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ClinicsMaternity Care All doctors at Clarendon Medical Centre are qualified to provide care during pregnancy in conjunction with the midwife. Most of your antenatal care will be provided at the surgery on either Monday or Wednesday afternoons. Please book an appointment at reception. Contraceptive Care We provide the full range of family planning services. Like all services provided by the practice, this is completely confidential. Please make a routine appointment with your doctor or practice nurse to discuss your requirements. Child Health Care The practice provides Child Development Clinics at Clarendon Medical Centre with the health visitor on Tuesday mornings at 9.15am. We feel it is important to find any problems there may be with a child's health as early as possible and the first six to eight weeks' check is always performed by one of the doctors at Clarendon. Child Immunisation Appointments can be made at your convenience with the practice nurses for all your children's immunisations. Minor Surgery We are able to perform some minor surgery procedures such as joint injections and the treatment of warts by liquid nitrogen. Flu/Pneumonia Vaccination Programme During October each year we commence our vaccinations against the flu virus. Cervical Smear Cervical smear tests are performed by our trained practice nurses as part of a “well woman check”. Travel Vaccinations Our practice nurses are trained to give both advice and vaccinations for foreign travel. Please make an appointment as early as possible, preferably six weeks before you travel. HEALTH PROMOTION CLINICSWell Woman Clinic These clinics are run under a doctor's guidance by the practice nurse, and offer a general medical check-up, including a cervical smear when indicated. Asthma Clinic We hold an Asthma Clinic for both children and adults. It is run under the doctor's supervision by the practice nurse who has been trained to advise on the care of asthma and the techniques used in the various forms of treatment. Diabetic Clinic We hold a Diabetic Clinic twice a month run by a doctor and a nurse trained in the management of diabetes. A dietician also attends periodically, and we have excellent relations with local optometrists and chiropodists to anticipate complications of diabetes. We liaise with the Tameside Diabetic Centre. Heart Disease Prevention Clinic This clinic screens for risk factors associated with the development of heart disease, such as smoking, increased blood cholesterol and raised blood pressure. Appointments are available routinely. Elderly Screening Clinic Screening for health problems associated with ageing is available by appointment each day with the practice nurse. Patient Recall The practice recalls patients with the following chronic diseases:
We also recall at-risk patients for annual flu vaccination, as well as those with a history of splenectomy. Letters are also sent to patients who are due for a Hepatitis A vaccination. SELF-HELP FOR MINOR AILMENTSAntibiotics First a note on these commonly prescribed and powerful medicines. They only work on bacteria and are without effect on viruses. Unfortunately, this means that the common INFECTIONS like coughs, colds and flu will not be helped by them at all. The correct treatments are the simple remedies outlined below and we only use antibiotics when these measures fail and we suspect that there is a secondary bacterial infection. Overuse of antibiotics may lead to their not working in future and more complications like thrush and skin rashes. Colds And Sinus Pains Take plenty of fluids, paracetamol or, if over 16 years old, aspirin. Inhalations with steam and Karvol/Menthol crystals/Olbas Oil can help clear the passages. If they are blocked you could use a decongestant such as Sudafed (available at the chemist), Vicks or Sinex. You should be on the mend after seven to ten days and usually better by two weeks and we would want to see you if you are getting worse instead of better by then. Coughs These can be soothed by a drink made from honey and freshly squeezed lemon juice (full of vitamins) in hot water. If particularly irritating, steam inhalations or your favourite cough medicine can be worthwhile. If you bring up coloured phlegm we may need to check your chest. Sore Throats If over 12 years of age, gargle with soluble aspirin, otherwise paracetamol, drink plenty of fluids and use lozenges/boiled sweets if they help. Most sore throats will settle with this treatment in three to five days. Laryngitis As above, try steam inhalations, rest your voice and avoid smoke. Flu If you have a temperature and are aching a lot, paracetamol or aspirin (if over 16 years), fluids and rest are the answer. Temperatures Children often run temperatures with no other symptoms. They need to be cooled down and then will feel much better. So do remove their clothes down to vest and pants and keep the room temperature down. Use Calpol/Disprol and if necessary sponge them with lukewarm - not cold - water or blow them with a fan or hair dryer on its coolest setting. If there is no improvement after 48 hours we will need to see them. Diarrhoea And Vomiting This usually settles in one to three days and we recommend avoiding all food for 12-24 hours, but giving plenty of fluids, frequently and in small amounts. If the vomiting is very frequent, special fluids such as Dioralyte prevent dehydration and are available at the chemist. Do avoid milk, dairy produce and fatty/spicy foods when the patient starts eating again. Instead, try dry bread, toast, thin soups or potato. If the diarrhoea fails to settle, try natural yoghurt (you can flavour it if you like). Tummy colic can be eased by paracetamol and will settle in a few days. Childhood Rashes If your child is basically well but has a rash, this is usually due to a virus, and will settle untreated, in a couple of days. We would want to see the child if he/she is ill with the rash. Chickenpox This can be soothed by calamine lotion or, if it is extremely itchy, antihistamines like Phenergan or Piriton which are available at the chemist. It is infectious for five days after the last batch of spots have appeared. Children may return to school as soon as the last “crusts” have dropped off. |
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