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HEALTH PROMOTION

The treatment room
The practice believes in promoting better health, by advocating a healthy
lifestyle, and by helping to prevent disease in the first place, and also
by reducing the risk of complications in pre-existing disease.
Here are ways in which we can help...
 | Cervical smears. All women over
the age of 25 are encouraged to have a smear test. which is carried
out 3 yearly until the age of 50, and 5 yearly beyond. The practice
will remind patients when this is due. We employ trained
nurses to run the smear clinic. Doctors also take smears in
surgery. If you are in doubt whether your smear is due, just ask the
receptionist. About 86% of eligible women in our practice have had
a smear in the last 5 years. One of our nurses is also trained in
Contraception and is available for her own consultations or telephone
advice.
 | Breast Screening. Women between the ages of 50 and 64 are recalled
every 3 years for a mammogram at the Jarvis Centre Mobile Mammography
Unit. This is sited next to the Ambulance Centre off Hawley Lane.
If anyone is concerned about the possibility of a breast lump they should
attend their own doctor, and not just rely on a recent or forthcoming
mammogram.
 | Maternity Care. The practice carefully monitors the health of all
pregnant mothers. As soon as you are pregnant come and see your own
doctor. Most women will these days do a home pregnancy test which is
extremely reliable. So long as the pregnancy is uncomplicated you will
be cared for largely by the midwife team, led by our Practice Midwife, Sarah
O'Bryan. We work closely with our local hospital, Frimley Park, and
scans are carried out at 12 and 20 weeks to detect the risk of Downs Syndrome
and spina bifida, as well as other abnormalities. The idea of 'team
midwifery' is that you will hopefully be delivered by a familiar
professional. Any medical problems are assessed by your own doctor
and you will have a post-natal examination about 6 weeks after examination,
in the surgery.
 | Child Development. The practice is involved in monitoring the
development and welfare of young children. The Health Visitors visit
shortly after a baby has arrived home, and they will co-ordinate clinics
etc. The baby's own doctor will perform an examination in the surgery
at about 6 weeks, prior to the vaccination programme.
 | Childhood Immunisation. The practice runs its own immunisation clinics
and children will be recalled to these at the appropriate time. The
practice nurse will personally give the injections. This is the UK's
immunisation
program...
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New programme from Sept 2006 for babies up to 13 months
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Babies are then protected from an early age
from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and different forms of
meningitis.
The MMR vaccine given at 13 months and
again at 4 years is regarded as very safe and recommended to
protect against measles, mumps and rubella.
| Age at vaccination |
Vaccine |
| 2 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) |
| 3 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib+MenC vaccine |
| 4 months |
DTaP/IPV/Hib+MenC+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
(PCV) |
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| 12 months |
Hib/MenC |
| 13 months |
MMR+pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) |
| 4 years |
DTaP/IPV+MMR |
| 13 - 18 years |
Td/IPV -
at
school |
BCG - this has now been
discontinued except for those at risk
 | Influenza Vaccination. This is recommended each winter for
those suffering chronic illnesses, such as diabetics, asthmatics and heart
patients, and carers of the chronically sick or disabled' and also to all those over 65. The vaccination programme
starts in October.
 | Pneumovax Vaccination. This is recommended for 'at risk' patients
with asthma, ischaemic heart disease and diabetes, as well as those who have
had a splenectomy or coeliac disease. It gives 5 - 10 years of protection
from Pneumococcal pneumonia.
 | Cardiovascular Clinic. Those patients with high blood pressure,
angina or a stroke, are followed up closely by their doctor or nurse.
 | Diabetic Clinic. All diabetics in the practice are seen regularly,
to improve control and hence prevent complications.
 | Asthma Clinic. All asthmatics are recalled at least once a year.
Their condition is assessed and the nurse is trained to improve inhaler
technique.
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