Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

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 to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

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.

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)

Clinics & Services

In addition to GP consultations the practice is pleased to offer the following clinics and services:

Management of Chronic Illness

• Asthma/COPD - clinic run by Leanne Bealey every week for both Asthma and COPD. If at any time you feel your asthma or COPD is not under control please make an appointment for the respiratory clinic, or with your doctor.
• Diabetes - nurse-led diabetic clinic held twice a week by Sarah Ruffles or Tracey Sharp.The community dietician holds a clinic once a month on Tuesdays between 14:00 - 17:00.

Additional Services

• Child health & imminisations - in conjunction with the health visitors. For more information click on "vaccination schedule" on the right hand side.
• Contraception - including coil and implant fitting and emergency contraception.
• Maternity services - The midwives hold an ante-natal clinic in the surgery on Wednesday afternoons. Appointments for the ante-natal clinic can be made through our receptionist on 01760 721211. However, if you wish to speak to the midwives direct please ring 01366 326232.
• Mental health - The community mental health support worker is based at the Fermoy Unit at QEH King's Lynn and sees patients at the surgery every fortnight. She offers practical support and guidance for patients with depression, anxiety, phobias etc. She can also arrange participation in group sessions for anxiety management, anger management etc. You must see your doctor to be referred.
• Minor surgery - we perform various minor surgical procedures in the surgery treatment room including the removal of some skin lesions and lumps and bumps, joint injections, joint aspiration and the removal of ingrowing toenails.
• Travel advice - please see the above tab for more information.
• Well Family Service - thisis a national charity that works closely with the practice providing practical, emotional and financial support to individuals and families. Patients can be referred by their GP or can refer themselves to the Well Family Service. Telephone 01760 720302.
• Well woman - the well woman clinic is generally held on Tuesday afternoons. If this is inconvenient, well woman matters can be dealt with in all other general clinics by any doctor or nurse. Within the well woman clinic, appointments are every 20 minutes and cover contraception, HRT, breast awareness, smears and other investigations, menopause, diet and exercise and sexual health.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Passport signing
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

We do these in the last evening appointment on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please book through reception or, if these times are unsuitable, by personal arrangement with your doctor.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them.  

We are often asked to write reports, complete insurance documents, and carry out examinations which are not covered by the NHS. All non-NHS work attracts a fee - some of the work will be paid for by Social Services Departments (for example Blue Badge application forms and Residential Care admittance forms), some may be met by employers (employment medical examinations, HGV examination) but the remainder are the responsibility of the patient. A doctor’s NHS responsibilities and clinical work must take priority over the completion of these forms, and these requests cannot therefore be dealt with immediately. As a general rule, you should allow ten working days for doctors to complete paperwork, unless the particular doctor who will deal with the request is on holiday when it may take a little longer.

Our current scale of charges is shown below. If the service you require is not listed please contact Reception for advice on 01760 721211. We are unable to offer credit facilities and require payment for any service we provide at the time. Receptionists will therefore be unable to release completed paperwork until the fee for the work done has been paid.

The Practice VAT Registration Number is 878 6496 45.

There are many allowances and benefits designed to help people who are ill, or disabled or caring for others. Three are mentioned below. All allowances are there to help. They are your right. You should apply for them if you think you are eligible.

For further information see the Disability Alliance Website and to apply see the Public Services Website or call The Disability Benefits Helpline:

Tel: 08457 123456 (textphone 08457 224433) Monday-Friday 8.00am-6.00pm

Attendance Allowance

For people 65 and over who need long-term help with personal care, mobility or both.  The allowance is not means-tested or taxable

Disability Living Allowance

For people under 65 who need long-term help with personal care or have walking difficulties. The allowance is not means-tested or taxable.

Carer's Allowance

For people over 16 who care for someone for more than 35 hours a week. The allowance is not means-tested but is taxable and there is an earnings limit.

Blue Badges are for people with permanent disabilites which severely reduce their mobility, or who are blind. They allow cars which they are using to park close to shops and other facilities. They can be used througout the EU.

You do not need to see the doctor before applying. If the council need our input they will write to us.

Referrals to Hospital

We use two methods of referral to hospital:

• Choose and Book - electronic.
• Standard - by post.

In both cases you usually have a choice of which hospital you would like to attend. Make sure you tell your doctor.

Choose and Book

We started using Choose and Book in February 2006 and now use it whenever possible - the majority of referrals are made this way. It depends on the hospital department having joined the service and on their having appointments available on the website:

• The referral letter is sent later, electronically.
• If you need to change or cancel your appointment you can do so by calling our secretaries.
• If you have problems you can call us; we can monitor the progress of your referral.

Standard Referral

These are used when hospital departments are not on the Choose & Book system, for local and community referrals (physiotherapist, dietician, midwife, counsellor etc), for situations where there is no choice (eg mental health) and for emergencies and admissions.

• Where a choice exists we offer you a choice.
• Your doctor writes a referral letter to the relevant department.
• The department writes to you with an appointment.
• If you need to change or cancel your appointment you can do so by telephone to the number on the appointment letter.
• Please don't call us; we have no information about the progress of your referral.