Seascale Health Centre - The clinics and other services offered by our doctors surgery

To help you know when your usual GP is in the practice, the following rota is available with effect from Sept 2017. It may occasionally be subject to change at short notice due to unplanned events.

New Doctor Rota Sept 2017

Range of services

As an extended Primary Care Centre with Dispensaries at both main and branch sites the practice can deliver a broad range of services to the patients in South Copeland. This includes specialist clinics for the management of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular. Alongside this, our community staff include community nursing for housebound patients, health visiting for under 5s, on site physiotherapy, podiatry and midwifry for antenatal and postnatal care. The practice nurses can treat minor injuries, provide over 75's and well person health screening along with a comprehensive travel service. In addition to 15 minute long consultations, our GPs perform minor surgery and contraceptive services along with a range of other treatments to enable patients to be treated where possible in the surgery rather than in a hospital setting.

Physiotherapy

We are fortunate to have onsite physiotherapy and you can self refer without seeing the GP first. Please complete the Self Referral form for Physiotherapy and hand it back in at the surgery so the Physio's can triage before booking the appointment. This is a popular service but our physios have suggested that you watch this video first before completing a referral form. Its a short video about self care and what you can do to help in case there is a waiting list to see a physio.

Test Results

tests_and_results GPs and Nurses will advise you which tests are to be taken and when the results are likely to be returned. Some patients are happy for the Reception staff to hand over results, once the Doctor has checked them and is happy for these to be released. Please call between 2 and 4pm to see if your results have been received in the practice. If the GP wishes to discuss the results or further tests then they will advise Reception staff and you will be booked either a Telephone appointment or a surgery appointment. We advise patients to check the following website labtestsonline to get an understanding of any tests taken and what are considered to be normal results

If you wish, we can also enable your permissions to view your results online. This is especially useful for patients who undergo regular testing and take their results with them to share with other Health Care professionals. If you feel this would be helpful, please ask at Reception to set up access to your test results on Patient Access.

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

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

Clinics & Services

Our nurses can help to support patients who have more than one disease and you may need a longer appointment. They will advise you how long to book for each visit.

Special clinics (either for one or more diseases) include:

Well Person/New Patients Clinic/ Over 75 screening

Cytology (smear) Clinic

Diabetes Clinic

Respiratory Clinic (Asthma & COPD)

Hypertension/Cardiovascular Clinic (Heart Disease)

Sexually Transmitted Infections - Sexual Healthline Cumbria 0845 371 4037 s ignposts callers to the most appropriate service for their needs. As well as GUM and Contraceptive Services and a wide range of clinics, to access STI services in the practice, please ask for an appointment with Dr K Illsley, who can provide any advice or screening necessary.

The practice nurses run the treatment rooms, provide travel advice and vaccinations and assist the doctors where necessary. We also have two health care assistants, who have their own list of patients each morning for routine procedures and advise on health promotion and well person screening.

Unless otherwise noted above, please ring reception as normal for appointments in these clinics.

Flu Clinics

Each autumn vulnerable groups of patients will be offered a flu vaccination. Details of the open clinics will be advertised in surgery and locally. As we no longer send out individual invites please enquire as to the dates of the open clinics.

Retinal Eye Screening

This is done at Seascale on the third Wednesday of each month.

Shared Decision Making and Decision aids

Sometimes patients cant be completely sorted by our team in the practice and need to be referred onto specialists for futher advice. We think its important for you to understand what the options are and you will make the best choice if you are informed.

Shared decision making (SDM) is the conversation that happens between a patient and their health professional to reach a healthcare choice together. This conversation needs patients and professionals to understand what is important to the other person when choosing a treatment.

Once you have a diagnosis, there are often options for your care. These decision aids will help you to look at the range of treatments available to help you to decide whats best for you.

E-Referral (Referral Appointments)

stethescope_chart Most referrals are made using the national e-Referral system. This system occasionally has difficulties. When it is working well your GP or Nurse Practitioner should be able to discuss your choice of appointments and book an appointment of your preference at the time of your consultation.

If the system is out of service, you may be given instructions on how to make the appointment yourself.

For patients who experience difficulties with the booking system, our Surgery staff, in particular the medical secretaries, will work with you to ensure you receive your appointment. If you have any queries on your referral please contact the medical secretaries for advice.

Non-NHS Services

stethoscope1 Most of the services available at the practice are free NHS services. Please note there are some services you may require that are outside of the NHS and therefore have a charge attached to them. Payment will be required prior to the service.

Examples include: some travel vaccinations, medicals for HGV/taxi etc, completion of private insurance forms, countersignatures, records of immunisation etc. Reception at both surgeries have the relevant charges. VAT receipts can be provided where relevant.