Vaccination Clinic

These are run by the Practice Nurse. Children who are behind with vaccinations should catch up as soon as possible. We feel it is very important to ensure that all children are vaccinated against potentially serious illnesses.

Family Planning Services/Contraception

Comprehensive confidential advice is available during normal surgery times. Prescription for oral contraceptives (“the Pill” or “the Morning After Pill”) can be given. Intra-uterine devices and Contraceptive Implants can also be fitted.

Antenatal Clinics

These clinics are held with the Midwife, at the following times:

• Middle Chare Surgery Patients
  Friday Afternoon 

Minor Ops  -

We have facilities for removing small lumps etc which would normally be done at hospital. Operations are performed under a local anaesthetic in an equipped treatment room at Middle Chare Surgery.

Physiotherapy

Middle Chare & Woodlands patients - As a new service patients can self refer to this service, please ask reception staff for a form.

Smoking Cessation Clinic

Both sites - weekly clinic by appointment with a specially trained practice nurse. She offers support and advice to anyone wishing to stop smoking. Free nicotine replacement therapy and/or drug therapy may be available for patients who are eligible.

Well Woman/Man Clinic

Both sites - The practice is continually promoting good health. Questionnaires will often be offered to patients. The Practice Nurse will see anyone who wants to attend.

Cervical Smear Tests

Both sites - These can be carried out by either the qualified Practice Nurse or a Doctor. We follow the local policy of recommending a repeat smear every three - five years depending on age, until the age of 65 years, unless you have had a hysterectomy for a benign condition. You will be offered a smear once you reach the age of 25 years. If the cytologist recommends repeating the smear more often, you will be called at intervals appropriate to you. You can opt out of this service, if you wish to do so, contact the surgery as you will need to sign a number of forms. 

Weight Control Clinics

Both sites - Weight Control Clinics by appointment with the Health Care Assistant. All aspects of a healthy diet and lifestyle affecting weight problems may be discussed. A 12 week supported course is available. 

Adult Immunisation (Including Travel Immunisations)

Routine protection against tetanus is advised for all patients. All travel immunisations, except yellow fever, are available within the practice. Depending what travel immunisation is required you may be charged as not all are free under the NHS.

Influenza and pneumococcal immunisations are available from October until December for those patients aged over 65 years of age and anyone with heart and lung or kidney disease, diabetes and residents of nursing and residential homes. On occasions the guidance on who may have these immunisation changes, please ask at reception if you are unsure.

Test Results

Please call after 4:00pm to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if you are advised to do so.

Non-NHS Examinations

Medical examinations for special purposes e.g. pre-employment, fitness for certain sports, HGV, taxi medicals etc are done outside consulting hours. These examinations can be arranged through the reception staff and a fee will be charged.

Middle Chare & Woodlands Surgery:

District Nurses - 0191 3332666

Health Visitor - 03000261547

Out of Hours - 111

WEBSITES:

IMPACT will provide a resource and ease of access to information about social opportunities which can contribute to the improvement of people's mental and physical health and wellbeing.  IMPACT is for all health professionals, as well as the public.  

Visit Impact at www.impact.cdd.nhs.uk   to view the services and activities that potential users can be signposted to

If you are planning a trip abroad, you should see your practice nurse, at least 8 weeks before you go. This will give you adequate time to discuss any vaccinations that you might need.

The vaccinations you need will depend on:

• where you are travelling to,
• any existing medical conditions that you have, and
• any medication that you are already taking.

If you are pregnant, you should not be given any unnecessary vaccination. Talk to your nurse who will be able to advise you about the best course of treatment.

As well as having vaccinations for common diseases in the country that you are travellin to, you should make sure that you are up-to-date with your booster jabs, such as tetanus.

We provide some travel vaccinations for free. These are:

• Typhoid,
• Hepatitis A,
• Meningitis C, and
• tetanus, diphtheria, and polio (which are combined in one vaccine)

You will need to pay for most other vaccinations. We will charge you for the vaccine and an administration fee or if you prefer you can obtain them at a special travel clinic. They include:

• Meningiococcal Meningitis (Validity of 5 years)
• Hepatitis B (Validity 10 years)
• Rabies (Validity 1 - 2 years)

Some of the vaccinations need to be given in more than one dose, which may mean you will have to return to the surgery, or travel clinic, more than once. Contact the surgery for an up-to-date price list.

What types of NHS screening are offered by Bridge End?

Bridge End offers the full range of screening services available to the NHS and below is a list with links to NHS websites.

Screening in pregnancy

Pregnant women are offered the following types of screening:

• screening for infectious diseases (hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)

• screening for Down's syndrome, Patau's syndrome and Edwards' syndrome

• screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia

• screening for physical abnormalities (mid-pregnancy scan)

Screening for newborn babies

Newborn babies are offered:

• a physical examination, which includes the eyes, heart, hips and testes

• a hearing test

• a blood spot test to check if the baby has any of 9 rare conditions

Diabetic eye screening

From the age of 12, all people with diabetes are offered an annual diabetic eye test to check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Cervical screening

Cervical screening is offered to women aged 25 to 64 to check the health of cells in the cervix. It is offered every 3 years for those aged 26 to 49, and every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.

Breast screening

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self-refer.

Bowel cancer screening

There are 2 types of screening for bowel cancer.

A home testing kit is offered to men and women aged 60 to 74.

Bowel scope screening uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the large bowel. It is offered to men and women at the age of 55 in some parts of England.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening

AAA screening is offered to men in their 65th year to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms (a dangerous swelling in the aorta). Men over 65 can self-refer.

A carer is a person who looks after a relative, friend or neighbour who is finding life difficult to manage without help.  This may be because of illness, disability or old age.  The time spent caring ranges from a few hours per week to 24-hour attention.
What problems does this bring the carer?  

• Lack of time for living their own lives  

• Competing demands of other responsibilities  

• Financial  

• Isolation  

• Stress  

• Resentment

Some or all of the following may be useful to contact:

• Your GP (for help with those who are being cared for)  

• Durham County Carers Support (Tel: 0300 005 1213;  Text: 07624 818 403)  
• Email: admin@dcccarers.org

• Website: www.dccarers.org  

• A Social Worker for possible help with things like home help, meals on wheels and respite care  

• A Welfare Rights Officer for advice about possible financial help

How can a carer help himself or herself?
In general, increasing the opportunities for self care.  This may take the following forms:  

• Sharing the caring, which makes time for the carer’s personal enjoyment.

• Writing a “menu” of enjoyable activities which the carer can choose from when the opportunity arises.

• Eating well.

• Suitable physical activity.

• Learning to relax and rest.

• Developing a support network based on friends and family as well as using any of the contacts below.

Useful sources of information:

Carers National Association
20/25 Glasshouse Yard
London
EC1A  4JS
Carer’s line tel: 0345 573369 (10.00 - 5.00 p.m. weekdays) FAX: 020 7490 8824
Website: www.carersuk.demon.co.uk

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