How to register
We have an open list and welcome requests for registration from patients moving into the practice area. The practice area is the villages of Asheldham, Dengie, Tillingham and Bradwell-on-Sea.
You can register by bringing along your NHS medical card or completing a form available from reception. We will make a note on your records if you prefer to see a particular doctor or nurse but please assist our reception staff by making this clear when booking an appointment.
We require all new patients to undertake a health check with a practice nurse.
Appointments
We run an early morning "OPEN" session with the doctor, for patients going on to school or work or who need to be seen urgently. You do not need to book or pre-arrange an appointment for this session but you do have to be prepared to wait your turn. Please be aware that with other patients waiting to be seen it would be inappropriate to attend this session with a complex medical problem and more appropriate to book an appointment at one of our other sessions.
All our other sessions for the doctor or the nurse are by an appointment only system. Appointments can be booked by telephoning or by coming into the surgery.
It may not be possible to see the doctor or nurse of your choice at short notice but we will make every effort to accommodate your preference.
If you are too ill to come to the surgery and you require a visit at home, please call the surgery before 10am. Home visits take up much more of a doctor’s time than a consultation in the surgery, so if you are mobile please come into the surgery to be seen. Lack of transport is not an adequate reason for requesting a home visit. Patients are responsible for their own transport arrangements.
Urgent Appointments Because we have an open surgery every morning, no patient ever needs to wait more than 24 hours to see the doctor or the nurse.
Disabled Access and Special Needs Our staff will assist anyone with special needs and a ramp for disabled access is available at the rear door. Please let the staff know of any specific needs when you are booking your appointment.
Clinics
| Clinic | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Family Planning |
Confidential advice on all forms of contraception by our qualified practice nurses. Both doctors provide a coil fittting service. We can also provide emergency contraception if appropriate and we provide a Young People's Service. |
During surgery hours by appointment. |
| Antenatal Care | Routine antenatal check-ups by our attached midwife. | Tuesday 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm (fortnightly) |
| Mother and Baby | For advice, developmental checks and weight checking by our Health Visitor please call reception for an appointment. | Thursday 2pm - 4pm (fortnightly) |
| Vaccinations |
Routine vaccinations for all ages are available during surgery times by appointment with our nurses. This includes immunisation of infants and school children. Our nurses can provide advice on foreign travel requirements, vaccines and malaria tablets and any necessary documentation. This is a non-NHS service and there is a fee payable. |
During surgery hours by appointment with our nurses. |
| Asthma/COPD Management | Regular check-ups and advice from our qualified practice nurse on lifestyle, inhaler techniques and medication. | During surgery hours by appointment. |
| Diabetes Management | Regular check-ups, blood and urine tests and lifestyle advice from our qualified practice nurses. | During surgery hours by appointment |
| Phlebotomy/Other Tests | We have a daily pick-up of blood, urine and other samples to the laboratory at Broomfield Hospital. If doctor orders it, you can have your blood test taken at the surgery by our nurses or healthcare assistant. We also do ECG tests when required by the doctor. | During surgery hours by appointment. |
| Chiropody | A qualified chiropodist visits the surgery for our elderly and diabetic patients. Please contact reception for an appointment. | Wednesday pm (once a month) |
| INR clinic | For patients who are on Warfarin and who require regular blood tests. This clinic is run by our Healthcare Assistant. | Monday 2.00- 4.00 pm. |
| Well-man Clinic | Two or three times a year we run a special clinic to catch up with our male patients who have been unable to attend for regular screening due to work commitments. A doctor and a nurse are in attendance. | By invitation. Saturday morning (dates variable) |
| Smoking Cessation | One to one consultations with our qualified nurse counsellor offering a programme of nicotine replacement therapy, regular reviews and full support. | During surgery hours by appointment. |
Repeat prescriptions
Each time a repeat prescription is issued a copy of the medication authorised by the doctor is prepared for each patient on a re-order form. When you order a repeat prescription please tick the required items on this re-order form and deliver, post or fax it to the surgery. We do not accept repeat orders over the telephone. It is helpful to the surgery staff if you put a line through any items you no longer take so that your record can be amended. At the end of the period of repeats authorised by the doctor (usually 6 months), patients are reminded to attend for a review of their treatment before the next supply is required.
To allow the dispensary/pharmacy staff time to order your prescription items and to deal with any problems that may arise, you must allow a minimum of 2 working days before collection.
Sick certificates
You only need a doctor’s note if you are unable to work for longer than 7 calendar days due to illness. Your employer will provide you with an SC2 self-certificate form for shorter periods of illness.
Test results
We have twice in the week when patients can call for blood and other test results. The telephone is answered by one of our nurses who can help patients with any questions which might arise from their results. The number is 01621 778984 and it is only available Tuesday and Thursday 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm. Please do not phone for results at any other time.
To ensure confidentiality, we only release results to the patient, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.
Non-NHS services
The NHS does not pay for some of the services we provide. These include private sick notes, insurance forms, holiday cancellation forms, medical reports, fitness to travel certificates, private prescriptions, passport signing and some vaccination services. Our fees for these services, which are in line with BMA approved national guidelines, are available from the surgery.
