YOUR EXTENDED HEALTHCARE TEAM AT CHARLTON

You don’t always have to see your GP if you have a health concern. There are a number of other healthcare professionals working within our practice who may be better placed to give you the medical care you need. You can find out a bit more about these different roles and how they can help you below.   

When calling our GP practice, our receptionists may ask you a few details – but please don’t worry, they are not being nosey, and your information is strictly confidential. They just need a bit more information to get you the right help, from the right person.   

All of our healthcare professionals are experts in their field and we have a number of different roles working within our practice.

A variety of clinical staff with different areas of expertise are available here. Through a range of health, social care and other community services, our staff focus on keeping people well and independent; delivering the right care at home or in the community to prevent unnecessary hospital care.   

These groups of staff bring together general practice, pharmacy, social work, physiotherapy, mental health, district nursing and health visiting. This enables the expertise and skills of different professionals to assess, plan and manage the care of patients.  

Extended healthcare teams allow GPs to utilise their time more effectively. By ensuring that patients see the most appropriate professional within the primary care setting, GPs can focus on those patients who most urgently require their care. Your practice reception team will help guide you to the most appropriate care as soon as possible when booking an appointment.  

Here we have listed the roles now available at our GP practice, which means you don’t always need to see a doctor.    

1) General Practice Nurses

 General Practice Nurses work in GP surgeries as part of the primary healthcare team. The role of a Practice Nurse is very varied and may include:  

• Carrying out examinations, investigatory and therapeutic procedures 
• Blood tests 
• Electrocardiograms (ECGs) 
• Minor and complex wound care including leg ulcers 
• Providing travel health advice and vaccinations as well as child immunisations and advice 
• Family planning and women’s health including cervical smears 
• Men’s health screening 
• Sexual health services 
• Healthy lifestyle advice 
• Screening and helping patients to manage long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma 

2) Healthcare Assistants (HCAs)

Healthcare Assistants are trained to undertake specific clinical procedures including:

• Taking blood pressure readings 
• New patient checks 
• Health promotion 
• NHS health checks 
• Urine tests 
• Weight and height recording 
• Blood tests 
• Certain immunisations and injections 
• Ordering supplies 
• Assisting with minor surgery procedures 
• Sterilising equipment 
• Wound care and assessment of leg circulation (Doppler test) 
   

3) Social Prescriber

A social prescriber can help with any social need that’s affecting your wellbeing. They will listen to what matters to you, and help you find the support they need.   

They can connect you to local services, groups and activities, putting you back in control of your health and happiness.   
 

CLINICS AND SERVICES

In addition to GP consultations the practice adheres to the General Medical Services Contract for the provision of healthcare services:

Essential Services

• Asthma
• COPD
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes

Additional Services

• Cervical smears
• Contraceptive services
• Child health surveillance
• Maternity Services
• Minor surgery
• Vaccinations and immunisations.

TRAVEL VACCINATIONS

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to book a telephone appointment with one of our practice nurse to discuss your travel advice and possible vaccinations.  If two or more family members are travelling please ask for a double appointment.  It is important to make this initial telephone appointment as early as possible - ideally 6-8 weeks before you travel, as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations.   

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

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

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday. To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)

Yellow Fever

This practice is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. If you are not registered with us you can still have your Yellow Fever Vaccination here. Contact reception on 01951 620138 to make an appointment. There is a fee of £80 which is payable in advance at least 48hrs before your appointment.

Yellow Fever Map Africa

Yellow Fever Map South America

NHS HEALTH CHECK

NHS Health Checks are being offered free to people aged between 40 and 74 once every 5 years. The check is to assess your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. You will have a finger prick blood test to check your cholesterol and glucose level - the result is available immediately. You are able to eat and drink as normal before this test.

You do not need an NHS Health Check if you are already on medication for high blood pressure or high cholesterol.   You do not need an NHS Health Check if you have any of the following conditions - heart attack, angina, stroke, or diabetes.

Contact reception now to check your eligibilty and book your appointment.

SPIROMETRY

If you have ever smoked for more than 20 years we recommend you have a spirometry test. Spirometry is a special breathing test to test your lungs. The test takes about 15 minutes, and is carried out by our Health Care Assistant. Please book an appointment if you have not had this test and have EVER smoked for 20 years or more. About 1 in 5 smokers develop a lung problem called COPD, and it is important to be diagnosed as early as possible. By the time a smoker develops symptoms of COPD often over 50% of lung function has already been permanently lost.

BOWEL CANCER SCREENING

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69. People in this age group will automatically be sent an invitation, then their screening kit, so they can do the test at home. After your first screening test, you will be sent another invitation and screening kit every two years until you reach 69. If you are aged 70 or over, you can request a screening kit by calling 08007076060. 

PSA TESTING FOR PROSTATE CANCER

The practice does not recommend PSA blood test in men who have no significant waterwork symptoms.

If you are uncertain whether you have significant waterwork symptoms then please work out your IPSS score.  If your score is 7 or less, then you do NOT have significant waterwork symptoms. Please be aware that if your IPSS score is 8 or more, this is still much more likely to be to due to benign enlargement of the prostate rather than due to prostate cancer, but it is best to make an appointment with either Dr Wood, Dr Sharp or Dr O'Toole for further assessment. If possible, please bring a print-out of your IPSS score sheet and a fresh urine sample. Please be aware that you are likely to need a rectal examination to assess the size of your prostate gland. The good news is that most men with prostate problems can now be managed in the practice without having to be referred to hospital.

For more detailed information on PSA testing please read the following links.

www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/prostate/prostate-patient-info-sheet.pdf

www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/prostate/index.html

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem in men, especially men over the age of 40. Please make an appointment with a GP if the problem persists for more than 1 month. Erectile dysfunction is treatable and can be a sign of an underlying problem such as low testosterone, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes. So please do NOT ignore it as these conditions can lead to other health problems if not treated. It may help you to discuss the problem with a GP by completing the erectile dysfunction score sheet on the link below and printing it out to bring to the consultation.

Erectile Dysfunction score sheet

AAA SCREENING

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from the heart down through the chest and abdomen. An AAA can be dangerous if not detected early. It can get bigger over time and could burst (rupture), causing life-threatening bleeding. Men aged 65 and over are most at risk of AAA’s. This is why men are invited for screening to check for an AAA when they are in their 65^th year.  

More information about AAA Screening in Shropshire can be found on the hospital website https://www.sath.nhs.uk/wards-services/az-services/aaa-screening/

If you are a man over 65 and you haven’t been screened before, you can ask for a test by contacting your local AAA Screening team on 01743 261048 or by email sath.aaa@nhs.net.

NHS HEALTH CHECK

NHS Health Checks are being offered free to people aged between 40 and 74 once every 5 years. The check is to assess your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes. The check is based on straightforward questions and measurements such as age, sex, family history, height, weight and blood pressure. There will also be a blood test (finger prick) to measure your cholesterol level. You will not need this check if you have ever been diagnosed with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke,kidney problems or any sort of heart problems. Contact reception now to check your eligibilty and book your appointment.

SPIROMETRY

If you have ever smoked for more than 20 years we recommend you have a spirometry test. Spirometry is a special breathing test to test your lungs. The test takes about 15 minutes, and is carried out by our Health Care Assistant- please book an appointment if you have not had this test and have EVER smoked for 20 years or more. About 1 in 5 smokers develop a lung problem called COPD, and it is important to be diagnosed as early as possible. By the time a smoker develops symptoms of COPD often over 50% of lung function has already been permanently lost.

BOWEL CANCER SCREENING

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69. People in this age group will automatically be sent an invitation, then their screening kit, so they can do the test at home. After your first screening test, you will be sent another invitation and screening kit every two years until you reach 69. If you are aged 70 or over, you can ask for a screening kit by calling the Freephone number

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Any female over the age of 65 may be screened for Osteoporosis here at the surgery. The screening is available by appointment with our Health Care Assistant bookable at reception. Before attending your appointment you will be asked to complete a questionniare to pass to the Health Care Assistant. This will ask for your height & weight and blood pressure which you can take at our self help area at the surgery. The questionniare is available from reception or you can download it from the link below. Please contact reception to make an appointment.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors Questionnaire

CERVICAL SCREENING

It is recommended that women undergo Cervical Smear Screening every 3 years from age 25-49 and every 5 years from age 50-65. The Health Authority will contact you to let you know when you are due. You may make an appointment with one of our Nurses at the surgery, or if you prefer you may attend the S.A.F.E Clinic (Family Planning).

BREAST SCREENING

Women aged 50-70 will be invited for breast screening every 3 years by the Health Authority.

NON-NHS SERVICES

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV, Taxi etc.)
• Insurance claim forms 
• Private sick notes
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Vaccination certificates
• Holiday Cancellation Insurance Certificate
• Any letters at patients request

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

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