Click on a clinic name to find out more about a specific clinic:

Asthma Clinic: Nurse Susan Tooley

Patients are offered asthma clinic appointments or arranged appointments with a nurse trained in ‘Asthma Assessment and Diagnosis in Adults and Children’, ‘Management of Asthma in Adults and Children’. She will discuss treatments to achieve best the possible control of asthma symptoms and self-management plans. Recall is determined on level of control.

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Diabetic Clinic

The diabetic clinic is usually held on a Friday morning. Dr Mason and Nurse Tooley run the clinic. The aim of the clinic is to help improve the control of patients with Diabetes and to look for and minimise the potential complications of the disease. Patients who attend the practice clinic can expect to be called for an Annual Review.

The clinic can also provide educational material for patients and their carers.

• Annual Review
  The aim of the annual review is to ensure that optimum control of diabetes is being maintained and to look for and help prevent the possible complications of Diabetes. Normally an appointment will be arranged prior to the clinic with Nurse Tooley who will do some initial checks including blood tests. The actual review will normally take place around a week later when these results are available.

  Blood Tests
  Glucose	Blood Sugar level
  HBA1C	Glycosylated Haemoglobin	A measure of the average sugar level over 2-3 months
  Creatinine		A measure of Kidney function
  Cholesterol		A measure of Fats in the blood
  TFT's	Thyroid Function Tests	A check on the thyroid gland
  Other Tests
  Weight/Height	BMI	Body Mass Index
  BP	Blood Pressure	Important to keep this normal to reduce complications
  Visual Acuity		A test of Eyesight
  Fundoscopy	Drops are put in the eyes for this test	A check on the blood vessels at the back of the eyes – done at optician
  Pulses	Foot Pulses	A check on the Circulation
  Foot Sensation	Using a microfilament	A check on the Nerves
  Urinalysis	Sample of Urine

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Healthy Heart Clinic: Nurse Sarah Ross and Jenni Yuill

This is a nurse led clinic, which operates on a Wednesday morning between 08.30 and 11.30. Nurse Jenni Yuill and Nurse Sarah Ross are the nurses involved with the clinic with support from Drs Metcalf and Simpson.

Any person who has a diagnosis of Angina or who has had a heart attack will be invited to attend this clinic for a yearly check. The appointment lasts around 20 minutes during which time the nurse will discuss the results of any blood tests done prior to coming to the clinic, do a blood pressure check and discuss any medication the patient may or should be taking. Diet and lifestyle advice will be offered and the patient will have the opportunity to discuss any queries they may have.

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Wart and Verruca

The wart clinic is nurse led and is run by Nurse Sarah. Unfortunately due to a huge demand for the wart clinic and a limited number of appointments there is currently a 10-12 week waiting time for this clinic.

Therefore we have put together some information to help you treat your wart/verruca at home.

Firstly, there is NO GAURANTEED treatment that will remove warts or verrucae. Most disappear by themselves within one to two years. Some warts/verrucae disappear in children within 6 months.

It may be necessary to try several different kinds of treatment before the warts disappear.

Duct Tape is a simple method of treating warts on hands:

• Cut a piece of tape the same size as the wart and stick on.

• Leave for 6 days and then remove at night. Gently rub with emery board and leave tape off overnight

• Apply another piece of tape next morning and leave for 6 days.

If skin under tape becomes red and soggy stop using tape for a few days. Continue this routine for 2 months.

Ina study 85% of warts disappear with this treatment and most did so within 4 weeks:
(Archives of Paediatric & Adolescent Medicine 2002, 156: 971-4)

There are a number of over the counter solutions available at your local pharmacy to treat warts/verrucae most of these contain Salicylic Acid and some also contain Lactic Acid. The acid does not attack the virus (which causes the wart) but simply removes some of the warty tissue so that the body’s natural recovery process has less to do. The result is unpredictable and treatment may take longer in some people. This treatment does need daily commitment and a lot of patience as it may take a while.

Overall, Salicylic Acid wart paints cures about 75% warts/verrucae.
(British Medical Journal 2002: 235; 451 –4)

When using these treatments remember the following points:

• Always rub the wart/verruca with a pumice stone or emery board gently before applying paint.

• Before applying paint soak wart/verruca in warm water for 2 minutes.

• This will encourage paint to penetrate wart.

• Always dry skin-using own towel- thoroughly before applying paint.

• Apply wart/verruca paint to area and take care to avoid getting paint onto surrounding skin.

• Allow to dry then cover with a sticking plaster.

• Be consistent with your treatment. This is very important!

Should you need to make an appointment for the wart clinic then we shall treat the wart/verruca using CRYOTHERAPY. The wart/verruca is treated by spraying very cold liquid nitrogen to it. A blister may develop following treatment, followed by a scab, which falls off after a week to 10 days. You may need several treatments. This treatment may be very painful and we do not generally recommend it for children under 10 years old.

CLICK HERE to download our Wart Clinic Information leaflet

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Smoking Cessation

There are two nurses trained in smoking cessation counselling and they both provide one to one consultations. Regular 10 minute appointments every two weeks follow the initial consultation, which takes approximately 20 minutes. The programme is tailored to each individual’s needs, after taking a full smoking and medical history an appropriate therapy will be prescribed by the GP. The usual duration of the programme is around 10-16 weeks.

A range of literature is available to each patient these include:

• Smokeline help card

• Aspire to Stop Smoking

• Smoke Free – A Self Help Guide

• Stopping Smoking Made Easy

At the initial consultation it will be agreed on the therapy, which would, best suit the patient – please not the prescription will take 48 hours to arrange and this will not be available at the 1st appointment.

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Minor operations: Drs Simpson and Mason

These are carried out on a Friday morning between 10.30 and 12 noon. Drs Simpson and Mason perform minor procedures such as the removal of skin lumps, skin lesions, in-grown toenails and eye cysts. There is a practice nurse in attendance at all times to assist the doctor

All patients are requested to see their own GP for assessment.

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Continence Management
Arranged appointment

The nurse will perform a clinical assessment to identify the problem and will discuss specified interventions with continued reviews. Patients will be supplied with information leaflets promoting lifestyle modifications bladder re-education Pelvic floor exercises. Continued support is provided to improve continence.

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Antenatal

There is a community midwife based at the health centre. As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed she will provide you with all the care and information you will require to have a happy, healthy pregnancy. During your pregnancy she arranges informal Parenthood Educational Evenings where mums and dads come together to share knowledge and experiences. The midwife’s booking clinic is held on a Tuesday afternoon. Ante-natal classes are held each Wednesday afternoon and Thursday Morning. She will visit you in your home following the birth of your baby until the baby is ten days old.

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COPD
Arranged appointments to perform lung function tests.

The nurse will demonstrate and instruct use of inhalers where appropriate encourage smoking cessation and discuss lifestyle and quality outcomes. May require referral to specialist.

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