Clinics & Services

In addition to GP and nurse consultations for general health-related concerns, the practice offers a wide range of clinics and healthcare services including the following:

Long Term Conditions Management

Most long term conditions e.g. high blood pressure and heart disease are managed in the context of routine surgeries. Most patients with these conditions are on repeat medication. Your repeat prescription details will include a medication review date. When you attend for a medication review the overall management of your long term conditions will be assessed in addition to reviewing your medication.

Contraceptive Care

The practice nurses primarily deal with oral (tablet) contraceptive care but doctors can assist when nursing appointments are not available. All our doctors provide contraceptive care by individual appointment. Dr Thomas & Dr Prabhu fit contraceptive implants and coils.

Travel Clinic

The practice undertakes immunisation for travel abroad. We are an approved Yellow Fever Centre. Please enquire at reception six to eight weeks before departure. For further details see the travel vaccinations page on our website.

Joint Injections

The practice offers a joint injection clinic. This means that you may not have to go to hospital for some special injections, as Dr Gent performs soft tissue/joint injections.

Well Person Checks

There is no specific NHS well person check programme. However, the practice clinical team will be happy to discuss general health concerns and offer blood pressure checks together with advice on lifestyle issues, e.g. alcohol consumption, smoking, diet and exercise.

Well Women Checks

The practice does not run dedicated "well woman" clinics as there is no evidence base that these are effective at detecting or preventing health related problems in women. If you have any specific concerns, then please consult with one of the doctors.

NHS Health Checks

The practice offers NHS Health checks which are focused primarily on preventing vascular/heart disease, but also screen for diabetes and kidney disease. You will be invited for an NHS Health Check every five years if you are between 40 and 74 years old, as long as you don't have an existing vascular condition. These checks are performed by the Health Care Assistants and assess the risk factors likely to provoke coronary disease. After the health check you will receive a written summary of the findings and recommendations on lifestyle measures aimed at preventing problems emerging in the future.

Diabetes Care

All patients with diabetes are entered into the practice diabetic care programme and, as part of this, are offered a comprehensive annual review. This comprises an initial appointment with a Health Care Assistant for blood tests, urine checks, blood pressure and weight recording. After this they are seen by a practice nurse who offers preventative advice and education input and finally by a GP who reviews their overall diabetic control and offers advice about optimisation of  treatment.

Asthma / COPD Care

All patients with asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are offered an annual nurse-led evaluation of their condition together with advice re-optimisation of their treatment.

Cervical Smears

Cervical smear reminders are sent out every three to five years for women aged between 25 to 64 years:-

• Three years for women aged 25-49
• Five years for 50-64. 
• 65+: Only screen those who have not been screened since age 50 or have had recent abnormal tests

Cervical smears are performed by the practice nurses.

The results of cervical smears are sent directly to patients by the Lincolnshire Cervical Screening service. For further information about the interpretation of results click onto results of cervical screening.

For details of how the cervical screeening programme is coordinated in Lincolnshire click here.

Please visit the NHS Cervical Screening website for further information. 

Adult Immunisation

A full range of adult immunisations, including immunisations for the "at risk" groups for flu

and shingles is offered in accordance with NHS guidance.

Childhood Immunisations

Ancaster - Wednesday morning

Caythorpe - Tuesday morning

Ante-Natal Clinics

The midwives hold antenatal clinics on alternate weeks at Ancaster and Caythorpe.

Ancaster - Wednesday morning

Caythorpe - Thursday afternoon

Health Visiting Service

Health Visiting Services are provided by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust. Baby Clinics. Please click onto this link to access a wide range of resources relating to the Health Visiting service and common childhood problems

Baby clinics are held by our attached Health Visiting service.

Ancaster - third Wednesday of the month from 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Caythorpe - third Thursday of the month from 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Please note these are not drop in clinics. Please make an appointment to see the Health Visitor by contacting 01529 306089.

Smoking Cessation

The practice nurses provide a structured smoking cessation programme with help, support and medication to help you stop smoking. They will be pleased to help you make the one step which will probably have the greatest overall positive impact on your future  general health and well-being

Chlamydia Screening

The practice encourages screening for chlamydia  - if you have any concerns, please make an appointment with one of the practice nurses. For further details about local chlamydia screening services in Lincolnshire click here.

Routine vaccinations

The practice offers the full range of vaccinations recommended by the NHS. 

For further details of the current vaccination schedule please click here.

The practice nurses will be pleased to discucss any aspect of the vaccination programme with you.

Travel Vaccinations

Some travel vaccinations are available on the NHS, whereas others are not.

Things to consider

There are several things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including:

• the country or countries you are visiting – some diseases are more common in certain parts of the world and less common in others 
• when you are travelling – some diseases are more common at certain times of the year, for example during the rainy season
• where you are staying – in general, you will be more at risk of disease in rural areas than in urban areas, and if you are backpacking and staying in hostels or camping, you may be more at risk than if you were on a package holiday and staying in a hotel
• how long you will be staying – the longer your stay, the greater your risk of being exposed to diseases
• your age and health – some people may be more vulnerable to infection than others, while some vaccinations cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions
• what you will be doing during your stay – for example, whether you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, such as trekking or working in rural areas
• if you are working as an aid worker – you may come into contact with more diseases if you are working in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster
• if you are working in a medical setting – for example, a doctor or nurse may require additional vaccinations
• if you are in contact with animals – in this case, you may be more at risk of getting diseases that are spread by animals, such as rabies

Free travel vaccinations

The following travel vaccinations are usually available free on the NHS:

• diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
• typhoid
• hepatitis A (including when combined with typhoid or hepatitis B)

These vaccines are usually free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

Private travel vaccinations

You're likely to have to pay for travel vaccinations against:

• Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis
• meningococcal meningitis
• rabies
• yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres.  Ancaster surgery is a designated yellow fever vaccination centre. The NaTHNaC website can help you find other locations where you may get a yellow fever vaccination.

The cost of travel vaccines at private clinics will vary. We will be able to cost your immunisations on an individual basis, after your first travel appointment with the practice nurse. It's worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.

Please click here for further information.

If you are planning to travel abroad please make an appointment with one of the practice nurses at least eight weeks in advance and the nurse will be pleased to discucss any aspect of the vaccination programme with you.

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below: This is a general guide but advice may be updated from month to month.

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

Travel Questionnaire

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
 

Minor Injuries Unit at Sleaford Medical Group

If you sustain a minor injury such as a burn, scald, minor cuts that may need stitching or a minor head injury, there is a walk in centre at Sleaford Medical Group (47 Boston Road, Sleaford, Tel. 01529 303301). The clinic is open 8:30am - 8:00pm Monday to Friday.  The injury must have happened within 48 hours prior to attending.

They CAN treat

• Minor cuts and grazes
• Minor cuts needing stitches
• Acute sprains and strains
• Acute sports injuries
• Acute burns/scalds
• Removal of foreign bodies, e.g. splinters, fish hooks, cotton buds from ears, earring butterflies
• Minor head injury
• Minor limb injury
• Whiplash (neck/headache following low speed car accident)
• Foreign bodies in eyes

If you had a minor injury in the previous 48 hours, please book in at reception. The length of your wait will depend on the seriousness of your condition, but there may also be a wait depending on the availability of the nurse – the nurses have pre-booked clinics they must also attend to, but can prioritise urgent cases.

Link to the Minor Injuries Poster

How to find Sleaford Minor injuries Unit

Urgent Care Service in Sleaford

Sleaford Medical Group provide an urgent care service at weekends and Bank Holidays. In addition we will be extending our Minor Injuries Unit hours to 8.00pm Monday - Friday and 6.00pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. The Urgent Care Unit is based at the Sleaford Medical Group Riverside Surgery (47 Boston Road, Sleaford, Tel. 01529 303301).

The Unit, run by a team of experienced nurses and GPs will be available 7 days a week but will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday. On arrival, patients will be assessed and the injury treated by a trained nurse or doctor as appropriate, however in some cases it may be necessary to refer patients on to further treatment at a hospital.

Links to the Urgent Care Service Poster and Leaflet

They are able to treat a range of conditions including the following; however this list is not exhaustive:

Minor cuts and grazes                       Chest infections

Minor cuts requiring stitches              Skin infections

Acute sprains and strains                   Joint and Limb pain/stiffness

Acute sports injuries                          Animal and human bites

Removal of foreign bodies                  Genito-urinary infections, including STIs

Minor burns                                       Abdominal pain without fever

Minor neck injury                               Insect stings

Whiplash                                           Diarrhoea and vomiting

Foreign bodies in eyes                      Coughs (for less than four weeks)

Ear infections                                     

Breathing related problems including (asthma, bronchitis and COPD)

However, they cannot provide care for serious injuries, major accidents, severe chest pains, serious breathing problems, severe pain of any description (e.g. likely appendicitis), road traffic accidents, anaphylactic reactions or collapse.

The service is available to patients whether or not they are registered with a GP, and can provide care for those not living in Sleaford or the surrounding area. The unit can care for patients attending with both minor illnesses and injuries and is a walk in service. The patients’ own GP will receive a summary of the care received following the consultation so their notes can be updated accordingly. Any patient who cannot be treated will be referred as appropriate.

What is screening?

Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population. 

The aim is to offer screening to the people who are most likely to benefit from it. For example, some screening tests are only offered to newborn babies, others such as breast screening and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening are only offered to older people.

The practice offers the full range of screening tests which are approved by the NHS. Some of these are organised directly by the practice while many others, e.g. aortic aneurysm and bowel cancer screening are organised indirectly through the wider NHS using the practice data base of registered patients. 

For more detailed information about the range of screening tests approved and supported by the NHS please click here.

Lincolnshire Screening Programme

• Bowel Screening in Lincolnshire (men and women)  

  Bowel screening is offered to men and women between the ages of 60 and 74.

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening in Lincolnshire (men only)

  Men are screened in the year in which they reach 65 years of age. If this is negative then no further routine screening is considered necessary.

• Cervical Screening in Lincolnshire
  

  Women who are registered with a GP in Lincolnshire are automatically invited for screening between the age of 25 and 64.

• Breast Screening Service in Lincolnshire

  At present women aged between 50-70 are screened. In the near future this will be extended to women aged between 47-73.

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening

Lincolnshire diabetic retinopathy screening information is available by following this link.

Pregnancy and Newborn Babies

There are six screening programmes offered during pregnancy and for newborn babies - ask your midwife or health visitor. For advice about other types of screening, speak to your GP initially or visit www.screening.nhs.uk/public

Useful Contacts for the Lincolnshire Programmes

• Breast Screening Unit at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
  Tel: 01522 573999
• Bowel Cancer Hub Freephone Helpline -
  Tel: 0800 707 60 60
• Retinopathy Screening Programme
  Tel: 01205 358445
• Early Presentation of Cancer (EPOC) - 01522 533510 or www.epoc.me

Chlamydia Screening Programme

This is a national programme run through the Health Protection Agency. It seeks to opportunistically screen sexually active 15-24 year olds for chlamydia.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that often has no symptoms; it can affect all those sexually active, but is more prevalent in the 15-24 year olds age group. Chlamydia is serious, it can cause fertility issues in both men and women and is easily spreadable.

There are more than 420 screening sites across the county.

For more information about chlamydia please follow this link, or call our chlamydia screening team on 07879 630619.

NHS Health Checks

The practice offers NHS Health checks which are focused primarily on preventing vascular/heart disease, but also screen for diabetes and kidney disease. You will be invited for an NHS Health Check every five years if you are between 40 and 74 years old, as long as you don't have an existing vascular condition. These checks are performed by the Health Care Assistants and assess the risk factors likely to provoke coronary disease. After the health check you will receive a written summary of the findings and recommendations on lifestyle measures aimed at preventing problems emerging in the future.

Useful national links

• Breast Screening
• Bowel Cancer Screening
• Cervical Cancer Screening
• Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
• Foetal Anomaly Screening
• Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening
• Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening
• Newborn Infant and Physical Exam
• Newborn Blood Spot Screening
• Newborn Hearing Screening

Our nurses have special experience / qualifications in:

• Contraception
• Minor injuries
• Diabetes Asthma/COPD
• Vaccinations/travel health Medication reviews
• Cervical smears
• Complex dressings and wound care
• Weight Management
• Smoking Cessation

Our Health Care Assistants (HCA) do:

• Blood tests
• ECGs
• Blood pressure checks including 24 hour checks
• NHS Health checks

Our receptionists are trained to signpost you to the most appropriate clinician to maximise the overall appointments available to you.

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