Services

We encourage routine cervical smears and we will remind you when your next test is due. The practice nurses will normally carry out smears, by appointment. Cervical smears are normally carried out mid-cycle.

Further information is available on the NHS website

Childhood immunisations are one more way to keep them safe. You want to do what is best for your child. You know about the importance of car seats, stair gates, and other ways to keep them safe. But, did you know that one of the best ways to protect them is to make sure they have all of their vaccinations?

Immunisation is the process of delivering a vaccination to protect a person against a disease.

Vaccine is the product given during immunisation which your body uses to fight exposure to disease.

Immunisations can save your child’s life

Some diseases continue to harm or kill children across the world. Don’t let your child be one of them.

Vaccines are very safe and effective

vaccines are only licensed for children after long and careful development and testing by researchers and doctors. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Fever can be expected after any vaccination, but is more common with the Men B vaccine. Giving paracetamol soon after Men B vaccination – and not waiting for a fever to develop – will reduce the risk of your child having a fever. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare.

Immunisation protects others you care about

some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination and others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukaemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children are fully immunised. This not only protects your family, but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to your friends and loved ones.

Changes to the routine childhood schedule

• The NHS childhood vaccination schedule has been updated to help give children even better protection against diseases. Changes include protecting children against some diseases earlier and adding vaccines that protect against more diseases.
• The MMRV vaccine has replaced the MMR vaccine. The MMRV vaccine protects against 4 serious diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (known as varicella). The MMRV vaccine has been safely used for many years as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in several countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany.

Further information

• Preparation for nursery and school webinar with Dr Clare Gerada and Dr Nishma Shah
• Changes to the childhood vaccination schedule
• NHS vaccinations and when to have them

We offer information, advice and support for all forms of contraception to any of our patients. Contraceptive services are provided during normal surgery hours. If you require emergency contraception this should be administered within 72 hours, (the earlier the better). Ask the receptionist for an urgent appointment.

Routine pill checks are carried out by both doctors and practice nurses.

Free condoms are available for distribution.

Managing parenthood

People wishing to discuss any aspects of pregnancy or parenthood are encouraged to see their doctor or practice nurse.

Each year, in early October, we begin our Flu campaign. We invite patients who are over 65 and those with certain conditions to attend for a vaccination.

Practice nurses are happy to help you with medical aspects of overseas travel: documentation, immunisations, protection against malaria and medical advice. Most immunisations are free of charge. Please check with the nurses about charges for other vaccines.

For short stay holidays (less than 1 month) please book your appointment 6 weeks in advance.

For long stays (more than 1 month) book your appointment as soon as possible some of the recommended vaccines are a course of 3 and can take a number of months to administer.

For further information please visit our travel information page

We offer testing for Chlamydia and gonorrhoea. These are the most common sexually transmitted infections in the U.K. which affect both men and women. Most people have no visible symptoms, so they may not know they have the infection. Rarely, these infections can lead to problems having children later in life.