The practice nursing team runs appointments for both general nursing services and for specialised clinics.
Patients can make an appointment without seeing their doctor for minor injuries, general or
holiday immunisation or vaccination advice and for ear syringing.
Blood Pressure Checks
Patients are welcome to ask for the healthcare assistant to take their blood pressure. They are able to make an
appointment through the receptionist.
The normal levels for most ages is 140/90.
If it is found to be normal then a repeat blood pressure is normally not necessary for another three to five years unless your health or weight changes appreciably.
If it is raised then several more readings will need
to be taken to assess whether the first reading is raised because of anxiety.
Persistent levels more than 160/100 usually require long-term medication to reduce future risks of damage to the heart or brain.
Patients with other medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes will need treatment at lower levels.
The healthcare assistant will be able to refer you on to the doctor appropriately but may conduct other tests
to help the doctor make a decision about the treatment or measures necessary to try and bring your blood pressure down to normal levels.
(TOP)
Specialist Hypertension/Vascular Clinics
Recently developed to ensure regular monitoring of our patients with hypertension and vascular problems, these clinics operate on an annual call-up basis to ensure continuity of care. (TOP)
The Well Woman Clinic
Tuesday 1.30 pm – 5.30 pm by appointment
These cover coronary risk factors, cervical smears and family planning checks.
The practice nurse will be able to discuss any problems, check your blood pressure with any other relevant examination and advise you about health promotion.
A computerised recall system is in operation for cervical smears.
The practice runs a cervical smear screening clinic for adult women over the age of 24 up to the age of 65. The current system offers three yearly smears for 25 to 49 year olds and five yearly smears for 50 to 65 year olds. The results are forwarded on to women once the results have returned to the surgery. Some women will require more frequent smears due to previous medical problems or mild abnormalities with previous smears. These will be automatically offered.
Repeat prescriptions of
contraceptive pills and HRT can be obtained after a check up with the practice nurse every six months. (TOP)
Well Man Health Checks
These are performed by the practice nurse.
They cover coronary risk factors, assessment of stress, exercise and dietary factors - and in older
men assessment of symptoms suggestive of prostate trouble. The latter is important especially for those men over sixty years. (TOP)
Chiropody
Chiropody has now moved from Midway Surgery to St Albans City Hospital because of local funding changes brought by the Primary Care Trust. Patients who previously were
treated regularly at the surgery because of associated medical conditions such as diabetes will automatically be transferred for care at St. Albans City Hospital.
New patients may be referred by their doctor for care but
because of limited resources, it may not be possible for them to continue long term treatment unless they have medical reasons to do so. (TOP)
The Well Baby Clinic
This is held on Thursday afternoons
1.30 pm - 3.30 pm
It is run by the health visitors and practice nurses. This is
primarily for immunisations and to provide an opportunity to discuss any problems. (TOP)
Developmental Clinics
These are held on Thursday afternoons
1.40 pm - 3.20 pm
These clinics are run by the doctors and health visitors and invitations to attend will be sent at the appropriate times
during the first five years of the child's life.
There are nappy changing facilities provided in the main surgery. (TOP)
Minor Surgery Clinics
Facilities are available in the surgery for minor surgery for some skin conditions and certain joint injections.
Patients must see their doctor before a minor surgical operation is undertaken to discuss the procedure and any important features such as risk of scarring and recovery time.
We do not encourage patients or parents to ask for minor surgery to common warts or veruccas which are often generally painful to perform and best left alone especially in young children.
Cosmetic surgery is also regarded as low priority and we ask patients not to request valuable minor
surgical time to deal with skin tags or minor skin problems.
If you have any concerns about any existing or new skin mole we are keen to check this for you quickly. Definitely see one of our doctors if you develop a lump or patch on the skin which you are unsure about or if an existing mole changes its shape, border, colour or size. (TOP)
Counselling
The
practice retains the services of both Rosemary Gillam (counsellor) and John Hale (family therapist). Referral is made by discussing this with your doctor.
Your doctor will also have a list of private counsellors working outside the practice in St Albans. Please ask about this if you are interested although the private counsellors do charge a fee. (TOP)
Diabetic Clinics
Annual medical M.O.T. for diabetic patients whose other diabetic care
continues as usual during the year with their own doctor in normal surgery times.
Clinics are held twice monthly (usually on Tuesday mornings), jointly run by a doctor and practice nurse. A reminder will be sent.
Diabetes affects at least 2% of the UK population.
It is estimated that only 50% of diabetics are known and currently detected - since diabetes tends to cause few or no symptoms in especially older people or symptoms that they ignore and attribute to growing older or less healthy. Diabetes has serious complications leading to heart, eye, nerve and kidney damage if it remains undetected or poorly controlled and leads many diabetics to unnecessarily suffer from chronic ill health and disability.
Many cases are picked up by having a blood or urine test for other reasons whilst apparently 'well' - having a family history of diabetes (especially when it developed in old or middle age), a personal history of
diabetes developing temporarily during pregnancy, becoming overweight, or developing high blood pressure or hypertension are known risk factors.
Feelings of lethargy, weight loss, thirst, irritation of the genitals and
getting up at night to pass water are other possible signs.
A fasting blood test for blood glucose should be considered in any of the people listed above who are at increased risk every 1-2 years starting from the age of
forty or in anyone of any age with symptoms above. (TOP)
Dietetics
A dietitian holds clinics monthly on a Thursday afternoon (from 4.00 pm).
These are aimed mainly at patients with specific medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease who require careful planning and adherence
to diets to maintain and improve their health. (TOP)
Family Planning
The surgery
offers a comprehensive family planning service to its patients. All the doctors are able to provide both emergency and long-term contraceptive care to women including insertion of all types of intrauterine coils and
implants.
The Well Woman Nurse is also able to re-issue most forms of contraceptives as well as give general advice and follow up. (TOP)
Gynaecological/Fertility/Menopause Clinic
Dr Bartlett runs this clinic on a Tuesday afternoon by appointment. (TOP)
Maternity Services
All the doctors are happy to provide ante-natal care for their patients and will refer patients to any of the local hospitals for delivery.
Our community midwife also holds:-
Ante-natal Clinics
These are held in the surgery on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and appointments can be made through the receptionists.
The surgery has a 'maternity pack' or folder available for all newly pregnant women.
The pack explains tests that are available and facilities offered by all the local hospitals. Your doctor will give you the pack once your pregnancy is confirmed. (TOP)
Immunisations, Vaccinations & Travel Advice
The practice nurse is able to advise you
about both routine and recommended vaccinations for foreign travel. She will be able to advise you if new or booster vaccinations are necessary after looking at your immunisation records.
You should make sure you book
an appointment preferably a month in advance of your travel in case more than one vaccination has to be planned after an interval to provide full protection. Patients are warned that some specialised vaccinations are not
provided as part of the NHS services and may be relatively expensive, requiring a private prescription to be paid by the patient.
Prescriptions to prevent malaria where necessary are also not provided under the NHS
terms of service and these will be provided on a private prescription. You can also complete our online travel for by clicking here. (TOP)
Private Physiotherapists
A private physiotherapist is available at the surgery by appointment.
Ask at Reception for details. (TOP)
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