CLINICS/SERVICES

WHO SHOULD I SEE?

The Practice Nurse

• Travel advice and vaccinations
• Asthma and diabetic patient reviews
• Blood pressure checks and advice
• Management of common ailments
• 'Lifestyle' advice/plans: diet, weight, smoking, stress, exercise etc
• 'Well Woman' services: cervical smears, contraception advice, including emergency
contraception
• Heart management (angina/post heart attack/heart surgery)

The Treatment Room Nurse

• Cuts and wound dressing
• Minor injury treatment
• Wound suturing (stitching) and stitch removal
• Injections - eg tetanus, vitamin B12 (neocytamen)
• Blood samples for routine blood tests
• Ear syringing
• ECGs (on referral from patient's GP)

If you are unsure who you should see please ask at reception.

Acupuncture

We offer our patients the choice of alternative therapy in the form of acupuncture. Dr Rother is trained in the use of acupuncture for muscular problems. Please discuss with the doctor if you think your condition might benefit from acupuncture. Arrangements are made following assessment by your doctor at an appointment with Dr Rother.

Antenatal

All doctors in the practice carry out antenatal care, in conjunction with a midwife. A consultant from SMMP holds a monthly antenatal clinic at Bonnyrigg Health Centre, for patients requiring specialist attention, though patients remain eligible to attend other maternity units if they wish. Either the doctor or midwife can offer prenatal advice.

Our community midwives hold clinics at both Bonnyrigg and Loanhead. Midwives, health visitors and physiotherapists run parentcraft classes at Bonnyrigg and Loanhead.

Child Development Clinics

Bonnyrigg (fortnightly)
Dr Dyson/Dr Smith and health visitor
Thursday 2.15 - 4.15pm

Loanhead (weekly)
Dr T Dickson and health visitor
Thursday 9.00 - 11.00am

Childhood Immunisations

Bonnyrigg
Health visitor Thursday afternoon

Loanhead
Health visitor Wednesday morning

Warts/Verrucae

This clinic is run by Sister Buchanan in Bonnyrigg, but may also be attended by Loanhead patients. Patients requiring to be seen at our monthly wart clinic will be referred by a doctor or nurse only after the use of recommended treatment at home has been unsuccessful.

Respiratory Clinic

Patients with a diagnosis of asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as chronic bronchitis) are invited to attend one of the clinics run by our specialist nurses in both Bonnyrigg and Loanhead surgeries. We aim to invite everyone on our register for a review twice yearly and undertake a full respiratory check-up including medication review at each appointment.

Diabetic Clinic

Diabetic patients who are not on insulin are invited to attend one of the clinics run by our practice nurses in Bonnyrigg and Sister Sprott in Loanhead. We aim to see everyone twice a year for a full diabetic check, medication review and annual foot screening. Specialist ophthalmologists undertake diabetic eye screening locally. In certain circumstances, patients may be eligible for a shared care arrangement between the hospital and the practice.

Hypertension Clinic

High blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. The practice offers a clinic for patients receiving treatment for blood pressure to monitor their condition on a regular basis. The nursing team run these clinics in partnership with GPs and offer lifestyle advice in tandem with any necessary medicines management. Access to the clinic is either by invitation or patients can self refer for a routine check-up, by making an appointment with the receptionist. High blood pressure rarely has symptoms so it is important to be aware and 'know your numbers'.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

A clinic for the secondary prevention of CHD is offered in the practice for all patients who have experienced heart attack, angina, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting. The aim of the clinic is to support rehabilitation, monitor patients' general health and well-being, and ensure any prescribed medication continues to be appropriate. The clinic is nurse-run by members of the nursing team who have received extensive training in this area, and are appropriately qualified to initiate or adjust medication as required. This clinic is by invitation only. However, if you feel you have some issues you would like to discuss, our receptionist will be happy to book an appointment for you.

Minor Surgery

Some doctors carry out minor surgical procedures.

Please arrange an appointment for discussion of the problem.

Travel Immunisations

If you require advice on any travel vaccines please firstly collect a Travel Vaccine Form from the reception area. This will be given to one of our practice nurses to enable her to advise you on any vaccines required. An appointment will then be made for you with one of our practice nurses.

Flu Vaccination/Pneumovac

Influenza immunisation is particularly recommended for patients with heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes and residents of nursing homes or patients aged 65 and over.

Please contact reception staff in September for details. If you are unable to attend the surgery a home visit can be arranged.

Stop Smoking Clinics

Smoking advice is offered by GPs and practice nurses, and referrals can be made to specialist clinics run in the locality.

Family Planning

All doctors and nurses see patients during normal consultation hours. Either the doctor or nurse can deal with emergency contraception issues.

Well Woman Clinics

These are clinics at which cervical screening is carried out; they are held at various times with the practice nurse. General advice can be given on all aspects of health and lifestyle issues by making an appointment with one of our practice nurse team.

Complementary Therapists

A number of services aromatherapy and reflexology are available (prices will vary). Patients can make an appointment with our receptionists. Gift vouchers are also available.

Non NHS Examinations

Some of the doctors are happy to carry out medicals, eg for insurance, HGV employment etc. Details of charges are available at reception.

Yellow Fever Vaccination Clinic

If you have stopped in, or plan to visit a country where Yellow Fever exists, you may be refused entry without proof of vaccination (continents this applies to are parts of Central and South America and South Africa).The travel clinic nurse can advise on this. If vaccination is required, the vaccination can be administered at the travel clinic along with an international certificate of vaccination issued for a private fee.

Nurse Led Minor Illness Clinic

Our highly trained practice nurses offer a number of appointments each day to deal with minor illnesses.

These include:

• Coughs
• Colds
• Sore throats
• Urine infections
• Asthma
• Emergency contraception
• Other minor illnesses

You will be able to book an appointment for the Minor Illness Clinic either on the day or on the afternoon before. Our nurses are trained to assess your problem, give advice, and arrange any prescriptions that may be required.

Important
The minor illness clinic runs for the benefit of patients to enable them to be seen as quickly as possible and by the most appropriate person. But the choice is yours and you can still make an appointment with a doctor if you want to.

Practice Nurse Appointments

The practice employs highly trained nurses to deal with a range of medical concerns.
Sometimes it is better to see a nurse than a doctor as the former may have more experience in dealing with your concern.
Some of the medical treatments and services for which you can see our nurses are:

* New patient and Over 75s medicals
* Travel advice and vaccinations
* Asthma and COPD management
* Blood pressure checks and advice
* Initial investigations for urinary infections
* Cervical smears
* Contraception
* HRT

Coil Clinics

We can offer coil insertion, which will be carried out by our trained GPs. Clinics will be held weekly at the following times:

Loanhead: Tuesday Afternoons - 2.10pm - 3.10pm
Bonnyrigg: Wednesday Mornings - 9.20am - 10.00am.

Please note that an appointment with either the GP or practice nurse is required prior to attending the Coil Clinic.

Coil removals can be done at a routine appointment with the GP.

Summary

• Extended Opening Hours. We hold twice-weekly surgeries with appointments available until 7.00pm.

• Travel Clinic. Here we provide advice and vaccinations including that for Yellow Fever (the accompanying certficate can also be issued).

• Chronic Disease Clinics. These are nurse-led and involve the management of asthma, COPD, diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension.

• Lifetsyle Advice. This deals with issues around weight management, diet, cholesterol and exercise.

• Minor Illness Clinics. These are run daily by our practice nurses.

• Physiotherapy. This service deals with the management of musculo-skeletal and sports injury problems as well as joint injections.

• Complementary Therapies. A number of these are available including acupuncture.

• Acupuncture. Clinics are run from Bonnyrigg.

• Family Planning and Cervical Screening. This includes the insertion of coils (IUCDS) and Implanon.

• Antenatal and Postnatal Care.

• Wart Clinic.

• Nurse Counselling. Clinics are run from Bonnyrigg.

• Specialist Palliative Care.

• Private and non-NHS Medicals.