clinic annually.  Our Practice Nurse, Gina Povey, holds clinics on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Asthma Clinic

All asthmatic patients are encouraged to book for regular reviews.

Coronary Heart Disease And Blood Pressure Clinic

Practice Nurse Chris Mills runs a clinic to check blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors.  It is also possible to have an ECG (electrocardiogram) at the surgery, if requested by your doctor.  All cardiac patients are encouraged to book for regular reviews.

Contraception / Sexual Health

All our doctors are happy to give confidential advice about sexual health and family planning but should you wish to have a coil fitted please make a pre fitting assessment appointment with Dr Hyde.  Please make a pre fitting assessment appointment.  A ‘nurse-run’ clinic, run by Gina Povey, is held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4.30 until 6.00 pm.

Childhood Immunisations

The doctors believe strongly that childhood immunisations are very important.  Every child should be immunised as soon as possible to get maximum protection.  There are very few reasons why most children cannot be immunised.  If in doubt please ask!  Clinics are held on Wednesdays between 9.10 am and 12.10 pm.  If you have any queries please telephone the surgery and ask to speak to Anne Savin.

Travel Vaccinations

We offer advice on health protection and vaccinations to people planning to travel abroad.  Please contact the surgery at least eight weeks before your departure date to discuss arrangements for any necessary vaccinations.  Some vaccinations ie those against yellow fever and rabies, are not available on the NHS and there will be a charge for these.  Malaria tablets are available on private prescription only and will be charged for.  The Travel Clinic is held on aFriday mornings.

Cervical Smears

Cervical smears are carried out routinely as a screening test for cervical cancer.  Women aged between 25 and 65 are sent invitations to make appointments for these.  However, if you have any symptoms or concerns, please make an appointment to see your GP or the practice nurse before your test is due.

Midwife And Antenatal Care

During your pregnancy you will generally be seen alternately by your doctor or midwife at the surgery.  You can ask to have your baby at Reading, Swindon, Basingstoke or Oxford hospitals.  Home deliveries are the responsibility of the midwife.  The midwife holds antenatal clinics on Monday and Wednesday afternoons (please note that your first appointment will be on a Wednesday).  Within three or four weeks after your baby is born you will receive a letter inviting you to come for a post natal and baby check. 

District Nurses

The District Nursing Team provides nursing care for those people who cannot get to the surgery.  They are also very experienced in the care of terminally ill patients and work closely with the doctors to look after people during this difficult time.

Health Visitors

The Health Visitors are qualified nurses with a special interest in the development of children.  They will check your baby's progress and are the best people to ask about feeding, development and other issues relating to the health of young children.  They visit mothers and babies at home and assist in the important task of child health surveillance.  The Health Visitors are not based at the surgery but hold Child Health Clinics here on Mondays and Thursdays between 12.00 and 2.00pm (by appointment only) and a ‘drop-in’ clinic at the Children’s Centre in Victoria Park on Wednesdays between 9.30 and 10.30am.  They can be contacted by phoning 01635 265075. 

Mammograms

Women reaching the age of fifty years will receive an invitation to attend for a mammogram.  These are not carried out at the surgery but you will be advised of the location of the mobile screening van. 

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Non-NHS Services

We are happy to arrange appointments for private medical examinations which will be charged for according to British Medical Association rates.  BMA rates also apply for all private prescriptions and forms.  An up-to-date list of these charges is on display in the waiting area.

Should outside agencies, ie employers or insurance companies ask for medical information, we must always have your written consent before this can be given. 

Find Local Services In Your Area

Enter all or part of your postcode in the box below and click one of the buttons to find those services that are local to you.