Additional Healthcare Practitioner Clinics

We host clinics throughout the year run by the AAA screening service. This is for men 65 and over.  If you have not been contacted and would like to be screened, please call 01823 344567 for the booking hub.

Learn more about abdominal aortic aneurysm on the NHS website

Our patients have access to a wide variety of additional healthcare practitioners employed by our Primary Care Network. They run clinics at all five practices in the network, including the RCMG practices. These are new roles and may be offered to you as a more appropriate service for your area of need, instead of a nurse or GP. The new services and staff roles support people in a variety of ways.

Learn more about the roles and what they offer

Asthma sufferers can attend this clinic for advice and support from our Respiratory Nurses who specialise in asthma care.

If you are asked to monitor your blood pressure over a particular period and you do not have a BP monitor at home, we are able to loan these out to you for up to 8 days with a refundable cash deposit of £20. The healthcare team will advise you how to do this.

If you wish to purchase a BP monitor, please speak to your local community pharmacy.

If one of our clinicians have asked you to have your blood taken, or you need a blood test for a review appointment, our Phlebotomists and Healthcare Assistants hold clinics all day throughout the week, Monday to Thursday and on Friday mornings.

Blood Test Requested by a Hospital

We are often asked by secondary care (usually in Hospitals) to undertake blood tests on behalf of consultants, outpatient departments and wards. This is something we are happy to do as it is easier for our patients and reduces unnecessary travel. However, we are only able to undertake these blood tests under certain conditions, which are in the Community Phlebotomy Local Enhanced Service, agreed between local acute Trusts and, therefore, essential.

There are 2 things that must be in place before we can take your blood for other care providers.

1. Each patient must be responsible for making the blood test appointment requested by secondary care. We cannot do this on your behalf.
2. Each patient must come to the appointment with the appropriate 'form' or printed labels provided by secondary care. This ensures the correct tests are done and ensures the results go back to the right place – the person who has requested it. This is important for on-going patient care and to remove any delay in follow-up. 

If you need to request a form or labels, the RDUH Community Phlebotomy Service can be contacted on 01395 519922.

INR* Blood Tests

Our Healthcare Assistants run regular INR* clinics for anticoagulation therapy. You will be advised when to rebook after each appointment and given your dosing either immediately or after a clinician has advised.

Cervical screening, which used to be called a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.

Dedicated appointments are available throughout the week at all sites and in clinics run by our teams of very experienced nurses. Please await a letter from the screening service before you ring to book.

Learn more about cervical screening on the NHS website

Babies are invited to attend clinics to receive their childhood immunisations when these fall due. Please bring your child's red book with you when you attend.

Learn more about childhood immunisation on the NHS website

Led by our Respiratory Nurses, this clinic provides advice, support and health monitoring for patients diagnosed with a respiratory disease. 

If you are taking the contraceptive pill, you will be invited in for a pill check at least once a year, sometimes twice a year, and more frequently if you have recently changed your pill.

This will be a face-to-face appointment with a Practice Nurse to take your blood pressure, check your weight and talk through any concerns you may have. Our Practice Nurse will then arrange for a prescription to be authorised.

Our nurses do not provide the supply of pills, but ask one of the clinicians to do that on your behalf, having checked all the necessary medical safety measures. Please factor this in when needing to have an additional supply. Ideally, book a pill check when you start your last packet.

Learn more about combined pill on the NHS website

Patients with CHD or CKD can attend clinics for advice, support and health monitoring from our Healthcare Assistants.

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Learn more about COVID-19 vaccinations on the NHS website

Led by our HCAs and Diabetic Nurses, this clinic offers advice and general health check-ups to patients diagnosed with diabetes.

Find local and national support for diabetes

Diabetic Retinopathy - Eye Screening

Although we host diabetic retinopathy clinics at our surgeries from time to time, we do not arrange the appointment bookings. If you have a query about a diabetic retinopathy appointment and/or wish to rebook or cancel one, please call the Diabetic Eye Screening Service on 01392 403864 or 01392 403820.

General dietary advice by experienced and qualified Health Care Assistants (HCAs) and nurses is available. Speak to the practice nurses for more information.

If you have a Long Term Condition you can also speak to our PCN Health & Wellbeing Coach. Contact your normal surgery for details and to book an appointment.

Dressings

If you need a dressing to be changed, you will be booked in with a Practice Nurse. Appointments are usually 20 minutes long, but may be longer if required.

Stitches/ Clip Removal

If you need to have stitches or clips removed after surgery or injury, please book in with one of our Practice Nurses as soon as you have been advised of the timescale. If you are having clips removed, please bring the removal gadget with you for the appointment. Appointment duration depends on the number of stitches/clips needing removal and their complexity. 

Our nursing team are able to check your ears for wax, or irritation but are no longer able to offer ear syringing or microsuction. If necessary, you may be asked to make a further booking with one of the On The Day Team or a GP.    

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Learn more about flu vaccinations on the NHS website

Patients who have been identified as having problems with their blood pressure will be reviewed by our Healthcare Assistants. You may be asked to bring in blood pressure readings ahead of an appointment.

NHS Health Checks can be booked in with one of our Healthcare Assistants. The appointments usually last up to 20 minutes and are for anyone aged 40 to 75.

Learn more about health checks on the NHS website

To ensure continued patient care whilst monitoring long-term conditions, we will invite you in for your regular reviews in the following way:

• We will be texting (SMS messaging) patients to invite them to their annual review.
• We will be using the GP online system for Asthma Reviews, and this will be rolled out to COPD and Diabetic reviews.
• We will ask for home Blood Pressure reading and other measurements from home (eg pulse oxygen level, temp), where/if possible.
• We will be using video appointments (using a smartphone) as well as telephone appointments for patients, reducing the need for patients to attend the practice, unless it is required.
• Patients will need a blood test for their annual review. Depending on the results, they will be invited in for either an appointment at the practice or have a further appointment over the telephone to discuss results and plan further care.

Please ensure your telephone number is up-to-date. You can change this directly using our online services or NHS App, or alternatively by sending in a note to your surgery if your number has changed. It is very important to keep this information up-to-date.

Our Healthcare Assistants are able to provide smoking cessation advice to patients. They can arrange with a GP to provide nicotine replacement therapy medications at a later date, if these are required or appropriate.  

This clinic is run by our Healthcare Assistants, who in liaison with the district nursing team and GPs provide support and health monitoring for those patients who have suffered a stroke.