Health Services:

New Patients:

All patients registering with the practice are asked to see the nurse within the first month of joining the practice and will receive a medical check-up, including testing of a sample of urine , blood pressure, etc., and offered relevant advice on any aspect of their health.

The 'Usual Doctor' System:

When you register with the practice the Care Trust automatically gives you the name of the doctor you are registered with. This is a fairly old-fashioned system and often results with you being given a named doctor, who may not be the doctor you normally see. Similarly that doctor may not work at the particular surgery which is more convenient to you to attend or you may have been registered with a male doctor and prefer a female doctor, or vice versa.

For this reason, Wellway Medical Group uses a system in which all patients are assigned to one doctor, the Usual Doctor. The Usual Doctor is normally the doctor that they see most often. The Usual Doctor will review all the medications on a regular basis; will be responsible for monitoring blood results and reviewing letters. The Usual Doctor overviews the care in the background, but would inform other doctors in the practice if they have triggered referrals or investigations regarding results, etc.

Health Promotion Clinics:

Sessions are held throughout the week by the nurses for Well Woman, Well Man, Asthma, Diabetes as well as routine cardiovascular checks.

Family Planning:

Advice on all aspects of family planning is given during normal surgery hours by the doctor or nurses. Condoms are available at all our surgeries, free of charge.

Maternity:

Antenatal clinics are held as follows:

A doctor, community midwife and health visitor are in attendance at all the above clinics to provide care and support. Our midwives also run Parent Craft sessions and care for the newborn baby for the first two weeks of life.

Preconception advice is available from doctors and nurses.

Babies/Child Health Development checks:

Our Health Visitors offer services which include:

1. Help, support and practical advice for young families. Families are visited by appointment in their homes as well as having open access to a weekly Well Baby/Family Drop In at all of our surgeries. At the initial contact, the Health Visitor carries out a Health Needs Assessment with the family to ensure an individual Health care Plan, which promotes partnership working with the clients and health visitor. This identifies health needs and allows the targeting of support.

   Well Baby/Family Drop In Clinic Times:

   Lynemouth Surgery:	Tuesdays	1.30pm - 3.30pm
   Morpeth (Gas House Lane):	Wednesdays	9.30am - 11.30am
   Pegswood Surgery:	Thursdays	9.30am - 11.30am
   Newbiggin Health Centre:	Tuesdays	9.00am - 11.30am

2. The Health Visiting service promotes well-being in an holistic manner, focusing on a family-centred Public Health Role.

3. Child Health Surveillance - is based on the Hall 4 criteria - as a standard of care contacts. This again is negotiated and adapted as individual and family needs are highlighted.

All babies and children will be offered health and development checks at 6-8 weeks, 7-9 months, 2 years and 4 years by your nursery nurse or Health Visitor. A neonatal hearing test is performed prior to leaving the hospital after delivery. An individual hearing test can be arranged for any child who did not access this service at 7-9 months.

Childhood Immunisations:

Immunisation protects not only your young baby and child, but other children and adults as well. It is quick, safe and simple. Your Health Visitor will discuss and advise you concerning the immunisation your child or baby will need. Immunisations are given at 2, 3 and 4 months, 13-15 months and 3½-4 years of age.

Cervical Smears:

We advise all women to have regular smear tests. If you have not had a smear test for three years please make an appointment to have this done. We will then remind you to have this repeated every three years. All routine smears are carried out by the nurses.

Patients over 75:

If you are aged 75 or over, you need to be seen by a member of the team every twelve months. This can be done at the surgery if you are well enough to attend or, if you are housebound, a home visit can be arranged.

Minor Surgery:

Minor Surgical procedures, including the removal of moles and cysts, joint injection and cryocautery are carried out in our main surgery at Morpeth. Appointments for suitable procedures can be made by seeing your doctor.

Foreign Travel:

A full range of foreign travel and holiday vaccinations are provided in our Travel Clinic run from the main surgery in Morpeth. We are also registered as a Yellow Fever centre. For all advice regarding your vaccination requirements, please make an appointment with the Travel Clinic Nurse. NB: There is a charge for this service.

Menopause Clinic:

The role of Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is becoming more controversial. It is however accepted that post menopausal women may benefit from the use of HRT for menopausal symptom relief - it is also effective in the prevention of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) and subsequent fractures of the hip, wrist and spine. The menopause clinic provides specific advice and treatment, where appropriate, for women who may be concerned.

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