Carers Support

DO YOU THINK YOU MAY BE A CARER?

A carer is defined as:

‘Family, Friends or Neighbours who provide physical, practical or emotional care or supervision to another person, as a result of that persons age, frailty, mental or physical health needs or learning disability’

If you support someone and think you fit the above description please let us know.

In Darlington, the Carers Support Service (a member of Darlington Association on Disability) supports those people who are carers and we work with this Group by trying to identify which of our patients are carers.

We will ask your permission to mark your patient record accordingly. Please consider the options below:

• You are a carer and would like to record this on your patient record.
• You are a carer but do not want to mark your patient record with this information.
• You are a carer and would be happy for us to refer your details to the Carers Support Group, who may be able to offer me advice and support.
• You are a carer but do not wish to give your details to the Carers Support Group

Please contact us to update your records on 01325 461128

Our Surgery Carer representative is Kim Segger

Cervical Smear

Cervical Smear tests are vitally important. It is a method used to prevent Cancer by detecting any abnormalities at any early stage which could possibly lead to Cancer of the Cervix. If you are unsure if you are due your Cervical Smear test or wish to discuss this further with the nursing team please contact us on 01325 461128. You can also book your appointment on this number with the Reception Team.

Change your details

Change of Name

If you need to change your name due to e.g. a recent marriage please click here to complete the 'Name Change' form and bring this along to the surgery with proof of the name change e.g. marriage certificate, deed poll etc.
 

Change of Address

To change your address at the surgery, please click here and complete the attached form. Please also indicate whether other family members at your address will also require their address to be changed.

Childhood Immunisations

The surgery provides a routine childhood immunisations service. It is vital that your child is kept up to date with necessary vaccinations, please contact us to book an appointment

DNA Testing

We provide DNA tests for our patients which can be requested via the patients solicitor. Once a request has been received in writing and the DNA testing kit received, we can then book you an appointment.

Family Planning

 
If you require urgent contraception outside of surgery hours please call 111 for advice.

We provide the following methods of contraception to our patients:

• Depo Injections
• Contraceptive Pill
• Emergency Contraception

Please contact us on 01325 461128 to book an appointment with the Family Planning Nurse to discuss.

Darlington CASH clinics provide contraception appointments for the following:

Emergency contraception
Coil &  Implanon fittings/removal
C Card outlet

Please call them on 01325 743203 to make an appointment

For information on the vascectomy clinic at Blacketts Surgery please go to www.blackettsvasectomy.com
 

Flu Vaccinations

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations are available for all patients with a Chronic Long Term Health Condition and all patients aged 65+ yearly from the surgery. Please contact us to book an appointment. This year, 2,3 and 4 year olds nasal flu vaccinations are also available, please contact us to book an appointment.

Freezer Clinic

We offer a freezer clinic held at the surgery. We can treat most things which include;

• Warts
• Verrucae
• Superficial blood vessels
• Lumps and bumps

To discuss this please book an appointment with your usual GP on 01325 461128.

Please note that there is usually a 1 month waiting list for all procedures

Home Visits

If you are too ill to attend the surgery and need a home visit, please telephone 01325  461128 preferably between 8.00 am and 10.00 am. The receptionist will ask about your illness so that the doctor can give urgent problems priority. Please make every effort to attend the surgery as at least four people can be seen here in the time it takes to do one visit.

We have a policy to see and treat all children in the surgery as soon as we can, so if possible, please try and get them to the surgery where they will be soon alot sooner than a homevisit. It is quite safe to transport babies and children with high temperatures.

Insurance Forms/Medicals

We provide medicals/insurance form completion here at the surgery which include (CHARGES APPLY):

• Adoption medical (fostering forms)
• Blue Badge Scheme-Report only
• Bupa Certificates
• Blood tests
• Taxi Medicals
• Court of protection (COP3)
• DVLA (without examination)
• DVLA (with examination)
• ECG - PRIVATE
• Elderely Driver (without medical)
• Employers report and opinion
• Fitness to travel certificate
• Freedom from infection
• Holiday cancellation insurance cert
• Insurance claim form
• PCV, PSV, HGV, LGV (our patients)
• OFSTED Report
• PCV, PSV, HGV, LGV (not our patients)
• Overseas medical and offshore medical
• Paternity - DNA sample (per patient)
• Power of Attorney - report
• Power of Attorney - report and visit
• Pre employment examination (patient)
• Pre employment examination (firm)
• Pre employment extract from records
• Private sick note
• Private Consultation
• Sports medical eg diving
• Seat Belt Exemption
• Vaccination certificate (per signature)
• HepA/Typhoid (Hepatrix)
• Court of protection order
• Blood group (bill sent to patient)
• R.T.A (treatment per person)
• Housing report (with examination)
• Housing report (without examination)
• Insurance companies (without examination)
• Insurance companies (with examination)
• Insurance companies-additional information
• Injections and Immunisations (all types)
• Photocopying
• Medical records
• Social services Report (without medical)
• Social services Report (with medical)
• Solicitors report for court (legal aid paying)
• To whom it may concern letter (for patient)
• Private Chest X-ray - to be paid to x-ray provider
• Sectioning

Please contact us for an up to date list of charges for the above

Long Term Health Conditions

We currently provide monitoring clinics and services for all patients with a current long term health condition(Chronic Disease Monitoring). These include Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Epilepsy, COPD, Kidney Disease, Dementia, Hypertension, Hypothyroidism etc. It is vital that patients attend monitoring on a yearly basis to ensure that your medications/treatments are treating your condition effectively. To book an appointment please contact the surgery on 01325 461128.

Minor Illness

Every day we try hold a clinic to treat patients for acute conditions which include, coughs, colds, infections and rashes. To establish whether this clinic would be appropriate for your condition, the receptionist will ask you a few questions about the problem and try to fit you in to a slot which would be most beneficial to the patient. The clinics run at various times, normally one on a morning and another on an afternoon, please contact us to find out more information.

Minor Surgery

We offer a minor surgery clinic held at the surgery. We can treat most things which include;

• Moles
• Spots
• Superficial blood vessels
• Lumps and bumps
• Cysts
• Ingrowing toe-nails
• Varicose veins (injection or tying off) etc.

To discuss this please book an appointment with your usual GP on 01325 461128.

Please note that there is usually a 3 month waiting list for all procedures. Please ring the surgery to confirm the appointment. If you do not confirm the appointment it will be offered to someone else.
 

New Patient Health Checks

We provide new patient health checks here at the surgery which include reviews of your medication, long term chronic health conditions, blood pressure, blood tests, weight etc. To book an appointment, please call us on 01325 461128

Free NHS Healthcheck

Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, and some forms of dementia. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented - even if you have a history of them in your family. Have your free NHS Health Check and you will be better prepared for the future and be able to take steps to maintain or improve your health.

If you are aged 40-74 years old and do not currently suffer from a long term health condition, please contact us on 01325 461128 to book your 20 minute free NHS health check.

Register

Please visit the surgery in person to collect registration forms and questionnaires, these will involve questions about your past medical history. We encourage patients to register with their nearest practice and so your address will be asked upon registration. Please bring proof of identity and proof of your address when you return your forms.

Shingles Vaccination

Shingles Vaccinations are now available at the surgery for all patients born on or between:

2/9/43 - 1/9/44
2/9/35 - 1/9/36
2/9/34 - 1/9/35

Please contact us on 01325 461128 to book an appointment.

Sexual Health

We offer certain sexual health screening here at the surgery which include things like, swabs, chlamydia screening etc. Please contact us to book an appointment with the Nurse.

Sick Notes

If you are on long term sick due to a health condition, you may not always need an appointment to have a repeat sick note. Please contact us on the day your sick note runs out, on 01325 461128 and ask the receptionist if this can be done.

Please note - sick notes cannot be pre-dated

Smoking Cessation Clinics

If you are a current smoker and would like help and advice on how to quit please contact your local pharmacy.

The new Stop Smoking Service for Darlington will commence on 1^st April 2017.
The Stop Smoking Hub will provide a single point of contact for anyone who wants more information about how to stop smoking.
All the information that you need can be accessed via www.darlingtonstopsmokinghub.org.uk .
More information will available in due course and a Stop Smoking Advisor will be in touch within the next few weeks.
 

 

Telephone Consultations

Sometimes, you may not need to see a GP or Nurse in person. Some problems can be dealt with over the phone. If you feel this applies to you, please contact us on 01325 461128 and ask the receptionist to arrange a telephone call back from a GP or Nurse. The receptionist will ask for your most up to date contact details and a brief description of the issue.

Test Results

For all test resluts please call us on 01325 461128 after 11am.

**PLEASE NOTE** Due to Confidentiality, test results will only be given out to the patient. If you are a family member/carer calling on behalf of the patient to obtain test results, no information will be given unless the patient has signed a consent form. Consent forms can be obtained from Reception. .

Unwell Baby/Child

The surgery has a policy to see and treat all unwell babies/young children. If you are concerned regarding the health of your child please contact us ASAP to arrange to see a GP.

Weight Management

Reducing excess weight has positive benefits for your long term health. If you would like to discuss any weight concerns and are motivated for change, please make a 20 minute appointment with our Nursing team by calling 01325 461128 .

Young Adults

Did you know:
You can request and attend your appointment with no parent/guardian present. We would, of course, hope you have discussed any issues with your parents/guardians first, however, what you tell us will be kept confidential if you wish.

• Appointments can be arranged with either a female or male GP – just ask!
• Let us know if you want us to improve anything, or ask us any questions. It is anonymous and we will feedback via a poster in the surgery
• If you attend Darlington College, there is a Young Person’s clinic there every Monday and Friday morning.
• Prescriptions for contraceptives are FREE!!
• We can offer and give emergency contraception in the Practice

Services offered to young patients:

• Contraception advice
• Emergency Contraception – given in Practice, no need to go to the Chemist
• Sexual Health – include advice and treatment for STI’
• Chlamydia testing
• Counselling
• Cervical Cancer (HPV) Vaccination to girls currently aged 14-18 years