Services

Antenatal Clinic

If you are planning a pregnancy, please visit the patient.info website.

Asthma Clinic

Clinics run by the Practice Asthma Nurse.

Blood Pressure Testing

This test is available with the Health Care Assistant, Practice Nurses or a doctor on request.

How to Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home.

Blood Tests

We have a limited number of blood testing appointments available and would like to let you know about the options available to you locally.

Under 16's

If you are under 16 we are unable to carry out your blood test. Please note that children aged 7 and above are bled in all local hospital phlebotomy clinics. Please visit one of the locations listed below. If under 7 you will need to visit the dedicated clinic at:

Wexham Park Hospital children’s clinic (Ward 24)

Monday – Friday 08:00 – 09:15am

Heatherwood Hospital (Appointments only)

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 08:00 – 16:00

To book an appointment please call 01344 877108.

If your hospital consultant requested the blood test

You will need to organise for this to be done at the hospital so they can view your results- this helps speed up your treatment.

Information on current times

• Frimley Health - www.fhft.nhs.uk and select Frimley area or Wexham area.
  
• Royal Berkshire - www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk
  

If your GP has requested the blood test

We can organise for you to have this done on a Saturday morning 8.15am to 10.30am at the Berkshire Primary Care Ltd clinic at Boundary House Surgery, Bracknell RG12 9PG – please ask our Reception to book this for you.

Walk in clinics

The local hospitals provide a walk in service. Clinics operate a number system and patients should take a number on arrival.   Patients arriving 30 minutes before the clinic closes will be issued with a number and will be seen.

• Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot
  
• Wexham Park Hospital, Slough
  
• King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor
  
• St Mark’s Hospital. Maidenhead
  

The current times can be found on their website: www.fhft.nhs.uk

Limited appointments are available at Ringmead Birch Hill and Great Hollands. Please ask reception to book.

Cervical Smears

Available with the Practice Nurses for all patients aged 25 to 64 years (25 to 49 years every 3 years, and 50 to 64 years every 5 years) by appointment.

Child Health Checks

The first baby examination is performed by the doctor at around 8 weeks from birth. Please ensure you make an appointment for this examination and do bring with you the baby’s ‘Red Book’.

Subsequent baby check-ups will be performed by the health visitors.

Child Immunisation Clinics

Dedicated clinics are held at both Great Hollands and Birch Hill.

The first baby immunisations are due at the age of 8 weeks after the 8 week check has been done.

For more information about the ages that vaccines should be given, and the diseases they protect against visit the NHS Immunisation website.

More Information:

• A quick guide to childhood immunisations for the parents of
  premature babies
• Immunisations - between 12 and 13 months of age – within a month of the first birthday
• Pre-school Immunisations - A guide to vaccinations at three years and four months of age
• Protecting your child against flu
• National Meningitis B Immunisation Program

Contraception

Oral & Injectable Contraception: All doctors and specialist nurses provide this service.

Coils (IUD/IUS) & The Contraception Implant (Nexplanon): Please ask the receptionist which doctor can offer this service for you.

See below for more information on different types of contraception.

• Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill 
• Intrauterine Device (The Coil)
• Progestogen Only Pill
• Emergency Contraception
• Contraception After Having a Baby
• Vasectomy
• Contraceptive Injection
• Nexplanon® - The Contraceptive Implant
• Condom (Sheath)
• Intrauterine System

Diabetes Clinic

Appointments can be made by arrangement. Some are in association with the Chiropodist, Dietician and Specialist Nurse.

Diabetic Eye Screening

Key Facts

• All people with diabetes are at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy
• Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of sight loss in people of working age
• Diabetic retinopathy may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced which is why screening is so important

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is caused when diabetes affects the small blood vessels in the retina, the part of the eye that acts rather like a film in a camera.

Diabetic retinopathy progresses with time but may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced and close to affecting a person's sight.

What is screening?

Screening is a process of identifying apparently healthy people who may be at increased risk of a disease or condition. They can then be offered information, further tests and appropriate treatment to reduce their risk and/or any complications arising from the disease or condition.

To arrange an appointment with the eye screening service please contact: Wokingham Community Hospital – Tel no: 0118 949 5152

If you would like any further information regarding the NHS Eye Screening Programme please visit the following website: www.diabeticeye.screening.nhs.uk/screening or download the NHS Eye Screening Information Leaflet.

ECGs

The Health Care Assistant or nurse can carry out ECGs (Electronic Heart Trace) or 24 hour ECG monitoring if required by your doctor.

Health Visitors' Advisory Clinics

By arrangement only. For details please contact your Health Visitor at the Great Hollands Health Centre. Direct line 01344 317031.

Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention

Patients are invited to attend this clinic run by the Practice Nurse. 

Medical Research

You should be aware that we are part of the Medical Research Council (MRC) General Practice Research Framework (GPRF).

If the practice takes part in research, we may pass on anonymised information from your medical records or our practice computer, to researchers co-ordinating the study. The information will not be able to be linked back to you and will only be used for research that has been approved by an ethics committee. We may write to ask whether you or your children, would consider helping us with research. If we contact you, you are free to refuse to help, without it affecting your medical care in any way. 

If you do not wish to be contacted or allow anonymised information from your notes or your children's, included in any research, please write and inform the practice manager. This will not affect the care that you receive from the practice in any way.

Previous studies have included research into Thrombosis prevention, Intermittent claudication, Back pain treatments  Weight reduction, Smoking cessation, Depression, Glue ear in children, Asthma and Dust mite allergy. Flu surveys, Deep vein thrombosis in travel and Diarrhoea and vomiting in the community.

Minor Surgery

We can provide many minor surgical procedures such as the excision of simple lumps, bumps and other skin lesions. These are carried out in our well-equipped Treatment Room at Birch Hill Medical Centre by several of our doctors.

New Patient Examinations

All new patients over 5 years of age, are offered a special check-up with the Health Care Assistant or Practice Nurse.

Sickness Certificate

You do not require a sickness certificate for any illness lasting 7 days or less (including weekends). Your employer may, however, require you to complete a self certification form which is available from your employer or from Social Services or the Post Office. For any illness lasting more than 7 days, you will need to see the doctor to obtain a sickness certificate. 

Private certificates covering any period are available from the doctor and a standard charge will be made, as these are outside the NHS responsibilities for certification.

Stop Smoking Service

Want to stop smoking?

Talking Therapies

Are you feeling low? Do you find it hard to stop worrying?

You may benefit from support from Talking Therapies – a free NHS service supporting those aged 16+ in Berkshire suffering from a variety of difficulties including stress, low mood and worry. Visit their website now to self–refer, or call 0300 365 2000 to arrange your first appointment.

Travel Clinic

Appointments made by arrangement with the Practice Nurse where advice, including vaccinations, can be obtained.

For further information visit Fit for Travel website or NaTHNaC website.

We are an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.

• Travel Questionnaire
• Temporary patient registration form
• Yellow Fever Questionnaire
  

Travelling overseas to visit friends and relatives?

Non-NHS Services

Some services fall outside the NHS and for these a charge is made. These include private insurance claim forms, private sickness certificates, passport applications, medicals, support of re-housing applications, HGV medicals, insurance, etc. and some travel immunisations. Details are available on request from the Reception.

• GP Fees for Non-NHS Services

Carers

Access to information, emotional support, financial support, advocacy and opportunities to take a break can help manage the impact of caring on the lives on carers. That’s where Signal 4 Carers steps in – to help carers find their way around the system and access the support that is available.