Should your doctor feel that it is medically necessary for you to have a blood test they will give you a form for this.

We offer pre booked appointments with the phlebotomist for blood tests at the surgery. Please tell the receptionist it is for a blood test, when booking the appointment.

The timings of the surgery phlebotomy clinics are:

Phlebotomy times are:

• Monday – 08:00-10:00
• Tuesday – 08:00-09:00
• Wednesday – 08:00-09:40
• Thursday – 13:00-14:00
• Friday – 08:00-09:30

Alternatively you can choose to take the blood test form to have the test done at one of the local hospitals. Both St Helier and the Nelson Medical Practice carry out tests – please visit the websites below to check timings:

• Epsom and St Helier Hospital
• Nelson Medical Practice

If you are advised that you need a fasting blood test, this means that you cannot have anything to eat or drink apart from water for 12 hours before the test.

Smear Tests

• Smear tests are performed by the nurse.
• Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
• It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer .
• All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be invited by letter. Routine smears are every 3yrs until the age of 50 when it becomes every 5yrs.
• During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.
• The sample is tested for changes to the cells of your cervix.
• Finding abnormal changes early means they can be monitored or treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
• You’ll get your results by letter, usually in about 2 weeks.
• For more information about cervical screening, please see www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening.

Childhood immunisations are important for preventing infectious diseases.The nurse in the surgery will give these immunisations and will discuss any concerns you might have, please bring your baby’s red book with you to the surgery.

lf you are coming from abroad or any other surgery, please bring any records that might show immunisations. Please remember they differ from country to country, so it is important we check to ensure your child is properly vaccinated.

If you are between the ages of 15- 25 you can have a free chlamydia test.

There are two main ways the sample can be collected:

• Using a swab – a small cotton bud is gently wiped over the area that might be infected, such as inside the vagina or inside the anus.
• Urinating into a container – this should ideally be done at least 1 or 2 hours after you last urinated.

This is done on a urine sample. The results are confidential and can be sent to your mobile phone. Ask the doctors, advanced nurse practitioners or nurses for the test.

For more information about chlamydia and the national screening programme visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/diagnosis.

More information about our local sexual health clinics, can be found by visiting the Sexual health South West London website.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit an annual review of your asthma symptoms please use this form. If your symptoms are deteriorating or you are having any concerns please make an appointment with our nurse.

Check-ups should take place on a yearly basis at the surgery. This will be a complete medical by the nurse and will involve blood tests in the case of diabetic and heart patients.

Please always let the receptionist know that you are having a check-up and the correct amount of time will be allowed.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a contraceptive pill review please use this form.

It is important to decide what sort of contraceptive is available and suitable for you.

We are able to provide a full range of contraceptive options at the surgery including:

• Coil fitting.
• Contraceptive implants.
• Oral contraceptives.
• Depot injections.
• Patches.

Please let the receptionist know the reason for your appointment and they will arrange it with an appropriate clinician.

It is important if you are on blood pressure medication, or cholesterol controlling drugs and medication for thyroid problems to be seen regularly by the nurse for a check-up.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit your blood pressure readings on a regular basis please use this form.

If you have blood pressure problems the nurse will advise you when you have to be seen. Cholesterol patients must have a check-up at least once a year and this will also involve a blood test. Thyroid medication patients will also need a yearly blood test to ensure they are on the correct level of medication.

Visit our Wellbeing Centre for advice on stop smoking, drugs and alcohol, weight management and much more.

This is a service we have recently been able to offer. Health advisers come to the surgery to offer support and advice for a variety of problems including obesity and weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption and lifestyle advice for other problems including high cholesterol.

You can book to see the One You Merton adviser at reception. To find out more information please click on link www.oneyoumerton.org.

These tests are done on all patients over the age of 50 years and you will receive a letter from the health authority to go for a test. It is a special type of x-ray of the breast and it will show any abnormality. Our mammograms are done in a special designated clinic at St Georges Hospital called Duchess of Kent Breast Unit.

Please think carefully if you decide not to go and if you are worried please see the nurse or the doctor for advice and reassurance.

If you have been advised by the surgery that your medication review is due please use this form.

If you are on medication supplied by the hospital or the GP you will be requested to attend the surgery for reviews, the review period can be between 6 and 12 months.

Please attend, even if you are attending the hospital.

It is not the doctor at the hospital taking responsibility for signing your prescriptions, it is the doctor in the surgery. Blood test or other monitoring is required for some medications and it is very important that you have this done when needed, otherwise it may prevent prescriptions from being issued.

These are currently being offered to patients over the age of 40 to assess and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke. To be entitled to an NHS Health Check you need to have received an initiation letter.

For further information, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check.

Medical examinations for special purposes:

• Elderly drivers.
• Pre-employment.
• Fitness to undertake sports.
• Travel, taxi drivers.
• Lorry drivers and bus drivers.

These can be provided by appointment only.

There is a charge for this service. It is not done in the middle of our normal surgery. Do not book a routine appointment, as this will only cause embarrassment if the doctor has to turn you away.

Please bring your forms with you.

The practice nurses and the health care assistants can be seen by appointment for:

• Asthma Reviews – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit an annual review of your asthma symptoms, please use this form. If your symptoms are deteriorating or you are having any concerns please make an appointment with our nurse.
• Spirometry
• Diabetes
• Blood pressure patients – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit your blood pressure readings on a regular basis, please use this form.
• Advice for general health care including weight/diet/smoking – Visit our wellbeing centre for advice on stop smoking, weight management and much more.

In addition practice nurses can be seen for the following:

• Nursing procedures such as dressings, removing sutures, injections ear syringing
• Family planning (Pills and injections) – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a contraceptive pill review, please use this form.
• Smears
• Travel health – If you are travelling abroad please make sure you contact us in plenty of time to arrange any vaccinations that may be necessary. To help the travel nurses assess your travel needs it is important that they are in receipt of the assessment form before your appointment.
• Spirometry
• Influenza, pneumonia and shingles vaccination
• Injections
• Children’s immunisations

With some employment positions you need to have a vaccination for Hepatitis B.

• There is a course of three injections and also a blood test to ensure you are covered.
• A certificate will be provided.
• There is a charge for this vaccination for these purposes as it is not an NHS service.

Planning a pregnancy or do you need a pregnancy test?

Do you plan to have a baby or do you think you are pregnant? If you are planning a pregnancy please come and see the nurse who will discuss your general health.

The practice does not routinely do pregnancy tests so if you think you are pregnant, please perform a home pregnancy test. If the test is positive you can self refer to your chosen antenatal clinic by visiting book to see the practice nurse who will arrange referral to the antenatal clinic.

We host a midwife clinic with a visiting midwife from St Helier hospital attending on a Wednesday morning. These appointments need to be booked via reception.

If you have bleeding or pain in early pregnancy, this may be an emergency. Please contact the surgery or call 111 or attend the early pregnancy unit or A&E.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a smoking review on a regular basis please use this form.

We currently have a stop smoking clinic at the surgery run by the health adviser. All prescriptions to help you stop smoking are issued by this clinic.

A stop smoking service is also available via One You Merton.

If you are travelling abroad please make sure you contact us in plenty of time to arrange any vaccinations that may be necessary. To help the travel nurses assess your travel needs it is important that they are in receipt of the assessment form before your appointment.

Our practice nurses are available for advice and immunisations. An appointment should be made at least 8-12 weeks prior to travel.