Clinics and Services

Clinics and Services

We provide a range of services and clinics.

Annual Health Review

Happy Birthday!

Don’t forget to book your annual review!

Covid-19 has shown us how much we need to streamline and prioritise our resources. That is why we are implementing a birth-month recall system for most long-term conditions and annual reviews.

As of August 2022, we plan to implement the birth-month recall system. Patients with one or more long-term conditions will receive an invitation to book an appointment just before their birthday month.

To bring all patients in line with their birth month, it may mean that you are asked to attend, even if you have had a review within the last 12 months. We still need you to attend.

The Goal

As a result, patients will have to attend fewer appointments as multiple tests and checks can be performed at the same time.


What are long term conditions?

The practice already invites certain groups of patients in for an annual review of their conditions.

This includes patients who have:

  • Respiratory conditions
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Kidney disease
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Arthritis
  • Epilepsy

What we do
As your GP surgery we play a significant role in managing your long-term condition. We believe in working with you and specialists in the community to provide holistic, personal, and high-quality care.

Long term conditions or chronic diseases are conditions for which there is currently no cure, and that are managed with drugs and other treatments.

All patients with a long-term condition should have an annual review (or ‘health MOT’). This could involve one single appointment or multiple appointments depending on which long term condition(s) you have. If a blood test or blood pressure check is required, you will be booked with a Health Care Assistant, if further checks are needed, these will be booked with either a nurse/GP/Advanced Nurse practitioner depending on the type of consultation you need.

Your medical history and medications will be reviewed at your appointment and together we will consider how we may improve your health/management of your long term condition. This may include health advice, medication changes or referrals to a community service.

Bereavement Advice/Services

On behalf of Greengate Medical Centre, I wish to convey our deepest sympathy for your recent bereavement and loss. At this very distressing time there are often many decisions and arrangements which need to be made. The below is some useful information and contact details to help you. If you need any further help or support, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0116 2670822. For further bereavement support, please visit the National Bereavement Service https://ardens.live/National-Bereavement-Service


Registering the Death

You will normally need to register the death within 5 days. A booked appointment with the registrar is usually required, but a death can also be registered by post. To register a death, you will need the Death Certificate and various documents confirming the identity and details of the deceased individual.

www.gov.uk/after-a-death/overview


Tell Us Once

A service who will contact all government and local council departments to notify them of a death, for example council offices, libraries, blue badge, electoral service, housing departments, passport office, pension & DVLA

www.gov.uk/tell-us-once 


Arranging the Funeral

A burial or cremation can only take place after the death’s registered. There are many things to consider when arranging a funeral. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

National Federation of Funeral Directors
www.nffd.co.uk

National Association of Funeral Directors
www.nafd.org.uk


Cruse

Offering support to you after the death of someone close

www.cruse.org.uk

helpline@cruse.org.uk

0844 477 9400


Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

Offering support to those bereaved by a suicide

www.uk-sobs.org.uk

0300 111 5065


Age UK

National charity to support those in later life, including those who have suffered recent bereavement

www.ageuk.org.uk  

0800 678 1602


Citizens Advice

Offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to help people resolve bereavement issues

www.adviceguide.org.uk

03444 111 444


Moodjuice

A self-help guide for people suffering from bereavement

www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/bereavement.asp

.

Cervical Smear Tests

Routine smears are normally taken by a practice nurse and you should receive a letter reminding you when your smear is due.

Further information about cervical screening from NHS UK.

Coil / IUD Fitting

Where to get an IUD

You can get the IUD for free, even if you’re under 16, from:

  • contraception clinics
  • sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
  • some young people’s services

Find your nearest sexual health clinic.

Family Planning

Contraception – see ‘Who do I see’

Fertility issues – Book an appointment with your GP

Home Visits

Please request a visit by telephoning the surgery as you would for an on-site appointment but specify the need for home visit.

Please see Appointments tab.

Maternity Care

An antenatal clinic is held weekly at the surgery with a midwife. These clinics are usually booked into by the Midwives.

Postnatal examinations are usually carried out by telephone appointment about six weeks after delivery and the Surgery will contact you to arrange this.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see or speak to a doctor, clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review their regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip. You may also need blood tests to monitor your medication. Failure to have a review could result in the GP stopping or reducing the medication currently being prescribed.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Please allow 3 full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.

Minor Surgical Operations

These are carried out in the fully equipped treatment room after a consultation with a doctor.

Social Prescribing

We are fortunate to be able to offer this new service to our patients.

Weight Loss Help

Want to fight against long term conditions and reduce your BMI?

We are here to support you with a weight loss plan

Method 1:

Slimming World are a national weight loss support group. There are several groups in the Huntingdon area. The NHS funds provides vouchers to attend for 12 weeks.

Method 2:

Weight Watchers/Wellness that Works/WW are a global brand that provide a programme based on your BMI and gives less limits on food types, but more on quantities. Funding is available for 12 weeks’ worth of attendance.

Method 3:

Exercise is a vital component in keeping us healthy and we work with the One Leisure Active Lifestyle Team to promote healthy exercise. They have a variety of programmes, starting with weekly Wellness Walks in and around the local area; gym memberships and a variety of classes, all at discounted rates and some are for free. A referral can be made to help make it more affordable and more accessible to all.

Method 4:

For those with pre diabetes and diabetes, there are programmes available to specifically help you reduce the sugars in your diet and make sure that your body is not storing more than it should from your diet. Programmes are available through self-referral and support people to make positive changes to what they are eating.

Method 5:

The Digital Weight Programme is also aimed at those with diabetes and supports individuals to make changes over a 12 week programme allowing them to access information at their own pace during the course using a variety of IT devices.

Method 6:

Child Health Surveillance Clinics

All children are invited to see the doctor for a health and development check at about 6-8 weeks old.

Later checks are carried out by the health visitors and school nurses.

Childhood Immunisations

All children under five years of age are encouraged to have the recommended immunisations.

Appointments for clinics are held weekly at each surgery and all appointments are sent directly to the parents/guardian from the Health Authority.

Learn More

If you choose not to have your child vaccinated please let us know. You maybe interested to view the information about vaccinations on the guide below.

If You Choose Not to Vaccinate

Extra Services

Most of our doctors and practice nurses have special interests or skills, allowing us to offer extra services such as Rheumatology (including joint injections), ENT, women’s health and respiratory medicine.

If you think you would benefit from one of these services please discuss it with the Receptionist who will give you the appropriate appointment.

Foreign Travel

We will be pleased to give advice on all medical aspects of foreign travel, including vaccinations.

Please ask to see the practice nurse in good time – at least eight weeks before travel.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Click here for our tariff.

Examples include the following:

  • Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
  • Insurance claim forms
  • Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
  • Fit to Fly Letters
  • DVLA reports
  • To Whom in May Concern Letters

Private work does not take precedence over our routine practice work and therefore will be completed when time allows. Please allow at least four weeks when asking for any private work to be completed.

Please note all ‘To Whom it May Concern Letters’ also attract a fee. These should always be requested from reception and not during the consultation with the Doctor.

Payment in advance is required via our card machine or cash.  

Private Referrals

We are seeing a large number of our patients choosing to go private, driven in part by huge waiting lists.   Whilst we sympathise with the delays in seeking specialist assistance, we want to bring your attention to the following BMA guidance https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/managing-workload/general-practice-responsibility-in-responding-to-private-healthcare .  

The BMA guidance is clear that ‘Shared Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principle of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care. 

Therefore, when a private provider asks the patient to seek prescription medications, or arrange tests etc at the practice, the GPs of the practice will not able to do so.

If a private provider requests transfer of care to an NHS provider, they are able to do this themselves, BMA advice ‘Private providers can make referrals to NHS services, without referral back to the GP, provided the patient would be eligible for NHS referral. Any patients referred should be treated based on clinical need. Read NHS England guidance around consultant-to-consultant referrals within the NHS. 

We will be notifying patients at the point of seeking a private referral of the guidance, and making it clear that any treatment or tests requested by the private provider will need to remain the clinical responsibility of the private provider.  Any attempt to request NHS care by a patient who has sought private treatment could be deemed as NHS Fraud. 

PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

For information and guidance on eligibility including how to claim PIP

Travel Vaccinations

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 Europe & RussiaNorth America North America
Central America Central AmericaSouth America & Antarctica South America & Antarctica
Caribbean CaribbeanAfrica Africa
Middle East Middle EastCentral Asia Central Asia
East Asia East AsiaAustralasia  Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make arrangements  as early as possible – at least 8 weeks before you travel.  A travel form needs to be completed so that the practice nurse can review your arrangements and plan what is required.

Sometimes these vaccines have to be ordered as they are not necessarily stock vaccines. Often a second appointment is required and this needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these will incur a charge to the patient. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.


Travel Appointments in the Surgery

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the form on the link below and bring it to the surgery as soon as you book your holiday.

A member of our travel team will review the form and plan what vaccinations you may require and offer general travel advice.

Travel Questionnaire


Travelling in Europe 

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Travel & Covid-19

There is a lot of advice and information on the gov.uk website both in relation to Covid-19 and travel generally.

Please follow the link below

Foreign Travel Advice

NHS.UK Travel Vaccination 

If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against serious diseases found in other parts of the world.  For information please click the link below.

NHS Travel Vaccinations Overview