Information

The District Nurses are fully trained nurses with extra training to provide special nursing care in the home setting. They work with people of all ages to provide suitable nursing care to aid recovery from illness. They work with the patient/relatives to decide what kind of care and support each individual needs.

Health Visitors

The Health Visitors are registered nurses with additional qualifications in the normal development of children, prevention of disease and health promotional activities. Their role is to help families (especially those with babies and young children) to keep healthy and avoid illness. Home health checks are offered to over 75s if unable to attend the surgery.

For information about Kennet and North Wiltshire Psychology services, please visit:

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/swindonpsychology

Information about courses (including those on Stress Management, Relaxation, and Coping with Panic) may be found at:

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/templates/page___848.aspx

You can see which courses are available and where they take place; you can also print off a booking slip.

Test results

Please phone for the result of a test between 11.30am and 1.00pm or between 2.00pm and 6.30pm. The Receptionist will relay any comments made by the doctor on the result and you may be asked to make a further appointment.

Asthma Clinic

A nurse who has a special interest in asthma and a diploma in asthma care holds an Asthma Clinic regularly at the surgery.

It is essential that all asthmatics on medication should have regular assessments so that their progress can be monitored and any adjustments to treatment made. New treatments and inhaler devices are constantly being produced and it is important for alteration in therapy to be considered and discussed accordingly. The doctors are always available for guidance and patients can be referred on to their doctor if needed.

Newly diagnosed asthmatics may need support and information on the condition as well as advice and instruction on inhaler technique etc, and their doctor will refer these patients to the asthma clinic. Investigations can be carried out to determine if the diagnosis is one of asthma or another respiratory disease. Generally most asthmatics can learn to control and monitor their symptoms; guidelines and devices to do this will be provided in the clinic, as well as booklets and literature, and advice about recognising problems. Advice can often be given on the phone if necessary.

Although clinics are held at specific times, if this is not convenient, appointments can be given at a more suitable time.

We offer a full diabetic check with a nurse and doctor who have a special interest in diabetes. The clinic is held twice a month, during which you will have your blood pressure, weight and blood sugar levels monitored, your eyes and feet checked and general advice given about diet and lifestyle activities and your medication will be reviewed. A full blood test will be taken before the clinic so that the results will be available at the assessment.

If you need general advice about your diabetes at any time during surgery hours you may see the doctor or nurse during a general surgery or ask for a telephone call.

The practice operates a cryotherapy clinic at the end of each month, for treatment of warts (hands only) and verruccas. Cryotherapy is a freezing treatment using liquid nitrogen; three treatments are offered at monthly intervals.

There are various chemical products available from chemists that can be used prior to or alongside cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy treatment is normally arranged only after a referral by one of the practice's GPs.

The surgery offers a comprehensive family planning service. Appointments may be booked with one of our Practice Nurses who is specially trained in family planning procedures and is able to provide:

- emergency contraception i.e. the morning after pill.

The Family Planning service is free and strictly confidential. Patients do not have to be registered with the Marlborough Medical Practice in order to obtain contraceptive services.

Vaccinations for foreign travel are available from the surgery and intending travellers should plan their immunisations in good time, preferably 4-6 weeks in advance.

All of the frequently used vaccines are always kept in stock, whilst those for other less common diseases can easily be ordered. Travel vaccinations are general are not available as an NHS service, although some travel vaccinations are available without charge.

Malaria prophylaxis is not available on the NHS but it is essential to receive advice on the appropriate medication, and an appointment with the doctor may be required for this.

If you are planning to travel abroad, and wish to seek advice on the vaccinations your require, we ask you

(b) at least one week in advance of the appointment, to complete and return a form (see belolw) - this allows the nurse to research the most suitable vaccination schedule for you.

Please be aware that we do not offer comprehensive travel advice. We will provide the necessary immunisations and if further advice is required this should be obtained elsewhere such as from MASTA (http://www.masta-travel-health.com). Ideally travellers away for more than one month should start their immunisations at least two months before departure. For holidays less than one month in duration three to four weeks is usually sufficient.

Please complete one form for each person and make an appointment to see the practice nurse allowing one week for the forms to be processed. The nurse will phone you only if you do not need an appointment, and it will then be cancelled.

Our dispensary staff will advise you about anti-malarial tablets. You may need to make an appointment with a doctor to obtain these. Finally, please note also that some immunisations have to be ordered and paid for in advance.

The travel advice application form may be downloaded here and faxed (to 01672-516809) or delivered or posted to the Surgery.

Alternatively, by logging on to https://SystmOnline.tpp-uk.com and selecting "Questionnaires" you will be able to complete the form online. You will need a logonid and password which you may obtain from Dispensary - you may already have one if you order repeat prescriptions online.

Breast Screening

The Wiltshire Breast Screening Service is based in the Breast Care Unit at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. A mobile screening unit provides an initial screening service at 15 different sites throughout North Wiltshire. When in Marlborough, the Breast Screening Unit has in recent years been situated in Marlborough Medical Practice's car park.

The service is offered to women from 50 to 70 years of age. At the age of 50 women will become eligible for breast screening and are entered into the breast screening programme. The first screening will occur from the age of 50 to 53 years, and most women will have their screening in the mobile unit which is parked in the surgery car park. When the mobile unit next visits Marlborough an automatic appointment will be sent out. A further appointment will then be sent every three years until age 70. (The mobile unit was most recently in Marlborough from October 2006 to February 2007).

Once they reach the upper age limit for routine invitations for breast screening women who wish to continue with 3 yearly breast screening may do so - there is no charge. Appointments can be made by telephoning the Breast Care Unit at the Great Western Hospital on 01793 60 40 36.

If you would like to check whether you are due to receive an appointment you may telephone the Breast Care Unit on 01793 60 40 36.

Further information can be found on the website at: www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk A leaflet entitled “Over 70? You are still entitled to breast screening” can be downloaded from the site and www.swindon-marlborough.nhs.uk.

Breast Screening - a note for patients who have recently moved

The Breast Care Unit runs a ‘Fail Safe Batches’ system. Every three months the Breast Unit contacts the Health Authority in Devizes for a list of female patients who have recently moved into the area and are due be screened. They will then be contacted by the Breast Care Unit and a screening appointment made.

In this way patients who were due to be screened at their previous practice, and moved away before screening took place, will only have a three month wait at their new practice before being recalled by the Breast Care Unit.

If the Mobile Screening Unit is due at the Practice in the near future then a patient may be delayed for a few months in order in future to be in synchronisation with the Practice’s three year screening schedule.

Cervical screening

A call and recall system for cervical screening operates for all women between 25 and 64. If you are in that age range you will receive regular letters inviting you to attend the surgery for routine screening tests. It is important to accept these invitations, as they are an important way of maintaining your good health.

The first invitation for a cervical smear will be sent around the 23^rd birthday and every five years after that for normal recalls. Smears may be repeated at more frequent intervals if a result shows any abnormal or minor changes.

The Health Authority automatically sends results letters to all women screened under the programme.

Appointments for cervical smears can be made with our nurses and should be made between days 13 and 18 of your menstrual cycle.

Health Assessments

On newly registering with the Practice, all patients over 5 years of age will be invited to have a health assessment: this is normally carried out within three months of joining the Practice. Patients who do not see regularly either a doctor or a nurse may request a Health Assessment every three years.