The Finchampstead Surgery

PATIENT SERVICES

Childhood Immunisations

The practice believes in ensuring all parents are able to make an informed decision regarding the immunisation of their children. The emphasis is on parents to book appointments with enough notice to ensure vaccinations are given at the right time. You will be told by your doctor or nurse when the next immunisation is due for your child. Parents of babies and young children should make themselves familiar with the immunisations programme which is as follows:

To book or re-arrange an appointment for childhood immunisations, telephone the surgery number (0118) 973 2678 and select option 1. Please note this line is for childhood immunisations as detailed in the above schedule only and not any other appointments.
To book an appointment for any of the patient services listed below, telephone the surgery number (0118) 973 2678 and select option 2 for routine appointments. Or book in person at reception.

Cervical Smears

This procedure is recommended to women to aid prevention or early diagnosis of cervical abnormalities. A woman aged 25 to 50 should attend every three years and for women aged 51 to 65 it is every five years. If you have had an abnormal result previously you may be asked to have more frequent checks. It is surgery policy for our practice nurses to provide this service.

Influenza Immunisation

We offer influenza vaccinations every year from October until the following March. These are for all patients aged over 65 and also for patients who suffer from certain chronic conditions. You cannot receive a vaccination if you do not meet the criteria although you may pay for one privately at another health centre if you so wish. If you are not sure if you qualify please speak to a receptionist who will advise the entitlement criteria. We usually receive our stock of vaccinations in late September/October. To enable as many patients as possible to receive the immunisation we run 2 Saturday open flu clinics in October/November. You should collect a flu form from reception in September and bring it, fully completed, with you to the flu clinic. We advertise the dates for the clinics at the surgery, via our website and on our phone system as they change each year. We check your form against our records and then you may receive your vaccination from a practice nurse. If you are unable to attend the open clinics you may book a nurse appointment in the weeks following.

Pneumococcal Immunisation for aged 65 years and over.

If you are aged 65 or over you are entitled to receive a pneumococcal vaccination. This is a 'one off' vaccination which is administered by the practice nurses.

Family Planning

The surgery provides a full range of health services and advice for family planning including the contraceptive pill, coils, caps and condoms and you may choose to see the family planning nurse or a doctor. For emergency contraception you should make an appointment with the family planning nurse. Teenagers can be re-assured of full confidentiality and impartial advice at all times. Patients may also ask for advice concerning infertility and the possible options and treatments available.

Maternity

Your maternity care is alternated between the doctor and the community midwife and they run a full range of services from the surgery. It is important you attend your appointments regularly so that both your babies and your health can be monitored.

Child Development Clinics

As previously mentioned, these are routinely arranged and carried out by the health visitors.

Mammograms

These appointments are offered to women aged 50 to 70 every three years by the West Berkshire Breast Screening Service, which is based at 21a Craven Road, Reading, RG1 5LE, telephone: (0118) 322 8282. An appointment will be sent to you by the screening service at the appropriate time. Women over 70 and who have previously had routine screening may continue to request breast screening on an individually scheduled basis.

Smoking Cessation Clinics

If you smoke you are putting yourself at greater risk of developing chronic disease and illness compared with someone who doesn’t. At the surgery we want to help smokers give up smoking and we offer special clinics to support you through this. The smoking cessation advisor can assist you with not just support and advice but also provide you with a personal action plan and discuss how nicotine replacement therapy can help. Our doctors and nurses may encourage you to attend these clinics following a consultation. Our reception team can advise you of when the clinics take place.

The stop smoking advisor and the service are not employed by the practice but by the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) and adhere to the PCT’s policies and procedures. You can contact the Stop Smoking Service directly on (0118) 952 5400 or stopsmokingservice@berkshire.nhs.uk

Dietician

What you eat has an impact on your quality of health now and for the future. The dietician runs clinics at the surgery where patients may obtain expert advice on all dietary matters. Contact reception for further details of the clinic times. The dietician is not employed by the practice but by the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) and adheres to the PCT’s policies and procedures.

Minor Surgery

The doctors are qualified to perform a variety of minor surgical procedures within the surgery’s suitably equipped treatment room. These include certain skin excision, cautery, cryotherapy treatments and also muscular and joint pain relief injections. Clinics are held on various particular days of the week, so please contact reception for details if you have been advised by your doctor to make an appointment.

Well Woman/Well Man Health Checks

Our nurses offer health checks for patients who would like to establish their level of general health. Please note this includes discussing your lifestyle habits and taking your blood pressure. It does not involve any invasive procedures. The nurse will be able to give you advice or suggest further treatment or investigation if appropriate.

Health Screening For The Elderly

Everyone aged 75 and over is offered an annual nurse appointment to ensure any medical needs can be met.

Travel Advice & Immunisation

The practice nurses offer full advice on the vaccinations you may require, protecting your health against diseases prevalent in other countries. Please arrange an appointment with the nurse and plan to receive your vaccinations at least 6-8 weeks before your departure. Some vaccinations are administered free of charge to NHS patients, others are not and will require payment before the vaccinations are given. Payment should be made by debit/credit card, we do not accept cheques. Please pick up a travel immunisations leaflet at reception for further details.

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre

To support our travel immunisation service, The Finchampstead Surgery is an authorised ‘Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre’. This means we are able to administer yellow fever vaccinations, however these are on a private basis for which there is a charge.

Private Fees For Requests Of Expert Medical Opinion

There may be occasions where you require the doctor to provide you, a company or organisation on your behalf, with an expert medical opinion for third party purposes. Such requests are not part of the doctors’ NHS work and therefore attract a private fee charge. We can only action requests with the patient’s signed consent. The doctor will endeavour to complete requests within five working days where possible but patients should be aware that NHS care takes priority and sometimes requests may take longer to complete. Any request should be handed in at reception who will be able to advise you of the relevant fee. Please do not hand any request directly to your doctor during a consultation as doing so will delay your request being actioned. The surgery does not take responsibility for posting completed forms to third parties and patients should collect the completed request from reception. No completed request will be returned without full payment being made first. Payment should be made by debit/credit card only, we do not accept cheques.

Private Prescriptions

Patients who see a consultant or specialist privately (i.e. not via an NHS referral) are advised that under prescribing regulations set out by NHS Berkshire West, they are liable for the full cost of the first initial prescription and any medication issued by the private specialist/consultant. It is only at the point when you are reviewed by the GP, for the medication issued by the private consultant/specialist that any subsequent medications are entitled to be made as NHS prescriptions.
Private prescriptions will also be issued for certain travel vaccination requirements and non NHS funded medications.
It is practice policy to charge for each private prescription item issued. This relates to the expert medical opinion and responsibilities of the doctor and for the administration involved. The cost of the medication is separate. You may purchase certain private medications from the dispensary. All payments should be made by debit/credit card, please note we do not accept cheques.