The Health Centre

Other Information

Patients Over 75 Years Of Age

If you are 75 or over and have not been seen on a regular basis for an ongoing medical condition, you are entitled to have an annual health check. Please make an appointment with the Nurse.

Patients Aged 16 To 74 Years

If you have not attended the surgery for a consultation in the last three years, you are entitled to have a health check. Please make an appointment with the Nurse.

Antenatal And Maternity Services

The surgery provides full antenatal care with the Community Midwife together with full maternity services and makes use of the GP Unit at George Eliot Hospital. To access antenatal services we have a patient booking-in clinic with the Midwife who will be happy to give you expert advice and care during your pregnancy. Please ask the Receptionist for details.

Annual Flu Vaccination

Influenza vaccination is recommended for all patients aged 65 years and over. It is particularly recommended for patients with heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, diabetes and residents of nursing and rest homes. Clinics run from September through to November each year. Please contact Reception staff for details and to book an appointment.

Chaperone Policy

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking your appointment so arrangements can be made.

Carers

If you are looking after a partner, relative or friend who is ill or has a disability, please let us know. We can put you in touch with the Carers' Support Service.

Keeping Your Appointment

Every month many appointments are lost by people failing to attend their booking without cancelling it. This is wasteful of Doctors' time and lengthens the waiting time for other patients. Please telephone to cancel your appointment in good time so that it can be offered to other patients. If you fail to attend two appointments without informing us we will write to you asking if there were any specific problems preventing you from letting us know. If you fail to attend for a third appointment you may be removed from the practice list and will then have to find an alternative GP practice.

Late Arrivals

We appreciate some delays are unavoidable; however, we cannot guarantee that patients who arrive late will be seen as this will lead to the surgery running late and inconvenience those patients who arrive in good time.

Home Visits

Home visiting is usually undertaken after morning surgery between 12 noon and 1.30pm. Please try to call before 10.00am if you need a home visit. If you feel the problem is urgent, advise the Receptionist when calling. Home visits are for the truly housebound. The majority of illnesses will not be made worse by travelling.

Out-of-Hours Service

An out-of-hours service is available between 6.30pm and 8.00am weekdays and weekends, staffed by local GPs and based at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton. The telephone number is 024 7686 5300. This is not a " drop-in" centre and you will only be seen by prior arrangement following your telephone call. This service is for medical emergencies that cannot wait until the next available surgery.

Medical Examinations

We offer medical examinations for employment and HGV licence. These are arranged by special appointment through the Receptionists. Fees for these non-NHS services are in line with the BMA recommendations and are displayed in Reception.

Car Parking

Unfortunately we cannot offer parking facilities at The Health Centre other than one disabled parking bay. Patients are advised to use the Civic Hall "pay & display" car park (the closest) or other car parks available in the town centre.

Counselling

The practice has access to a fully trained Counsellor who visits once a week. Referrals are made through the GP after surgery consultation.

Freedom Of Information - Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available.

Staff Protection

A zero tolerance policy towards violent, threatening and abusive behaviour is now in place throughout the National Health Service. The staff in this practice have the right to do their work in an environment free from such behaviour and everything will be done to protect that right. If you do not respect these rights, arrangements will be made for you to be removed from our medical list.