Clinics & Services

Enhanced Services: 

The Practice holds a contract with Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board for some of our services.  As from the 1st April 2014, the Practice will hold a contract with NHS Lanarkshire  – many of the enhanced services are carried out by the Practice Nurses. 

• Annual Influenza Programme to protect those aged over 65 and those in specific risk groups
• Regular monitoring, by blood and urine tests, of patients on certain drugs for arthritis and bowel problems
• Annual comprehensive reviews for patients with: Coronary Heart disease; Diabetes,;Stroke; Epilepsy; COPD/Emphysema; Heart Failure
• Bowel Screening Programme.   Scotland has a higher rate of bowel cancer than most other countries in the Western world, but bowel cancer can be picked up at a very early stage through the bowel screening programme offered to 50-74 year old.  We hope that an increased awareness of the benefits of screening will result in a better uptake.  For further information, please ask the Reception Team, Practice Nurses or GP's for information.
• Anticipatory Care Planning is to help people with long term conditions have the confidence and knowledge to manage predictable fluctuations in their condition.   It is about knowing what changes to look out for and knowing the right action to take or the right person to contact.  Reviewing medication and updating contact information is an important part of anticipatory care planning.  If you think you or someone you know would benefit from making a plan, please contact the Reception Team to ask to speak with a GP.

 Other Services

Family Planning: the doctors and nurses will give advice on contraception and family planning to teenagers and adults, whether male or female.  All consultations for contraceptive advice are confidential.

Coils are checked and removed by Practice Nurse.  Dr Howie and Nurse McIntyre will fit and remove contraceptive implants. Please make an appointment with any of them to discuss this service.

Same day appointments are available with the doctors and nurses for emergency contraception.

Maternity Services: all of our doctors offer maternity medical services.  That is, antenatal and postnatal care shared with your chosen maternity hospital.  Pre-pregnancy advice is also available.

Cervical Screening: appointments are available with the GP of your choice or with any of the Practice Nurses.  Please let the receptionist know that you will be attending for this test so that an appropriate appointment can be given. 

Minor Surgery: Dr Howie runs a wart clinic one day each month.  Cryotherapy (freezing) treatment is used for warts, verrucae and skin tags. This is a quick and easy treatment which can avoid the need for referral to hospital.  Dr McIntyre and Dr Howie offer injections for pain relief in some joints and soft tissues.  Please make an appointment with one of them to discuss whether you may be suitable for any of these treatments. 

Health Checks:  The Health Care Support Worker offers health checks for those patients who do not suffer from Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke or Diabetes.

Health Board Services:  There are some services which we cannot provide at the Practice but which we do have access to at other sites.  Pyhsiotherapy, podiatry, speech therapy, dietetics, mental health services are available at Cambuslang Gate.  We have direct access to x-ray facilities at Victoria and Hairmyres Hospitals.  LENS (Lanarkshire Eyehealth Network Scheme) for any concerns you may have with the health of your eyes or eye injuries is also accessible.

Self referral:Patients can self refer to Physiotherapy on 0845 604 0001 and to podiatry/chiropody on 0141 636 8421.

Smoking Cessation: the Practice offers Smoking Cessation advice.  Local specialised Stop Smoking Groups are also available.   Please contact 08452 17707 or text "Advice" to 81066.

Intimate Examinations:  We understand that these can be stressful and embarrassing.  The GPs will always obtain your permission before carrying out such an examination and offer you a chaperone.  This can be a nurse or a relative or friend.

Disabled Access: The Practice has a wheelchair ramp at the patient entrance to the surgery.  All GP's and Practice Nurse clinics are on the ground floor.  If you require assistance getting about the surgery, please ask Reception for assistance.

Loop System: The Practice has a Loop System in place for patients who are deaf or hard of hearing.  If you require to use this facility, please ask Reception for assistance.

There are some services which we cannot provide at the Practice but that our paitents can still access directly or via the GP.

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

SELF REFERRAL

The following services can be accessed directly by the patient without consulting with the GP:

Physiotherapy    0845 604 0001

The non emergency help service for advice, information and assessment of muscle and joint problems is available Monday to Friday between 2pm and 8pm.

TREATMENT ROOM CLINIC

There is now a Treatment Room Clinic which will operate within Cambuslang Clinic. Please telephone 0141 641 2085 for an appointment should you require this service. They will deal with appointments for such services as removal of stitches, wound dressings, ear syringing, etc.

Stop Smoking Group    08452 17 77 07 or text ADVICE to 81066

These groups run for 6 weeks and all participants are supplied with FREE NRT on weekly attendance.  For a specialist stop smoking course and information on venues within the locality, telephone or text the numbers above.

Mental Health Services    0141 232 4534

The Gateway Team within Cambuslang and Rutherglen provides services to people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.  The service offers four options:  Self help material; Advice clinic; Life Skills class and Guided Self help.  Please contact the number above to discuss your options.

GP REFERRAL

X-Ray - the Practice has access to the facilities at Victoria and Hairmyres hospitals.  This facility is open access but requires the relent Xray referral card completed by the GP.

Domiciliary Podiatry/Chiropody - for paitents who are housebound and do not have anyone who can take to them to a podiatrist.  GP must complete the referral card and send to the clinic.

WALKING AIDS/SPLINTS 

This is a new self referrel service which will run on a Thursday between the hours of 9am and 11am at the physiotherapy department based at Rutherglen Health Centre. Self referral forms can be provided from the reception desk at the Practice. 

08453 130 130    NHS Lanarkshire Enquiry Line

www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk.services/lens/pages/default.aspx

Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an Optometrist.  An Optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions.  They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.

The Optometrists who are part of the Lanarkshire Eye-health Network Scheme - known as LENS - can offer an appointment and assessment service for any concerns you may have with the health of your eyes or eye injuries including:

Red eye; sore eyes; deterioration of eyesight; other disturbances of eyesight.

A list of optometric practices participatient in the LENS can be accessed via the link above or by calling the enquiry telephone number.

If you are experiencing mouth pain, mouth ulcers, dental absess, your first port of call must be a dentist.  A dentist is the best person to assess and treat these problems.  A dentist can prescribe the necessary medicines to you if he thinks they are needed.

GPs will not prescribe antibiotics or medicines for dental problems.

NORTH AVENUE TRAVEL ADVICE

ARE YOU TRAVELLING ABROAD? You should contact a travel clinic at least 6 weeks prior to your
intended travel. 2 local travel clinics do not charge for a consultation and their details are as
follows:-

• Masta, East Kilbride 01355 578 008
• Superdrug, Sauchiehall Street 01341 332 6839

At this consultation you will be given advice relevant to the countries to which you intend to visit,and if you require Hepatitis A or B, Typhoid or Diptheria/polio/tetanus, this will be offered free of charge from the surgery. You should then make a 20 minute appointment with the Nurse when thishas been clarified by the travel clinic. Please ensure you tell the receptionist which of the aboveinjections you require. If there are no nurse appointments before the date of travel, you will haveto refer back to the travel clinic, where there will be a charge for these vaccinations.
If you intend travelling to more exotic destinations, are back-packing around countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand or are simply visiting friends or family in Pakistan and India, you may require vaccinations such as Rabies or JapB encephalitis and these would be done by the travelclinic at a cost.

Free destination specific advice is available at: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

* Please note that the Practice does not vaccinate children under the age of 16 years of age.

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday. To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)

Non-NHS Services

We are able to offer a range of services not covered under the NHS treatment.  This includes completing passport forms and insurance forms; medicals for work, driving and insurance companies; reports for lawyers and the DSS; completing holiday cancellation forms and so on. 

Many of these services incur a fee and details of these are available at reception.  The GPs at the surgery require at least three working days to complete passport forms etc. 

Please note that these forms will not be completed during a consultation with the doctor.

North Avenue Paperwork Guidance and Set Fees                           

Documentation that we do not have to provide as are non-contractual

• Extra evidence for PIP/DWP over and above standard medical form
• Marathon/skydiving etc
• Court letters requested by solicitors or patients
• Exam absence letters (as above)

Documentation that we do not provide:

• Passport form countersignature
• Shotgun license
• Gardening certificates
• Med 3/fit notes for the first 7 days of an illness
• Blue badge applications – these can be done via South Lanarkshire Council by the patient
• Housing letters

Set Fees

Documentation we provide free of charge

•         DS1500
•         Med 3/Fit notes after 7 days of illness
•         Professional evidence for court/written info
•        Council tax exemption forms
•        Jury duty exemption
•        Certificates for infectious diseases
•         Death certificates
•        Stillbirth certificates
•        Mat B 1 maternity certificates
•        Information requested by the court regarding bankruptcy
•         DWP pro-forma for benefits assessment (can also include those requested by Job Centre and Appeals service)
•        Council tax exemption forms ONLY to support a claim by or on behalf of severely mentally impaired person.
•        Some DVLA forms at their direct request
•        Vaccination summary