Clinics & Services

In addition to general medical consultations we are pleased to be able to provide specialist clinics and services covering the following areas:

Anticoagulation - clinic held twice weekly for any patients requiring regular INR checks. The clinic is run by Sister Maureen Lewis. Please ask at reception for more details.

Asthma/COPD clinic - run by Sister Maureen Lewis. 

Diabetic clinic - Dr Wells and Sister Anna Halfpenny hold weekly clinics for all non-insulin diabetics.  Dr Lee also holds weekly clinics for all insulin diabetics. We aim to review most of our diabetic patients in the practice reducing the need for them to attend the hospital.  If you would like more information please ask at reception.

Coronary heart disease /stroke clinic - this clinic is run by Sister Maureen Lewis.  Patients will be contacted annually to attend.  If you wish to attend more frequently please make an appointment.

Child health clinic - weekly clinics are run by Dr Giles and Dr Magara.

Well Woman clinic - run by Sister Maureen Lewis. Appointments can be made for cervical smears, to discuss hormone replacement therapy, and for general health checks.

Well Man clinic - by appointment with our practice nurses.

Family Planning clinic - with Sister Maureen Lewis. Services include pill checks, Depo-Provera plus reviews, high vaginal swabs and chlamydia screens. She also issues Levonelle for emergency contraception and carries out coil checks (six weeks post insertion and annual reviews). Dr Locke also offers a service providing long acting contraception including coils and implants.

Cryotherapy clinic - monthly clinic for the treatment of warts, small skin tags and verrucas using liquid nitrogen. This treatment is not recommended for children under 12 years. Please see a doctor first for referral to this clinic.

Weight management  - advice and support from our nurses.

Contraception - confidential service provided by all the partners on all methods including emergency contraception. Teenagers are welcome.

Cervical smears - by appointment with a practice nurse.

Travel vaccinations - our nurses offer a full advisory service for those travelling abroad.

Minor surgery - please consult a doctor about any moles, lumps or bumps that concern you, as these may be suitable for removal at the surgery.

Flu vaccination recommended for everyone over 65 years of age, pregnant patients and for patients with chronic medical conditions.  We also offer this service to 2,3 and 4 year old children.

Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel please ask for a Travel Questionnaire at reception.  The ifnromation we reuqire prior to your appointment includes which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required. You will be contacted by the surgery to make an appointment once the practice nurse has received your completed questionnaire.

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

It is important that you complete your travel questionnaire as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - to enable you to receive all teh vacciniation you may require.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.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.  The nurse will contact you once she has received the questionnaire to book an appointment.

Travel Questionnaire

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)

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided fall outside the scope of the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms

• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates
• Housing letters 

Our reception staff will be happy to advise you about  applicable charges.

Respiratory clinic

The respiratory clinic is run by Sister Lewis. 

The purpose of the clinic is to regularly review our asthma and COPD patients so that, as far as possible, we can prevent serious asthma attacks.  We encourage any patient who is receiving medication for asthma or COPD to attend the clinic.

ASTHMA

What can I do to help myself?

Keep taking medication as prescribed

Stop smoking for more information and help to stop smoking go to www.nhs.uk/smokefree

Eat a healthy diet

Exercise regularly

Have regular reviews with Doctor/nurse to continually update your management plan.

Have a Flu jab every year (if you are on a steroid inhaler)

Book an appointment with a Doctor or Respiratory Nurse if you feel that your Asthma is not controlled or that you have an infection.

Signs that your Asthma is not controlled

Symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness

Symptoms at night that disturb sleep

Symptoms that make everyday activities more difficult

Using reliever inhaler more often than usual

Peak flow is below normal predicted range

Signs the worsening might be due to an infection

Coughing up more mucus than normal or different coloured mucus

High temperature, fever or chills

Feeling tired or weak

Sore throat or pain on swallowing

Blocked nose, pressure in sinuses or headache

Signs of an Emergency

Using reliever a lot

Reliever isn’t helping

Difficulty in breathing

Not able to talk in full sentences

Symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, cough are worse than normal

Peak flow reading is less than half your normal reading 

What to do in Asthma attack

1 Take 2 puffs of reliever inhaler

2 Sit down, try to relax and take slow deep breaths

3 If you don’t feel better take 2 puffs of you reliever every 2 minutes; you can take up to 10 puffs

4 If no better call 999 immediately, if the ambulance isn’t there in 10 minutes, take 2 puffs of your reliever again, up to 10 puffs.

5 If you feel better and don’t need to go to A&E you should still see your GP or Nurse in the same day.

6 If you have been prescribed prednisolone tablets (steroids) to keep at home then take as instructed by Doctor/Nurse.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for people with chronic bronchitis, Emphysema or both. 

What can I do to help myself?

Have regular reviews with Doctor/nurse to continually update your management plan

Keep taking medication as prescribed

Stop smoking for more information and help to stop smoking go to www.nhs.uk/smokefree

Eat a healthy diet

Exercise regularly

Have a Flu jab every year

Have a Pneumonia vaccination. This is a one off injection and not yearly like the Flu jab.

Signs that COPD is worsening

Coughing up more mucus than normal or different coloured mucus

Shortness of breath, that is worse than normal.

Book an appointment with a Doctor or Respiratory Nurse if you feel that your COPD is getting worse or that you have an infection.

CHD clinic

The CHD clinic is run by Sister Maureen Lewis.  We run a Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) for patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease, for example those patients who have suffered a heart attack or experience angina, patients that have had a stroke, and also patients with hypertension.

Your GP will refer you to the CHD Clinic or you will receive a letter direct from the practice. We can help you manage your cardiovascular disease, support you with lifestyle changes, screen for complications and make changes to treatment where necessary. 

Redditch Hale and Hearties Coronary Support Group

For patients that have been diagnosed with a heart condition, Redditch Hale and Hearties Coronary Support Group is also available to help – see details below: 

 We are here to provide support for people who have a heart condition, support is available for both patient and their partner or carer.

Membership is free and all are welcome at our monthly meetings.

Our Website will give you an insight of who we are, what we do, and when we do it.

www.redditchhaleandhearties.org.uk

If you cannot find the information you are looking for on the website, regarding the club, please contact:

Denise Winters

Redditch Hale and Hearties
332 Lickey Road
Rednal
Birmingham
B45 8RY
0121 460 1049

Alternatively Patrick Moran - 07930 348768

Diabetes clinic

Dr Wells and Sister Anna Halfpenny hold weekly clinics for all non-insulin diabetics.  Dr Lee also holds weekly clinics for all insulin diabetics. The doctor or nurse will usually ask you to make an appointment every 6 months for a review of your diabetes. They can help you manage your diabetes, support you with lifestyle changes, screen for complications and make changes to treatment where necessary.   

 Just been diagnosed with Diabetes? Lots of Questions?

 If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes we will invite you to attend an appointment in our diabetes clinic From here we will help you manage your diabetes and invite you to attend an education session called ‘First steps’. This is a 2 ½ hour session and covers important information that will help you manage your diabetes, including advice about diet, exercise, medication and what your blood results mean. Having this knowledge about your diabetes can really help you to manage it successfully, so we would encourage you to attend.

 The ‘First Steps’ sessions are run on various days and times across Redditch and Bromsgrove, so that you can attend one that suits you. You can also take along a relative or friend. The CHD nurse will explain this in more detail at your appointment.

 Following ‘First Steps’, you will be able to access further education about your diabetes, including a 6 week course (Xpert Diabetes), an online education programme (Map My Diabetes), or you may be happy to find out more about your diabetes by yourself.

 You will, of course, have support and information from the practice throughout.

 MAP MY DIABETES

Have you heard about the free new online programme for Diabetes across Worcestershire, called Map My Diabetes?

 You can access current information about diabetes, including advice about diet, exercise, medication and much more. You can also monitor your own diabetes health results with this interactive diabetes programme.

To register for an account we need only your name and email address – please call in at reception to complete a form and we will do the rest.

Do you Have Pre-Diabetes?

The World Health Organisation recommends that an HbA1c blood test level of 42−47 mmol/mol places you in the pre-diabetes range and indicates a high risk of diabetes in the future, with an HbA1c value of 48 mmol/mol or above being the blood level for diagnosing diabetes.

 Between 1 and 3 out of every 4 people with pre-diabetes will develop diabetes within ten years. It is thought that having pre-diabetes also increases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems (problems with your circulation such as heart disease and stroke).

 How Is Pre-Diabetes Treated?

There is increasing evidence that if pre-diabetes is treated, the progression to diabetes can be prevented. Also, it may be possible to prevent cardiovascular disease from developing. So, it is important to know if you have pre-diabetes and to treat it in order to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease

 The most effective treatment is improvements in lifestyle such as:

o    Eating a healthy balanced diet.

o    Losing weight if you are overweight

o    Do some physical activity regularly.  (For more advice online please visit www.nhs.co/livewell and look at the Eatwell Plate.) 

There are also other lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce your cardiovascular disease risk. These include stopping smoking if you are a smoker, ensuring that you stick to the recommended alcohol intake. Also, make sure that your blood pressure stays within the normal range. Have your blood pressure checked regularly with your practice nurse. Also, discuss with your doctor or practice nurse to see if you need a cholesterol check and/or treatment to lower your cholesterol level.

It is also very important to have a regular blood test to recheck your blood glucose level in case you develop diabetes. The frequency of the blood test will vary, but a HbA1c blood test once a year is usually recommended.

 We can now also offer you a place on the free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in Redditch and Bromsgrove.

 The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in Redditch and Bromsgrove will help you take control of your health, supporting you to make changes to your diet, weight and the amount of exercise you do. Taking this kind of action now is very important as it can reduce your risk of, or even stop you, developing Type 2 diabetes.

 Are you eligible to join the programme?

 You can join the Healthier You programme if you are:

o    Aged 18 years and over

o    Registered with a GP Practice within Worcestershire

o    HbA1c between 42-47 mmol/mol (6.0-6.4%) or Fasting Plasma Glucose between 5.5-6.9 mmols/I within the last 12 months

o    Not pregnant

o    Able to take part in light/moderate physical activity

Key Features of the Programme:  

o    Highly skilled health and wellbeing coaches trained to guide and encourage you

o    Mixture of one-to-one and group sessions

o    Access to a national programme that uses the latest research evidence

o    Solve problems that get in the way of making healthy changes

o    Learn how healthy eating and physical activity can help reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes

o    Free attendance 

 Spaces on the programme are limited so we ask you to only join if you can commit to attend:

o     One to one initial assessment, lasting one hour

o    Ten weekly group sessions that include healthy lifestyle advice and physical activity(two hours each session)

o    Four monthly group sessions that include strategies to help you maintain your lifestyle changes.

o    Three one-to-one progress review sessions lasting an hour at three, six and nine months

 Sessions are held at various locations throughout Redditch and Bromsgrove with times to suit you, including during the day, evenings and weekends. So you’re sure to find a group convenient for you.

Find Local Services In Your Area

Enter all or part of your postcode in the box below and click one of the buttons to find those services that are local to you.