Aortic Aneurysm Screening

We are part of the national AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) screening programme.

Men when they turn 65 will be invited to have an ultrasound of their abdomen to look for an aortic aneurysm which is a dilatation of the main vessel in the abdomen.

Any men who are above the age range can self refer by contacting the Sussex AAA Screening Programme on 01227 868775 or visiting their website AAA Screening.

Bowel Cancer Screening

There is now a national screening programme for bowel cancer. This is available to everyone between 60 and 69. People will receive a letter and a leaflet explaining the test and a home testing kit in the post.

This kit looks for the presence of small amounts of blood in the faeces which can indicate early bowel cancer. This test is repeated every two years.

People over 70 can also request a kit by phoning 0800 707 6060.

In addition to screening there is also a national bowel cancer awareness campaign. The aim is to educate people about what to look for in possible cases of bowel cancer.

The main symptoms are a three week history of either blood in the faeces (poo) or an awareness that the bowels have been looser or more frequent.

Both these symptoms need investigating if they have persisted for more than three weeks.

The national screening for bowel cancer has been extremely effective so far.

Most of the cancers detected have been the earliest type of cancer called a Dukes A bowel cancer and the cure rate for bowel cancer at this stage is over 90%.

We strongly recommend our patients to participate in the programme.

More information is available at the National Screening Programme.

Cervical Screening

The cervical screening programme for cervical cancer is available to all women between 24 and 64.

The screening intervals are from 25 to 49 every 3 years and then from 50 to 64 every 5 years.

This is an extremely good test and can pick up pre-cancerous changes in the cervix which can then be treated and cured.

We would strongly advise all eligible women to have regular cervical smears at the recommended screening intervals.

For full information about the programme please visit the Cervical Screening Programme website.

Breast Screening

The NHS Breast Screening Programme is available to all women aged between 50 and 70.

Screening  by carrying out a mammogram takes place every 3 years and people are invited for the first time between their 50^th and 53^rd birthday.

People over 70 will not automatically receive an invitation but can still receive screening by contacting the local screening unit.

Our local screening unit is based at Brighton and their phone number is 01273 664966.

For full information about the programme please visit the Breast Screening Programme website.

We are part of a pilot scheme called Hospice Neighbours. This is a volunteer service being run by St Michaels Hospice.

The service is to provide people who are suffering with a life limiting illness with help by providing practical support in their own home with tasks such as dog walking, preparing light meals, mowing the lawn or simply being there for people who need a visit or a chat.

Volunteers will be given training and support by the hospice.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer more information can be obtained by phoning 01424 445177 or emailing neighbours@stmichaelshospice.com.

If you feel this service may be of help to you please contact your doctor for them to discuss it with you further.

This is available for patients aged 70 to 78 on the 1st September each year. 

If you missed having the vaccine in the year you were eligible then there is a catch-up programme so it is still possible to have it now.

To see if you are eligible you can access the Shinglesaware website. 

People outside these age groups who want to have the vaccination this year can pay for it at a cost of £120. 

The vaccine is not being offered to people aged over 79 as clinical trials have shown it to be less effective in that age group. More information on the vaccination programme can be obtained from the NHS website.

We will be sending out letters to eligible patients.

Our Practice Nurses provide an immunisation and advice service for those travelling overseas. This service aims to make sure that you have up-to-date immunisation and advice on medication necessary to prevent Malaria. Some important points to remember:

You need to start planning your medical arrangements for travel as soon as possible. Immunisations are usually given at least 4 weeks prior to travel, and anti-malarial tablets (depending on which medication) are started 2-16 days before entering malaria-risk areas. If you ask for immunisations less than 4 weeks prior to travel, we may be able to arrange this at short notice but the vaccines are likely to be less effective.

Most illnesses which people get on holiday are not prevented by immunisations. Drinking safe water, avoiding over exposure to the sun and insect bites are all important in maintaining good health when abroad.

Make sure you have your European Health Insurance Card if travelling in Europe, and adequate Medical Insurance wherever you go.

If you have any significant medical problems, make sure your insurers know before you travel.

If you need a “fit to travel” certificate, or any kind of claim or cancellation form completed you will need to see a GP, and there will be a charge.

Flights, or journeys by road longer than 4 hours, may increase your risk of developing a blood clot in your legs (known as a DVT or Deep Venous Thrombosis).

This is especially true if you are pregnant, on the contraceptive pill or HRT, have cancer, have had recent surgery, or have had DVTs or Pulmonary Embolism in the past.

To reduce the risk, drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol and get up and stretch your legs. Consider getting support (“compression”) stockings over-the-counter from a chemist. Whether aspirin prevents flight-related DVTs is not clear. If you have had a previous blood clot, and are not taking Warfarin, please discuss this with your GP.

If you become ill whilst you are away, especially with a fever, do not delay and seek medical help locally. The local Doctors will be far more expert at treating local health problems than we are, and delay in treating some illnesses, especially Malaria and DVT’s, can be fatal.

Anti-Malaria Tablets. These, along with insect bite avoidance, are vitally important in Malaria-risk areas. There are four different types and the nurse will select the appropriate medication depending on where you are travelling. If you are a child, or pregnant or breast-feeding, this may affect the drug recommended. Finish the full course of tablets (take for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria-risk area, or one week for Malarone). Insecticide-treated anti-mosquito nets may be useful.

Some Travel Vaccinations and all tablets to prevent Malaria are not covered by the NHS.

The surgery is an approved Yellow Fever Centre. Anyone coming for a Yellow Fever vaccinaton should bring their passport with them.

Before making an appointment to see the nurse to discuss your travel arrangements please complete our Travel Questionnaire (linked belowor ask at the surgery for a travel form. The form also reinforces some of the information given above as well as giving prices for services that are not covered by the NHS for example anti-malarials and some immunisations.

The website we use for travel information is the National Travel Health Network and Centre this is an excellent web site for travel, vaccination and malaria information click below to access the site.

Obtaining Blood Results

If you have had a blood test done, then you will usually be advised to either make an appointment to see the doctor or to phone for the result. 

If you have been told to phone for the result, then please allow at least 2 working days before making your call. Where possible please phone after 1pm as the reception staff are less busy at that time.

X-ray results usually take about 2 weeks to arrive at the Practice as do clinic letters from outpatients.

Hospital Results

We do not automatically receive the results of investigations that are ordered by the hospital – for example biopsy results or scans.

However we are able to access the Conquest pathology department and look at results on your behalf.

Therefore if you have had investigations and there is any delay or long gap before your follow up appointment at the hospital please contact us to obtain your results for you.

From January 2020 this will be held in our Northiam Surgery on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month between 1:30pm and 2:30 pm.

This service is for anyone wanting lifestyle advice or weight and blood pressure checks, or a cholesterol check.

For women it also involves a cervical smear if one is due.

A twenty minute appointment is needed with the practice nurse.

The nurses and health care assistants carry out smoking cessation sessions to help people give up smoking.

As well as giving support they can prescribe nicotine replacement patches or medication where appropriate.

We carry out a wide range of minor surgery at the practice.

This involves excising moles and small skin lesions as well as removing in growing toe nails.

The minor surgery is done by Drs James, Parnell and Waters.

To avoid patients travelling to the Accident and Emergency department at the Conquest Hospital, the practice has always been prepared to see patients with minor injuries at the surgery during normal opening hours.

The conditions that we are able to treat here are suturing of lacerations, removing foreign bodies, minor burns and head injuries where there has been no loss of consciousness.

This is not an exhaustive list and, if the doctor feels that the injury is not suitable to treat at the surgery, the patient will be referred to Accident and Emergency.