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 The Hicks Group Practice, 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 01480 453038. 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

[email protected]

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

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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

Who do I see?
Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Advice:
You can book an appointment with the ANP.

Information about contraceptive implants.

Information about coils.

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
  • GP surgeries
  • some young people’s services

Find your nearest sexual health clinic.

Dementia Help & Support

We have a Dementia Adviser, Pat Strachan who runs clinics in our surgeries on a monthly basis (third Thursday of the month).

Pat can offer help and support to both dementia sufferers and their carers. She has a wealth of experience and aces to lots of information networks that can offer advice and help.

If you would like an appointment with Pat please contact the surgery who will book you into her clinic. She is happy to meet you in person or speak over the telephone if you would prefer.

Cambridgeshire Dementia Support Service, Alzheimer’s Society

0333 150 3456

alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

Cambridgeshire support includes:

  • Peer support group sessions for carers and for people with dementia. Opportunity to meet with others, share experience and information facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Society. Currently run virtually – poster attached
  • Carers Information and Support programme and Live Well Programme. Information programmes run virtually in small groups for:   (1) carers supporting someone with a recent diagnosis of dementia     (2)  carers supporting someone at a more advanced stage  of dementia where      additional services and key decisions about future care and support may be appropriate    (3) someone living with a recent diagnosis of dementia.
  • Intensive Dementia Support service for carers who are struggling, at risk of being overwhelmed or are trying to cope with a sudden change in situation-leaflet attached
  • Specialist service for carers coping with symptoms of delirium including infections. Operated in partnership with Caring Together.

alzheimers.org.uk/

facebook.com/alzheimerssocietyuk

twitter.com/alzheimerssoc

Further Resources

Family Planning

All forms of contraception (including EMERGENCY contraception) can be provided by the doctors and practice nurses who have been fully trained by the Family Planning Association.

If necessary, ask for an emergency appointment.

Health and Wellbeing Coaching

We are have other new services with our Health & Well Being Coach, Mick Brosnan. Mick can be contacted via reception and will be holding clinics at both Charles Hicks and Roman Gate surgeries.

More information can be seen in the attachments below

Get Healthy!

Home Visits

Requests for visits will be taken by receptionists who will ask you questions about your symptoms. This will let us decide the urgency of the call.  You may be asked to speak to a doctor who will decide whether a visit is necessary and with what urgency. 

Please telephone the surgery before 10:30 if you think you will need a visit.  

Visits are normally carried out between 12:00 and 14:00 (It will not always be possible for you to be visited by the doctor of your choice).

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Non-urgent advice: Please Note

Under NHS Regulations it is not your right to have a visit. It is up to the doctor to decide if one is necessary.

Maternity Care

An antenatal clinic is held weekly at each surgery with a midwife. These clinics can be booked via Reception.

Postnatal examinations are carried out by appointment about six weeks after confinement, 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 two 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. Please see information in the attachment below

Our Social Prescriber is Joanne Hutchinson.

What is Social Prescribing?

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:

Here at the surgery we use the NHS 12 Week Weight Loss plan which has been developed in conjunction with the NHS Weight Loss App. BMI is used to calculate the number of   calories  required per day for each person and from that a suggested amount which will lead to weight loss. Patients can attend for 12 weeks, either weekly or bi weekly to get weighed and see their progress.

Book an appointment with Mick Brosnan, our Health Coach!

Child Health Surveillance Clinics

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

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

Childhood Vaccinations

NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has created a Guide to Childhood Illnesses for parents and carers across the area.

This guide covers everything parents and carers need to know about important subjects such as vaccinations, common ailments and issues, and where to go for help if your child has a medical issue.

Guide to Childhood Illnesses

We will call you to book your child’s immunisations when they are due. We work on information provide by Child Health please contact us if you don’t hear from us.

If you chose 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.

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
  • Subject Access Requests
  • To Whom in May Concern Letters

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 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 a consultation with the Doctor.

Payment in advance is required.  This can be by either bank transfer, cash or cheque.  Unfortunately, we do not currently accept debit/credit cards.

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