MEDICAL SERVICES
The practice is contracted to provide general medical services by the East and North
Herts Primary Care Trust, Charter House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Herts ALB 6JL.
These services include:
Family Planning
The doctors offer advice on all aspects of family planning during normal surgery
consultations. Drs Lacy and Smallwood are trained to fit IUDs (coils), diaphragms (caps) and other
implants. The practice nurses are also able to offer family planning advice and
pill checks.
If you think you need emergency contraception, then this is available at most chemists. However, if you need to speak to a doctor, pelase ask for either Dr Chatfield, Dr Lacy or Dr Smallwood.
Child Health
We encourage all children to be fully immunised. The practice nurses run immunisation
clinics on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
Child development tests are carried out at eight weeks (usually at the time of
the postnatal examination) and thereafter by the health visitor.
FOREIGN TRAVEL
The practice nurse can advise about health aspects of foreign travel and we can
provide all necessary inoculations with the exception of yellow fever. This is
rarely needed but can be arranged with a nearby surgery. Malaria prevention tablets
are now only available on private prescription.
BLOOD TESTS
A technician from the hospital laboratory service visits regularly to take blood samples. Appointments are made through reception.
CHECK-UPS
All patients may book to see the nurse for a basic health check if they wish.
Our nurses see people with diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and heart disease
in special clinic sessions. We can offer a health review to women nearing their
menopause, which particularly emphasises the benefits of hormone replacement therapy
and osteoporosis prevention. There is a “well man” clinic offering
a medical 'MOT' for men in their middle years.
MINOR OPERATIONS
There are facilities at the surgery to perform simple surgical procedures under
local anaesthetic. These might include removal of worrying skin moles, treatment
for ingrowing toenails and injection of painful joints. Ask about booking at reception.
NON-NHS SERVICES
Some medical services are not provided by the NHS. Examples include routine medical
examinations for work, driving licence renewal or insurance, signing passport
photos or private sick notes and some vaccinations needed for foreign travel.
A list of standard charges for non-NHS work is posted in reception and the staff
can help you make the necessary arrangements.
