All women between the ages of 25 and 64 years are advised to have a cervical smear every three to five years. If you are due for a smear test please arrange an appointment to see one of our nurses.
The HPV vaccinations are given in the school setting. The surgery does not carry any doses of the HPV vaccine. Please notify your school nurse if you have any questions regarding the vaccine or if your child has missed a scheduled dose.
Influenza vaccination is recommended for at-risk groups, those aged 65 and over and those suffering from chronic disease including heart, lung and diabetes. Please contact the reception staff for further information.
This clinic will deal with your annual reviews or any problems you may be having with your diabetes.
The NHS Health Check Program aims help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who have not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk factors, and will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk.
A regular meeting is held between practice team and district nurses with additional input from Macmillan nurses to review and adjust individual patient care plans.
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.
Please note that if you take regular medication and are planning to travel abroad for longer than one month please let us know so we can make sure you have enough medication. We are only able to issue patients 3 months worth of their regular medication and 1 month of any controlled drugs when they are travelling abroad.
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.
Private Work and Non-NHS Medical Examinations
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate. Reports should be completed and returned within twenty working days from receipt of pre-payment.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
| Holiday cancellation claim forms | £22.00 |
| Insurance claim form e.g. BUPA/PPA claim | £40.00 |
| To Whom It May Concern letters | £17.50 |
| HGV/taxi medicals | £85.00 |
| Insurance/mortgage/Loan payment claim | £25.00 |
For a full price list please ask at reception.
Taxi Medicals
Need a taxi medical? Our Taxi Medical Fees have recently been reduced from £150 to £85.
We are now also offering taxi medicals to people who are not registered at our surgery. This would involve a person temporarily registering with us whilst we complete the medical. If you have any questions on this matter please do not hesitate to contact the surgery.
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the NHS medical care of his/her patients. GPs are very busy with the clinical care of patients and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
Pre-payment
Unfortunately, in the past, we have completed reports and forms before payment has been made, but have sadly found there to be too many occasions when the doctor has given up the time to do the work, but the fee has not been forthcoming. The receptionists have been asked to collect the fee before the report or form can be completed. There will be no exceptions.
If you have any queries relating to the progress of your request please contact the surgery on the following number:
Grainger Medical Group Tel: 0191 2986060.