Westbrook Medical Centre

Clinics

Immunisation / Travel Clinic

Children

We run a comprehensive childhood vaccination clinic every Wednesday between 1.00 - 3.00pm. This clinic offers the full range of recommended childhood vaccinations. Written confirmation will be required if a parent does not accompany the child.

Adults

Adults are advised to ensure that they receive a tetanus and polio booster every 10 years. They are otherwise at risk of these serious diseases.

Similarly, it is advised that certain high risk patients should have an annual vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal. These groups include the elderly and those suffering conditions such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, angina or other heart conditions, diabetes and chronic kidney problems. This service is available from the practice nurses by appointment.

The practice nurses also offer travel vaccinations. Advice can be given over the telephone before an appointment is booked.

Well Person Checks

Females

This will cover all aspects of female health, with advice on such topics as menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy, contraception, breast screening, cervical smears and immunisation.

Males

Men can undergo an assessment of their general state of health, including testicular cancer and can benefit from general lifestyle advice. Services offered include measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and urine test. Cholesterol tests can be offered if authorised by a GP.

Asthma Clinic

Patients who have asthma will be able to have regular follow-up at this clinic where they will also be offered advice regarding their condition. Height, weight, blood pressure and peak expiratory flow are measured.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Clinic

High blood pressure can in the long term increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Treatment does not always require medication. This clinic offers advice about general risk factors for cardiovascular disease, particularly in relation to high blood pressure. It enables patients who have raised blood pressure to be monitored on a regular basis and to be quickly referred to the doctor when the nurse thinks this is necessary.

Additional Services/clinics

Health Promotion Advice

Prevention is better than cure and so we encourage all our patients to share the responsibility for their health. Many of the most serious diseases can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and without the need for drugs.

Our nurses are happy to offer a wide variety of health promotion advice, following systems agreed with the doctors.

Antenatal Clinics

The community midwife is available at antenatal clinics on Thursdays 9.00am - 5.00pm.

Cervical Smear Clinic

Cancer of the cervix can be prevented. The National Cervical Screening Programme advises a smear test every 3 years for patients aged between 25 and 50 and every 5 years for patients aged between 50 and 65. This test is important as it can detect early signs of the disease at a stage where it can be easily treated. Please make an appointment with the practice nurse to have this test.

Family Planning

All doctors and nurses in the practice will provide full information about various methods of family planning currently available.

Minor Surgery

We are able to offer various minor surgical procedures, often avoiding the need for a visit to hospital. Please ask your doctor for details.

Child Health Surveillance

This clinic is held at the surgery. Please make sure that all children under five are registered with the practice for this service. It will ensure that they have paediatric developmental examinations carried out at the correct times in their development.