Services

The following clinics and services are available at the surgery

Minor surgery (such as the removal of skin tags & cysts)
Blood tests
Infant and adult immunisation
Travel immunisation
Cervical smears
Dressings
Ear irrigation
Asthma care
Diabetic care
Management of heart disease
Family planning (including IUD fitting & Implanon) and sexual health advice
Advice on how to stop smoking
We also monitor various conditions including blood pressure, contraception and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Blood Tests

tests_and_results From 1st June 2010 the Royal South Hants (RSH) will no longer provide a service for blood testing.

You can make an appointment at St Mary's Surgery or Telephone House Surgery any weekday morning for a blood test.

Please ask at reception.

Travel Vaccinations

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 not included in the services provided by the NHS - if necessary, we will advise you of the nearest travel clinic that will provide these vaccines for you.

Health Visiting Team

The health visitors are qualified nurses who specialise in child and family health. They work in the surgery, attend family homes and have routine child health clinics for under 5 year olds.They are supported by a nursery nurses and can give advice on health matters such as childrens' sleep, behaviour, toileting and diet.

Direct telephone number/ answer machine: 02380 634672

Drop in clinics

Child health clinics - no need for an appointment

Monday SureStart Clovelly Road 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Monday Northam Community Centre 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Tuesday St Mary's Surgery 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Thursday Nicholstown Surgery RSH 10:00 - 11:00 am

Thursday Orchard Lane Church 1:30 - 2:45 pm

First Thursday of each month at Orchard Lane Church Hall is Baby Cafe between 12:15 and 1:15 pm. This is a weaning support session for parents that need help with weaning their child.

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

Sickness Certificates 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)

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Please find below a recording sheet for you to make a note of your blood pressure readings. Home readings are now considered to be the most reliable way of checking blood pressure. A one off reading done by your doctor or nurse is less reliable than a series of readings done when you are calm at home.

To do this you will need to provide 4 readings a day (2 in the morning and 2 in the evening) over a 7 day period. Once you have completed this, please return the sheet to the surgery, where the readings will be averaged and reviewed by the doctor.

You can record your blood pressure readings by either purchasing a monitoring device from any pharmacy or attending the surgery and using the machines in the waiting areas. Some pharmacies will also offer blood pressure checks.

Alternatively you can use the eConsult app on your iphone (download from the app store), or the eConsult website to record and submit your blood pressure readings. For more information go to https://stmaryssurgerysouth.webgp.com/ and from the list of conditions choose the Hypertension review under the “long term conditions” heading.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact the surgery and the receptionist will be pleased to make you a routine appointment with any of the doctors.

High Blood Pressure Monitoring Sheet