Clinics & Services

 

Cervical Smears  

Routine cervical smears are performed by our practice nurses ..

Women are invited for cervical screening every three years between the ages of 25 and 49, and every five years between the ages of 50 and 64. Some women are invited more often due to results from a previous cervical screening test.

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Screening Services

 

Childhood Immunisations

Childhood Immunisations

It is very important that all babies and children are fully immunised. Illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus and polio are now thankfully rare, because of current immunisation policies, but if contracted can be crippling or even fatal.

Whooping cough causes a distressing illness with prolonged coughing and vomiting which can last for months. It can lead to permanent lung damage and occasionally brain damage. Small babies are particularly at risk and so it is important that they are immunised as soon as possible.

Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) can cause a type of meningitis which particularly affects babies and toddlers.

Meningitis C causes another form of meningitis.

Pneumococcal infection can cause meningitis, septicaemia and severe pneumonia. Measles is an unpleasant illness which can cause pneumonia and permanent lung damage.

Mumps is a common cause of meningitis and can also cause permanent deafness. Rubella (German measles) can cause major deformities in babies if it is passed on to mothers in early pregnancy.

If you have any worries or questions about any aspect of your child's immunisations, please feel free to discuss them with your doctor, practice nurse or health visitor.

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Child Developement

All parents are invited to bring their babies in for a 6-week check with their GP.

8-month checks are carried out by the Health Visitors who will contact parents directly.

Child Development

 

Counselling

Psychology / Counselling

We have experienced psychologists and councellors running three sessions at the surgery each week. Appointments are made via referral by your GP.

 

Family Planning

The doctors provide full planning services inclusing fitting of ICUDs and caps as well as post-coital contraception (the 'morning after' pill). The practice nurses provide the follow-up for many patients' contraceptive needs after they have been seen initially by a doctor. All doctors and nurses are happy to provide contraceptive advice.

Family Planning

 

Foot Care

Foot Care

If you suffer from diabetes and develop foot problems, you are entitled to NHS treatment via GP referral to the Chiropody Department at Foster Street in Maidstone. However, there is usually a very long wait for a first appointment.

 

Health Checks

Are you between 40 and 74?

If you have not already been diagnosed with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease or stroke, and are aged between 40 and 74, then you will receive an invite for a Health Check.

It will give you and your GP a clearer picture of your health, and help you to take action to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease

Health Checks

 

Minor Surgery

Minor Surgery

For Minor Surgery on the NHS

CLICK HERE

For Private Minor Surgery

CLICK HERE

 

Phlebotomy

Most blood tests are taken in the morning. A few blood tests have to be taken during the early afternoon, either because the tests have to arrive at the laboratory within a specified period of time or the bloods need to be taken a certain number of hours after a medication has been taken. We are unable to keep most blood samples overnight, as they are then unsuitable for testing.

We will always try to offer you an early appointment if the doctor has requested that you starve overnight prior to the test.

All nurses and Health Care Assistants will take blood according to the procedure displayed in each treatment room.

Phlebotomy

The nurse or HCA will tell you how long we expect it to be before the results are available. Most results come through within a few days, but some can take considerably longer. In certain cases, if a specialist test is required, the sample may be referred to another hospital outside the area. In these cases, it can be a number of weeks before a result is obtained.

You should telephone the practice for the results, ideally after 2pm. The receptionists will be able to tell you if the result is normal or whether the doctor wishes to discuss the results with you, either by phone or at an appointment.

In many cases, following a blood test, your doctor will have agreed with you how the result will followed up eg a further appointment or perhaps telephone call to the doctor. Please ensure you do keep any arrangements made with your doctor.

If a result requires urgent action, the doctor will contact you as soon as possible. Please ensure that we always have an up to date contact number for you. However, due to the high volume of blood tests done daily, it is not possible for them to contact you with individual results if they are normal or require no further action.

If you are having a number of tests done and are unsure of what is being done, please ask the nurse or HCA for a slip indicating what tests have been taken. This will ensure that you know whether all results are back when you telephone for your results.

 

travel clinic

Travel Clinic

Charges apply for some vaccincations

Clinics are held Monday,Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 

Please download and complete our travel form at least two months before you travel. This will ensure you have time for all the necessary appointments to complete your vacination courses. N.B. Preferably no more than two vacinations should be administered at any one appointment. Hand the completed form in at the surgery or attach it to an email and send it.

TRAVEL FORM  - you can fill this in online and email it to enquires.thornhills@nhs.net

TRAVEL FORM - you will need to print this out, fill it in and hand it in at the surgery

Once we have received your form, a nurse will contact you to arrange the right appointment for you and your family.

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