Well Person Checks
If you don't come to the surgery very often, we suggest you make an appointment with one of the Practice Nurses for a Well Person check. You would have a check of your blood pressure, height and weight, and family history, and have a urine test for diabetes. Women are offered a smear test (a breast check is available on request). All this is free of charge and only takes a few minutes.
New Patients
Please complete the questionnaire you received when you registered, and see the Practice Nurse for a health check. This helps us to get any information we need from your last doctor and spot potential health problems early on.
Smoke stop
We can offer support and one to one counselling advice for patients who wish to give up smoking. Please ask at reception for details.
Antenatal Clinic/Child Development Clinic
Tuesday afternoon – There are some tests and other advice recommended for women who may be thinking of planning a baby. The aim is to prevent handicap and ensure maximum health of your new baby.
Child Health Clinic
Every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm-3pm with the Health Visitor.
Cervical Smear Tests
Smears are usually performed by the practice nurse, or may be done by a doctor. The test can detect cell changes in the cervix (neck of the womb) that can sometimes lead to cancer. If the changes are present, treatment is nearly always simple, effective, and without major surgery – this is a preventative test to stop cancer before it starts. We recommend a test every THREE or FIVE years.
If you are a woman aged between 25 – 65, then you are probably one of the eight out of ten who have had your smear test already. If you are one of the other two and still uncertain, why not make an appointment with a Practice Nurse or your Doctor and talk about it first? It is most important at any age – and we would especially encourage ladies aged 45 to 65 to have a smear.
Patients who have had a total hysterectomy do not usually need a smear. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.
Contraception
Confidential advice on contraception (including emergency contraception, teenage, and menopause contraception) is available from the doctors, the nurse practitioner and practice nurses.
For emergency contraception during out of hours please telephone Dorset Emergency Care Service on 0845 600 1013
There is an IUCD (coil) fitting service available currently run by Dr French. If you are interested in the 3 year contraceptive implant then do please contact us for further information
Minor Operations
Please see your doctor who will arrange any treatment needed. Many minor skin operations can be done at the surgery. (Cosmetic surgery is not done here but we can advise on a hospital specialist who is able to do this.) Minor Injuries
We offer an initial assessment of casualty type injuries within surgery opening hours. We will then either offer the next available appointment to see the Practice Nurse, for any treatment that may be necessary, or advise you to go to the nearest hospital casualty department.
The nearest full scale Accident and Emergency Department is in Dorchester.
(The next nearest full service is at Poole. There are nurse-led minor injuries departments at Weymouth and at Swanage but these have a more restricted service.)
Vaccinations and Immunisations
Children's vaccinations take place on a Wednesday afternoon by appointment or at other times if an appointment is made with the Practice Nurse.
Adult vaccinations are done by appointment with the practice nurse. In case of injury you may require a tetanus vaccination, although normally a full course of three followed by two booster doses at 10-year intervals are all that is required for lifelong protection.
Flu Vaccination
We particularly recommend this for patients of all ages with heart, chest or kidney disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. It is also recommended for all people aged over 65 years, and for residents of nursing and rest homes. Please contact the reception staff in October for details of the dates of our flu vaccination clinics.