Cervical smears are routinely recommended every three years for women between age 25 and 49. After this, every five years until 65 years old.
Blood Test (Phlebotomy)
Blood tests are taken by our healthcare assistants and phlebotomist.
If you have routine monitoring blood tests
- For monitoring for a long term condition such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease or hypothyroidism – we will invite you in for these tests when they are due
- For monitoring safe use of medications such as blood thinners, blood pressure tablets or immunosuppressive medications – we will invite you in for these tests when they are due
you are requesting a blood test to check on underlying symptoms, for example constant tiredness, prostate or menopausal symptoms, this will have to be assessed by a clinician first
If you are requesting a blood test to check on underlying symptoms, this will have to be assessed by a clinician first.
Blood Pressure Checks
High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease and strokes. All of our clinical team are able to check your blood pressure. It is called a ‘silent disease’ as often doesn’t cause symptoms and therefore we look to opportunistically check your blood pressure in clinics, if you don’t have a diagnosis of high blood pressure and see us for another matter.
If you have a diagnosis of high blood pressure, we will inform you when your blood pressure check is due. If you need more regular monitoring we will inform you when your next check is due.
How to check your own blood pressure without a GP appointment: How to check your own blood pressure without a GP appointment:
- With your own home blood pressure monitor, you can find out more about this and how to submit readings to us
- If you do not have your own blood pressure monitor we can lend one to you, ask about this at reception
- Using the self blood pressure checking machine at Sheringham Medical Practice
Baby / Child Immunisations
Baby and child immunisations are offered at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months old, and before your child starts school.
The full schedule is available here
You will be notified when the immunisation is due
Baby Checks (6-8 week)
At 6-8 weeks, your baby should have a thorough physical examination. This is usually done by a GP.
Your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and – for boys – testicles will be checked. They’ll also have their weight and other relevant measures taken.
A GP or health visitor will discuss your baby’s vaccinations with you. These are offered at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months old, and before your child starts school.
They’ll also ask you how you’ve been feeling emotionally and physically since the birth of your baby.
Asthma and COPD Reviews
Asthma and COPD are long term conditions and regular reviews are needed to ensure good symptom control.
If you have a diagnosis of asthma or COPD, we will inform you when your review is due annually. If you need more regular monitoring we will inform you when your next check is due.
Annual Health Checks Support Resources
- Cervical screening – Accessing cervical screening with the right support for people with a learning disability – YouTube
- AHC and Health Action Plan – Charlotte’s annual health check and health action plan – YouTube
- Reasonable adjustments – Use of reasonable adjustments to reduce health inequalities for people with a learning disability – YouTube
Blood Test Information
Phlebotomy Service for Patients over 12
From Tuesday 3rd May, Sheringham Medical Practice will be providing a Phlebotomy service to all patients over the age of 12 years.
If a clinician at the practice has requested that you have a blood test you can book your appointment by either:
- Online booking through SystmOnline
- Online via an appointment link sent to your Smartphone
- By telephone on 01263 820739 – Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:30
Children under 12 years will still be required to book their appointments at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Patients who require a blood test as part of their hospital care should get a blood test at Cromer and District Hospital.
Please call 01603 646168 to arrange your appointment for blood tests requested by the hospital.
Clinics we offer at our GP surgery
We provide a range of services and clinics.
The following clinics are available at our surgery by appointment:
- Baby Immunisations
- Blood pressure and urine checks
- Cervical smears
- Childhood immunisations
- Chronic disease management
- Cryotherapy
- Family planning advice
- Minor injuries
- Skin Surgery
- Removal of stitches
- Registration health checks
- Travel Advice and Vaccinations
Chargeable Services
Please review our list of non-NHS work that we offer at our GP surgery, which attract a fee. This includes certificates, forms, medical examinations and various travel vaccinations.
Why does my doctor charge fees?
When your doctor is asked to give medical information about you in the form of a report, letter or certificate, the request kick starts a series of processes.
This takes time and is not always straightforward or simple to complete. Some of the information is not available easily and will mean the doctor has to sort and select the right information for the request.
The doctor also must establish who is funding this work and if it is not part of their NHS work, agree a fee for this.
Surely the work is paid for by the NHS?
Many patients see their doctor as the embodiment of the NHS and all that it provides – free care at the point of delivery. However not all work doctors are asked to do is paid for by the NHS and many GPs are self-employed.
This means they must cover their time and costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS only pays for NHS work, any work outside of the NHS must be funded by other means and this is why fees are charged.
Why does it take so long?
Your doctor receives large amounts of request and which is often to do with whether your general health allows you to do something e.g. to work, receive benefits, drive, play sport, attend school, own a house, a firearm or it is for insurance, court or other medico-legal reasons.
All requests will vary in complexity, volume and consistency ranging from signing a certificate which can take minutes, to an in-depth report with an examination that can take hours.
What your doctor is signing
When your doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true.
In order to complete even the simplest of forms, they may have to check your entire medical record (some of which may not be accessible on a computer or on site).
Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the Police.
Why does my doctor seem reluctant or say no to this request?
Your doctor is inundated with work. They have to balance their time with treating the sick, keeping their practice afloat and making sure they are doing all of this safely and within their professional duties as a doctor.
With certain exceptions written within their contract, doctors do not have to carry out non-NHS work. However, many choose to for the benefit of you and other families they treat.
Where a doctor chooses to undertake the work, we advise them to inform and always agree a fee in advance of undertaking work.
Should their volume of work prove to be greater or more complex than expected, the doctor will contact you to discuss how to proceed.
What can I do to help?
– Not all documents need a signature by a doctor and can be done by other professionals. Please check the form and accompanying guidance as you may get a quicker response that way.
– If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your doctor if he or she is prepared to complete them at the same time to speed up the process.
– Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. Urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more.
– Don’t book an appointment with your doctor to complete forms without checking with your doctor’s administrative staff as to whether you need to or not.