CHILD HEALTH SURVEILLANCE/IMMUNISATION CLINIC

This is held every Wednesday morning in Fort William. The baby clinic is run by 2 Practice Nurses on an appointment system. The Health Visitor is also available in the Practice on Wednesday mornings. Please feel free just to pop in and see the Health Visitor as no appointment is required. At the Clinic we can offer general advice and help about any health aspect relating to your child, as well as carrying out routine health and screening checks on infants and children, and a full immunisation programme.

DIABETIC CLINICS

Diabetes affects about 1.5% of the population. It is a disorder which can have serious implications for future health if it is not adequately monitored and treated. Patients with diabetes are on our computer register with a call and recall system and will be invited to attend at appropriate intervals. All diabetic patients will be contacted individually to arrange an appointment for review. Our Community Dietician, is available in the Practice on alternate Mondays to provide appropriate dietary advice.

RESPIRATORY CLINICS (Variable Days—2.00pm-5.30pm)

This clinic was formerly known as the Asthma Clinic. We have changed it so that patients with other respiratory problems can also be reviewed. Invitations to attend are sent periodically, but please feel free to make an appointment without having received a letter.

CARDIOVASCULAR CLINICS (Fortnightly)

Our Practice Nurse, Maria Cockburn, runs Cardiovascular Clinics for patients with heart problems or high blood pressure. She will review your blood tests and blood pressure and give advice as necessary. Please contact the practice for further details or to arrange an appointment.

CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES

All Doctors in the Practice are available to advise on a full range of family planning methods. Women can therefore have the choice of seeing a male or female Doctor for such advice. Further information on family planning can be obtained from our Practice Nurse.

MINOR SURGERY

Two of our Doctors carry out minor surgery in the Practice. This includes removal of small lumps and bumps. Referrals for larger lesions will be made by your Doctor, to the local Hospital.

GENERAL HEALTH CHECK

Patients are more than welcome to make an appointment with one of our Practice Nurses for a general health check. Please ask for a double appointment.

FOR MEN - Our Practice Nurse provides a general health check for men with a particular emphasis on preventing heart disease, including blood pressure and cholesterol checks.

FOR WOMEN - You will be offered a general health check. Any questions on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be discussed and any problems sorted out. If you wish to have a cervical smear test please tell the receptionist who will allocate your appointment to the appropriate nurse.

OTHER CLINICS

We also run INR clinics for patients on Warfarin medication. We do not take blood samples after 12pm on a Friday as there is no collection service for samples after this time until the beginning of the following week.

DIVING MEDICINE

Drs Douglas, Massie and Arnott are approved Medical Examiners for the Health and Safety Executive.

At two months old:

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

At three months old:

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection

At four months old:

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) - one injection
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) - one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

At around 12 months old:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C (Hib/MenC) - booster dose in one injection

At around 13 months old:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection
• Pneumococcal infection - pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - one injection

Three years four months to five years old (pre-school):

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) - one injection
• Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) - one injection

13 to 18 years old:

• Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Td/IPV) - one injection

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements.  This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.  There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible  - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations.  These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine.  Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.  This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

Travel Questionnaire

REQUESTS FOR NON-NHS SERVICES

Due to the increasing demand for medical reports, miscellaneous letters, holiday insurance forms, etc, the surgery have introduced charges for all non-NHS services. The charges for these services are all payable in advance.

Examples of services which incur a charge are:

• Holiday Cancellation Letters
• Holiday Immunisations
• Insurance claims
• Fitness to Fly Letters
• Housing Department Letters
• Driving Licence Reports
• Solicitors Reports
• ID Confirmation
• Extract of Records
• Photocopying of Records
• Passport Applications
• Letters to employers
• Private Sick-lines
• Court Witness Letters
• Other miscellaneous non-NHS forms
• HGV/PSV Medicals
• Pre-employment Medicals
• Adoption/Fostering Medicals

Payment and your signed consent are required prior to any non-NHS service being undertaken. The GP also has the right to refuse any non- NHS service request.