Clinics & Services
Babies Development Assessment
All children are invited to see the doctor for a health and development check at about 8 weeks and again at about 9 months old. Later checks are carried out by the Health Visitors and School Nurses.
Cervical Smears
Routine smears are offered every 3 years up to the age of 50 and then every 5 years. Recall reminders are issued by the primary care trust.
Childhood Immunisations
All children under five years of age are encouraged to have the recommended immunisations. Appointments for clinics, held weekly at each surgery, are sent out routinely.
Please let us know if your child's appointment is inconvenient.
Chronic Disease Reviews
Heart, Stroke, Diabetic, Asthma, COPD (Chronic Bronchitis) and Hypertension reviews are undertaken annually by our Practice Nurses or Doctors.
Please make an appointment at Reception for your annual review.
Community Staff
The practice can refer patients to other staff who work in the community for further assessment and treatment, these include: Psychiatric Nurse Services, Chiropodists, Speech and Language therapists, counsellors.
Counsellor
Available for consultation at the surgery after referral by a GP.
Diet & Nutritional Advice
Advice is available for overweight patients, patients requiring low fat diets and for general advice about healthy eating.
District Nurses
District Nurses provide nursing treatment and advice to the housebound and patients recently discharged from hospital.
Telephone: 0300 323 0930 to contact them during surgery hours.
Family Planning
Both doctors and nurses offer contraceptive services. Guidance on the best method of contraception for you is given and these include the pill, contraceptive injections, caps and coils.
Emergency contraception is also part of the service.
Please make an appointment with the nurse for routine checks and follow ups.
Health Visitors
A Health Visitor is a qualified nurse with specialist skills and training in health promotion and child development, offering support and advice to all families with babies and young children either in their home or by consultation at a surgery based clinic.
A Health Visitor is a valuable source of information on health and social aspects concerning all the family, whatever age.
To contact the Health Visitor, or to arrange a Child Surveillance appointment please telephone 01283 492878.
Maternity Services
We offer full antenatal and postnatal care in co-operation with the community midwife and hospital.
The community midwife runs Parentcraft classes.
Please click here for information on preparing for pregnancy.
For information on the roles of your GP, Community Midwife, Health Visitor and Hospital Clinics in the provision of your ante-natal and post-natal care, please click here
Minor Surgery
Certain minor operations can be performed at the surgery, avoiding the need for you to go to hospital. If the Doctor recommends this sort of treatment then arrangements will be made at the surgery.
Chaperones
Dove River Practice is committed to providing a comfortable and safe environment for all our patients. You are entitled to have a chaperone during any consultation at the Surgery, just ask your Doctor/Nurse or the Reception team. Clinicians may advise patients that a chaperone is necessary during any intimate examination. Our staff members have received appropriate training to act as chaperones to safeguard both the clinicians and patients of the Practice.
Other Services
We are a well equipped practice and we have facilities for:
- 24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring
- ECGs
- Audiometry and Tympanometry
We also have a defibrillator and oxygen at the surgery.
Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy treatment is available at both surgeries.
Routine Health Screening
Please make an appointment to see the Practice Nurse. If you are a new patient to the Practice, please arrange to have a check-up as soon as possible, as your medical records may be delayed in arriving from your previous Doctor.
Treatment Room Nurses
We employ three Treatment Room Nurses at each Surgery. They are available throughout the week. They undertake routine procedures for us including:
- Cervical Smears
- Blood Tests
- Ear Suction
- Giving Injections
- Dressings
- Follow up Weight and Blood Pressure Readings
- Stitch Removal
- Heart, Stroke, Diabetic, Asthma and Hypertension reviews
- Smoking cessation support and advice
- Advice on foreign travel medical requirements
You will be advised whether to make an appointment with the nurse rather than the doctor.