Surgery Clinics and Travel

Find out more at: NHS: maternity services, Royal United Hospitals Bath

Register via RUH Maternity website.

If you do not wish to continue your pregnancy, please do not register, but contact your GP or self refer to BPAS on 03457 304030.

If you are asthmatic and would like to see someone with regard to your current treatment or have any questions, please book an appointment with our practice nursing team or your GP.

We assess asthma status and evaluate treatment and inhaler technique. We also educate asthmatic patients.

It is government policy to invite all women between the ages of 25 and 50 to have a smear once every 3 years and every 5 years if you are between 50-64. You will be informed by letter when your next test is due.

The practice nurse or the doctor can carry out the procedure.

Following assessment by your GP, he/she may decide that a course of counselling or cognitive behaviour therapy may be a suitable treatment for you if so you will be referred to talking therapy service provided by Avon & Wiltshire Partnership.

We have fully trained counsellors who offer cognitive therapy workshops along with counselling and consultations which can be arranged by your doctor.

For a diabetic review please make an appointment with one of our diabetes nurses.

Alcohol is sociable and will not damage your health in small quantities. More information about acceptable quantities is available at the drinkaware website.

Drugs are never good! If you feel you have a problem with drugs or alcohol any of the Doctors at the Surgery will be happy to discuss things with you.

Advice about specific drugs can be found on www.talktofrank.com.

Electrocardiographs are carried out in order to obtain a reading of the heart rhythm. Each recording takes approximately 20 minutes and is completely painless.

Parents, carers and healthcare professionals can access expert advice about common childhood illnesses and how to treat them via a mobile app, called HANDi App. It is free and can be downloaded to any Apple or Android smartphone or tablet.

Developed and approved by paediatric consultants here at the RUH, the HANDi App provides expert advice on how best to manage the six most common childhood illnesses; diarrhoea and vomiting, high temperature, chestiness, newborn problems and stomach pain.

The HANDi App aims to give parents and carers more confidence in dealing with minor conditions at home.

It’s easy to use as it takes the user through a series of questions about the symptoms their child is experiencing and then advises on the best course of action, whether that’s to treat at home, make a GP appointment or to go to A&E.

To download the free HANDi App, please use the following links:

Download from: play.google.com

Download from: itunes.apple.com

The heart clinic looks after patients who suffer with coronary heart disease. Patients are seen annually for blood tests, and to have their blood pressure and weight checked. The medication is reviewed and possible problems are discussed. Lots of friendly advice and encouragement are given in lifestyle issues, such as diet and exercise.

Patients who suffer with high blood pressure are monitored in the hypertension clinic. This service also offers regular blood tests, medication review, information and advice regarding healthy living.

Some minor surgery is performed in the practices jointly by your doctor and nurse. This can include shoulder joint, tennis elbow injection, removal of small moles and skin tags. You will need to have an appointment with a GP to discuss first.

NHS health checks are being offered to people between 40 and 74 once every five years. The check is to assess your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes.

The health check should take about 20-30 minutes and is based upon straight forward questions and measurements such as age, sex, family history, height, weight and blood pressure. There will be a simple finger prick blood test to measure your cholesterol level. Following the check you will receive free personalised advice about what you can do to stay healthy.

If you have received a letter regarding a health check, please use the Patient Triage form (medical) to request an appointment.

We are lucky enough to have advanced nurse practitioner Liliana Barnard and nurse practitioner Jo McLellan at our practices to provide further support to your medical care.

Nurse practitioners and advanced nurse practitioners  can provide treatment and advice for many problems for which you may traditionally have seen a doctor in the past. Their main area of expertise is the management of common/minor illnesses and minor injury.

They can assess and examine you, make a diagnosis and provide treatment and advice including a prescription if required. They can make referrals to most hospital doctors or other health care professionals, and admit patients into hospital where necessary. Although they are unable to sign a sickness certificate she can make arrangements for one to be signed for you. She will work closely with your GP and liaise frequently with them about your care.

Examples of common illnesses suitable for a nurse practitioner or advanced nurse practitioner appointments:

• Joint injuries and sprains
• Acute back pain
• Wounds, scalds, burns
• Skin rashes
• Shingles
• Eczema
• Emergency contraception
• Hay fever
• Haemorrhoids
• Impetigo/skin infections
• Scabies
• Threadworms
• Chicken pox
• Blocked ears
• Mouth ulcers
• Earache
• Itchy discharging ears
• In growing toe nail
• Acute chest infection
• Acute asthma attack
• Breathing difficulties
• Shortness of breath
• Known asthmatic with acute chest infection
• Dizziness/giddiness
• Feeling unwell
• Red/sore eyes
• Discharging eyes
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Urinary tract infections
• Cystitis
• Tonsillitis
• Cough
• Swollen glands
• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Colds/flu like illnesses
• Raised temperature

Some patients, often those with long standing medical problems may need an appointment with a doctor. The NP and ANP is usually able to assess the situation and in some cases will organise initial blood tests and other investigations prior to arranging a follow up appointment with a GP.

Nurse practitioner or doctor? still unsure?

If you speak to a receptionist about the nature of your problem they will be able to advise you as to who is the most appropriate for you.

Our reception staff all understand the need for confidentiality and discretion as part of their role, for which they are fully trained.

Blood pressure monitoring

If you have a blood pressure monitor at home and there is time please take your blood pressure before your appointment, print off this form (PDF) and record the results. Please hand the results to the GP or nurse before your consultation.

Your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist for treatment or advise you to self refer, please click on the link below for the self referral form.

HCRG outpatient physio self referral form (PDF)

We provide free confidential sexual health service for young people.

This service is for young people aged 13 to 24 years, and for professionals working with young people in the Bath and North East Somerset area.

Further information is available at Riverside Health Centre.

A full family planning service is available from your doctor and the practice nurses, including provision of emergency contraception, coil fitting and implant.

The following websites can give you information and support:

• www.nhs.uk/smokefree
• www.lunguk.org
• www.ash.org.uk

Please complete an admin patient triage form, to learn more about support to stop smoking or to book an appointment with our smoking cessation advisor.

Confidentiality

Many parents and young people do talk about health care problems together, but many do find it very difficult, especially when this may be of a personal nature such as contraception or sexual health, depression or drug problems. Asking your doctor for help and advice can be very reassuring, and can help relieve the stress you may be feeling in thinking about such issues.

You are very welcome to bring a friend, parent or partner with you to your appointment for support.

Even if you are under 16 years of age, information about you remains confidential, just as it would for an adult. If you seek advice for any problem, from a common complaint to something more personal, your doctor or nurse will not tell anyone else what has been discussed.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances, the doctor may believe that keeping a secret puts either you as the patient or someone else at risk of harm. For example, if he/she suspects you were being seriously hurt in some way and may wish to involve other Health Care Professionals in helping you. Of course, this would not be passed without first discussing this option with you.

Off the record

Off the record aims to improve the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing, and self esteem of young people aged up to 25 who live, study or work in Bath & North East Somerset, please visit www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk for more information.

A new pilot phone helpline for young people aged 10-25 as an addition to our existing face to face services. All calls are free from UK landline and mobile networks 0300 3033 661. The helpline is open three evenings per week, Monday and Wednesday 5pm to 8pm and Friday 4pm to 7pm. The phone line is staffed by a team of experienced counsellors The helpline also has the option to leave voicemail messages if there is no one available to answer a call. This is available 24/7.

Thinkuknow

The education programme from the national crime agency’s CEOP command

Thinkuknow gives practical information and advice that aims to keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse on and offline. The approach of the programme is to develop their skills in identifying and avoiding risk, learning how best to protect themselves and their friends, and knowing how to get support and report abuse if they do encounter difficulties. Thinkuknow also offers information and advice to parents and carers, as well as professionals who work with children and young people by providing educational resources, including films, cartoons and lesson plans.

For further information and advice please visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk.

HappyMaps

Worried about yours or your child’s behaviour or mental health and not sure what’s normal ? Wondering whether to go and see your GP ? Perhaps you’ve been referred to specialist services but there is a long wait…or perhaps you’ve been told the problem isn’t quite serious enough to be referred.

HappyMaps will signpost you to books, websites, counselling services and parents groups so you can find help and support for you and your child.

Youth Counselling

Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.

Website
www.kooth.com

Young carers

Bath and North East Somerset Carers’ Centre is here to help young carers of all ages who live in Bath and North East Somerset.

Website
www.banescarerscentre.org.uk

Additional useful links

The parents’ guide to teaching your teen online safety.

Keeping your teen safe online is near the top of the worry list for parents today. Kids do everything online, from learning to socialising, gaming to shopping. For teens, learning how to recognise the risks and protect themselves is a life skill they’ll need for years to come.

It also shares valuable information such as:

• A practical guide for parents on how to keep teens safe online, including useful summaries of popular internet apps as well as the types of threats teens, could be exposed to online.
• Safety tips for using apps such as Instagram, TikTok (which has gathered 1 billion users in only two years), YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, and Whatsapp. We also cover advice and safety tips for teens playing online multiplayer video games.
• Other online safety topics and advice such as sharing personal information, socialising online, cyberbullying, harmful content, influencers, body image, and mental health for teens online.
• Links to additional internet safety resources for parents from well-respected sources such as the NSPCC and the UK government’s own guidelines.

You can check out the full guide at www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/the-parents-guide-to-teaching-your-teen-online-safety.

Heart of Bath only provide NHS vaccinations. We do not advise or provide private travel vaccinations.

A travel risk assessment needs to be completed by each traveler prior to your appointment with the nurse. You must submit a travel form at least 10 weeks before travel.

If you are due to travel imminently or within 10 weeks, please attend a private travel clinic as our practice does not have appointment capacity to accommodate your travel needs.

Please complete this form Travel risk assessment (please note this form comes automatically to the surgery for review)

Childhood immunisations

When your child is due immunisations, child health will write to you asking you to phone the surgery to book an appointment.

Children need several immunisations starting at two months old. These prevent potentially serious illnesses such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella. We have weekly clinics for this but we may be able to offer appointments if you are unable to attend.

For further information please see the NHS website.

The community urgent eyecare service (CUES) has been in place since May 2020 and continues to achieve the following three key aims:

• To provide urgent eyecare close to patient’s homes
• To reduce numbers of patients with urgent eyecare symptoms presenting at GPs and primary care
• To reduce numbers of patients with urgent eyecare symptoms presenting at hospital eye casualty units.

CUES phone
0300 303 4922

Open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Ocean birth, trauma and loss service

The ocean birth, trauma and loss service is a small team of psychological therapists providing assessment and treatment to those experiencing complex moderate or severe mental health difficulties related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Women and birthing people who have a GP within Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon or Wiltshire who have experienced the following issues and are struggling with high levels of emotional distress are eligible for the service.

Find out more online by reading the service information leaflet (PDF) and downloading the referral guidance (PDF) and referral form (PDF).