Medical Examinations (Non-NHS)

Certain services provided by the Doctors are not covered by the NHS and fees are payable for such items as:

• Large Good Vehicle (LGV) and Passenger Service Vehicle (PSV) licences
• Elderly driver licences
• Insurance
• Preemployment medicals
• Private certificates
• Holiday vaccinations
• Insurance claims
• Fitness for sports

Please ask the receptionist for such services. Charges are payable at the time of attendance, and the British Medical Association (BMA) recommended scale of fees is on display at the reception desk. For further information please see Why does my doctor charge fees?

Current list of Non-NHS Medical Services fees. It you have any queries regarding these, please enquire at reception.

Medical Certificates

Self-certificates are available from your employer for sickness of up to one week. Any certificate required from the Doctor for periods up to the first week can only be provided as a private certificate for which there is a charge.

Private Patients

Patients, who are not NHS registered at this surgery, can be seen privately. Please contact the Practice Manager regarding fees.

A ‘stop smoking’ clinic is held in the practice. You can book into one of these clinic sessions by contacting the practice reception by phone or in person. Advice, support and a variety of medications are used to help you stop smoking.

The NHS now undertakes a number of screening services for serious illnesses. This includes breast cancer screening for ladies over 50 years old, Aortic Aneurism screening for men over 65 years old and bowel cancer screening for men and women over 60 years of age. These are organised centrally in England and those who are eligible will be sent an invitation by post. The tests may be done at home (bowel cancer screening), may take place in the practice, or at other locations around Swindon.

All new patients over the age of 16 years should see the health care assistant for a brief medical check and discussion of their health.

This service is run by the community midwives. If you think you are pregnant you should perform a pregnancy test to confirm the pregnancy (available from pharmacies or by seeing the practice nurse) then book to see the midwife by contacting the practice reception.

Please note that none of the doctors in the practice attend home deliveries.

If you are considering becoming pregnant you should start taking folic acid (400mcg daily) in combination with vitamin D (10 micrograms per 400 units) daily. Combined preparations include ‘Healthy Start’ tablets which are available from pharmacies. If you have any ongoing health problems especially if you take regular medication, please see a doctor for advice before becoming pregnant.

For further general advice on pregnancy please visit the NHS website pregnancy guide.

The healthcare assistants undertake annual health checks on our patients who have a learning disability, to ensure that there are no physical conditions or illnesses present that need to be treated. Attendance at an assessment is by written invitation.

Run by the nurses or health care assistants for people with high blood pressure who are on medication and whose blood pressure is well controlled. Patients are usually seen every 6 months with an annual review by a GP.

A health screening practitioner can see people aged 40 years and over for a basic health check including checks for high blood pressure diabetes, cholesterol and other risks for heart disease. You can book for this service at reception.

These are run by a practice nurse for people 18 years of age and over with diabetes. They will discuss in detail diabetes and its management and help monitor your diabetic control.

Usually, only patients with type 2 diabetes are seen here, occasionally type 1 patients are seen at the request of the hospital.

Attendance is by annual invitation.

Our counselling service is provided by trained counsellors in the practice. Counsellors can also refer people onto special clinics eg for anxiety, anger, poor self confidence.