Clinics and Services
Child Health
We offer your child a routine physical examination by the Doctor at birth and at 6-8 weeks old. Other developmental checks are done by the Health Visitor. Please remember to bring your child’s personal health record book for your appointments at the Surgery.
Cervical Smears
We recommend that all women have regular smear tests. It could save your life – cervical cancer still kills around 900 women a year.
- 25-49 year olds are offered a smear every 3 years
- 50-65 year olds are offered a smear every 5 years
The local screening service will write to you telling you when your smear is due. Please contact the Surgery to make an appointment with our Practice Nurse, who will perform your smear for you.
The local screening service will write to you with the result of your smear, usually within 8-12 weeks. If you do not receive your result or have any queries please contact the Surgery. If you have an abnormal smear and require colposcopy, the Hospital or Surgery will contact you.
Contraception
A full family planning service is available, including coil and cap fitting. We also have clinicians trained to insert Nexplanon contraceptive implants. If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a contraceptive pill review please use our online form.
Emergency Contraception
Emergency Contraception (the morning after pill) – is effective up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, but is best taken as soon as possible; so please ask the Receptionist for an emergency appointment. A GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner will be able to see you for this. You can also purchase the morning after pill from a Pharmacist without arranging an appointment.
Maternity
Women planning a pregnancy are advised to take supplements containing 0.4mg folic acid (available from the Pharmacist) from the time of stopping contraception until 12 weeks into the pregnancy.
You can now self-refer to the Colchester General Hospital Maternity Services. You can do this online by visiting the Colchester Hospital website (Colchester Hospital Maternity) or by telephoning the booking line on 07554 228 297.
You are welcome to make a brief appointment with the Doctor as soon as you know you are pregnant in order to discuss any concerns you have. At this appointment your first ultrasound scan can be arranged.
Around 8-10 weeks after the start of your last period you should have a “booking ante-natal appointment” with the Midwife. This takes about 30 minutes.
We hold a midwife clinic at West Bergholt Surgery on a Wednesday afternoon every other week. We do not have a visiting midwife at our Nayland surgery – your antenatal care will be managed by your GP.
Physiotherapy and Chiropody
You can self-refer to a Physiotherapist via Anglian Community Enterprise Care Closer to Home.
Chronic Disease Clinics
We hold designated Nurse-led clinics for:
- Diabetes
- Asthma – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit an annual review of your asthma symptoms please use our online form.
- Warfarin Management
- Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
- Cardio-Vascular Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Practice Nurse
The Practice Nurses are available for consultation every weekday morning and some afternoons at each Surgery.
They can advise on:
- Breast Awareness
- General Health Promotion
- Contraception
- Sexual Health Care
- Family Planning
- Minor Illnesses
They can perform:
- Dressings of wounds and leg ulcers
- Immunisations Stitch Removal
- Cervical Smears
Designated clinics for Diabetes, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Warfarin Management are run by the Practice Nurses at each Surgery.
Health Care Assistant
Health Care Assistants are available to offer the following services:
- Take blood samples
- Check blood pressure – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit your blood pressure readings on a regular basis please use our online form.
- Perform ECG’s
- Check weight, height, BMI
- Administer Influenza, Pneumonia and B12 injections
- Perform ear syringing
- Smoking Cessation Advice -If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a smoking review on a regular basis please use our online form.
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists are available to take blood samples across both sites. Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment.
Travel Health Clinics
Visit our online Travel Room to access our online forms and information. Travel Health Clinics are regularly held at our West Bergholt Surgery. You may be able to have some of the NHS vaccinations at your local Surgery.
Please plan in advance – we cannot guarantee to offer you a last minute appointment.
It is advisable that you attend the Travel Clinic at least 6 weeks in advance of travelling.
If you are travelling to a few exotic destinations you may require several courses of vaccinations which have to be given over a 4-6 week period.