ANTENATAL CARE

Maternity care is provided by the Community Midwife on  Friday mornings and by a Doctor during normal surgery hours.  

ASTHMA CLINIC

If you have asthma please book an appointment for regular medication review and advice with a Doctor.  You can also make an appointment with the Practice Nurse for a general asthma review.

DIABETIC / HEART DISEASE (CHD) CLINICS

If you have diabetes or heart disease it is most important that you are reviewed at regular intervals.  Please book an appointment with the Doctor OR Practice Nurse. 

CHILD HEALTH  CLINIC

All children up to the age of 5 will be regularly invited to attend the Health Visitor’s weekly clinics for developmental assessments. 

FAMILY PLANNING/SEXUAL HEALTH

Advice is offered during normal surgeries. Smears can be booked with either a Nurse or Doctor.  Coils can be fitted by arrangement.

HEALTH CHECKS

All patients over the age of 75 are invited to attend for a health check up annually.  Patients under 75 can see the Nurse for a Well Person check every 3 years by request.

MINOR SURGERY

Many minor procedures can be done on the premises, saving a trip to the hospital.  Please see the Doctor for prior assessment. 

CERVICAL CYTOLOGY/BREAST SCREENING

All women are advised to have a regular cervical smear test, it takes only a few minutes & can detect the early stages of cervical cancer.  Breast Screening is now organised by the Torbay Breast Care Unit & women aged over 50 are advised to attend for screening every 3 years.
 

Test Results

Please call between 11am and 3.30pm to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice. It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if your are advised to do so.

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements.  This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.  There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible  - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations.  These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine.  Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.  This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please print and complete the travel form available below.  You can then hand in, post or fax the form to us.  We will assess the details and contact you to arrange an appointment, therefore please make sure we have a daytime contact number for you.

Travel_Vacs_Form.doc

Contraception Information

Contraception is available without cost throughout Torbay.  It is a serious issue which is not just about preventing pregnancy but also about preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring you have a healthy future. 

By clicking on the link below you will be able to view a leaflet detailing all the clinics within Torbay and a list of pharmacy's and their opening hours.

contraceptive-sexual-health.pdf

In addition to the clinics you can also visit Withycombe Lodge for advice and contraception from your own GP or Nurse. 

Different methods of contraception suit different people at different times – choose a method that suits you.  

Contraceptive methods - There are 13 methods of contraception and they all work in different ways, however to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases it is advisable to go Double Dutch (use a condom as well as one of the other methods).  The following methods are those most suitable for young people

1. Male and Female Condoms
   Male and female condoms are barrier methods of contraception. They stop the sperm meeting an egg. Condoms are 98 – 99% effective if used carefully. Anti-allergy condoms are available for people who are allergic to latex. Condoms will give some protection against sexually transmitted infections.

2. The Combined Pill
   The combined pill is usually just called the pill. It contains two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen. These are similar to the natural hormones women produce in their ovaries.  The combined pill is over 99% effective against pregnancy if taken regularly. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections, so it is advised that condoms are also used with this method.

3. The Progestogen-only Pill(Mini-Pill)
   The progestogen-only pill contains the progestogen hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone hormone that women produce in their ovaries. Progestogen-only pills are different to combined pills because they do not contain any oestrogen. There are two main types of progestogen-only pill.
   The progestogen-only pill is around 99% effective against pregnancy if taken regularly. It is an easy to use method that requires the user to take a pill each day. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections. 

4. Contraceptive Injections
   Contraceptive injections contain a progestogen hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries.  The contraceptive injection is over 99% effective against pregnancy. It is useful for people who cannot remember to take a pill each day. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections.

5. Contraceptive Implants
   A contraceptive implant is a small flexible rod that is placed just under the skin of the upper arm. It releases a progestogen hormone similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries.
   The contraceptive implant is over 99% effective against pregnancy. It is an easy to use method which stays in for 3 years. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections, so it is advised that condoms are also used with this method

6. Intra-uterine Device (IUD or the Coil)
   An IUD is a small plastic and copper device that is put into the womb.
   The IUD is 98-99% effective against pregnancy. It lasts for 5 years. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections.

7. Intra-uterine System (IUS or Mirena)
   An IUS is a small plastic device which is put into the womb. It contains a progestogen hormone which is similar to the natural progesterone that women produce in their ovaries.
   The IUS is 99% effective against pregnancy. It lasts for 5 years. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections.

8. The contraceptive patch (Evra)
   The contraceptive patch is a small, thin patch which looks a bit like a beige plaster. It is about 5cm x 5cm in size. It is stuck on the skin and releases two hormones – oestrogen and progestogen. These are similar to the natural hormones that women produce in their ovaries, and like those use in the combined contraceptive pill.
   The contraceptive patch is 99% effective. It does not give any protection against sexually transmitted infections, so it is advised that condoms are also used with this method.

9. Emergency contraception
   If you have had unprotected sex, that is, sex without using contraception, or when you think your contraception might have failed, you can use emergency contraception if you don’t want to become pregnant. There are two methods of emergency contraception:

1. • Emergency Hormonal Contraception, sometimes called the ‘Morning After Pill’, and

2. • The copper IUD.

The sooner Emergency Hormonal Contraception is taken (preferably within 24 hours of the unprotected sex), the more likely it will work to prevent a pregnancy.