Annual review is encouraged and appointments may be arranged with the practice nurse.

These clinics are held by the practice nurses. The aim is to help ensure optimal control of cardiovascular diseases such as angina and stroke. If you are on the practice cardiovascular disease register, you should have regular checks of blood pressure and cholesterol. The basic checks will usually be done by the healthcare assistant with a follow up appointment with the practice nurse to review your progress.

All women aged from 25 to 65 should have regular cervical smear tests.  These are usually performed by a practice nurse.

Doctors perform routine 6-week developmental checks. Subsequent examinations at 7, 20 and 36 months are carried out by your Health Visitor.

Annual review clinics are arranged and run by the Practice Nurses.

Annual review of all patients with Diabetes is standard practice. A diabetic register is kept and all patients will be encouraged to attend for annual review.

Routine immunisations for children and adults are available and encouraged by the practice.

Lancaster Medical Practice is making important changes to some of its services as part of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) collective action in response to the increasing pressures on GP practices across the UK.

This action is part of the BMA’s efforts to address issues related to underfunded services, rising demand, and the sustainability of general practice, which have been putting immense strain on healthcare providers.

More information on changes to our services

If you have a recent problem with your eyes – such as sore eyes, red eyes or visual disturbance – you can be assessed and treated by a local opticians as part of our Community Eye Care Service.

See more details of the Community Eye Care Service.

At Lancaster Medical Practice, we want our patients to have the best treatment possible and so we encourage you to engage in self-care if you are experiencing issues with ear wax. The options are either ear drops, or if they aren’t effective then studies have shown that self-irrigation using a bulb-syringe is a fantastic form of self-treatment.

What is ear wax?

Ear wax is normal and is produced to form a protective coating over the skin in the ear canal. Ears are normally self-cleaning – the movement of your jaw whilst eating and talking helps to move the wax along the canal where it will usually fall out naturally without you noticing.

Why is my ear blocked with wax?

The amount of ear wax produced varies from person to person; some people produce excessive amounts which can lead to a blockage in the ear canal.

You are more likely to develop a blockage of wax in the canal if you:

• use cotton ear buds to clean the ear as this pushes the wax deeper into the canal

• wear a hearing aid, ear plugs or use in-ear headphones – as these can all interfere with the natural process of wax expulsion

• have abnormally narrow ear canals

• have a particularly hairy ear canal

• are elderly – because the ear wax you produce is drier and harder

• have a dry skin problem such as eczema or psoriasis.

Ear wax only becomes a problem if it causes deafness, discomfort or if your health professional requires a clear view of your ear drum.

If there is a build-up of wax in your ear(s) please read our self-help guide

Never use cotton buds in your ears! This pushes the wax further into the ear making it worse. It can also cause ear infections and damage the ear drum.

Please do not attempt to self-treat if any of the following apply to you:

• Pain in the ear

• If you have an offensive discharge or bleeding from the ear (this may mean you have an ear infection)

• A history of ear drum perforation in the affected ear

• A recent history of an ear infection in the affected ear

• Dizziness

• Symptoms of infection in the ear – usually pain or a smelly discharge

• If you only have one hearing ear which is the affected ear

• Previous ear surgery on the affected ear

• Sudden deafness or buzzing

• Foreign bodies in the ear

If you experience any of the above, you should seek advice from your GP or Advanced Clinical Practitioner at Lancaster Medical Practice.

We will never refuse appointments for those who have ear pain.

Please note: Lancaster Medical Practice is no longer providing an ear syringing service.

We are committed to providing best practice and high quality medical care to our registered patients. Ear syringing is no longer considered to be the first line treatment for the clearing of ear wax and it is not a funded service within the NHS for General Practice.

Statement of Fitness for Work – Fit Note/Sick Note

You do not require a doctor’s certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, called a ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’ from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

With your employer’s support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Fit notes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Lancaster Medical Practice provides a listening service for anyone that is struggling to find someone to talk to.

If you are struggling with issues such as bereavement, relationship difficulties, stress, anxiety, depression or illness then our trained listeners are here to help.

Telephone appointments are available every Friday in which you are free to talk in confidence for up to an hour.

Book an appointment by phone or in person at reception.

To order your medication, you can:

Use Patient Access or the NHS App. You may need to register for Online Services first.

or

Post your prescription request in the post box at any of our surgeries. These are checked regularly throughout the day.

Our current turnaround for prescriptions is 4 working days. After this time you will be able to collect your medications from your nominated pharmacy or, if available, arrange delivery.

More information on prescriptions

Please see below for local free & confidential services for sexually transmitted infection screening.

Local Sexual Health Services

Lancaster University Health Centre – 01524 238110

Lancaster Medical Practice (Dalton Square/Owen Rd) – 01524 238110

Queen Square Healthub – 01524 580970

Lancashire Sexual Health Services

NHS Website – Sexual Health

Test Results

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice. It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if you are advised to do so.

If you have not heard from the practice within 2 weeks following a test contact the practice to check on the results, unless you have a review appointment arranged. You can use Online Consult to request your test results.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health;

• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection;

• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning.

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child’s hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

Blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed – NHS website.

If you need a blood test for a hospital appointment, please call 01539 715700.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

X-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks – NHS website.

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:

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.

You can use Online Consult to access information and advice, and contact the practice.

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.

Travelling in Europe

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

A-C-E 

Mental health support for those aged 11 – 25

Asthma UK

This website has been revamped to meet the needs of the thousands of people with asthma who visit the site each day, either to find important information about asthma and how to control it

Alzheimer’s Society

Comprehensive information for people with all forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

British Heart Foundation

Our vision is of a world in which people do not die prematurely of heart disease. We will achieve this through our pioneering research, our vital prevention activity and by ensuring quality care and support for people living with heart disease.

We need you to share our vision because, together, we really can beat heart disease.

Breathe Easy

Breathe Easy groups are an informal drop-in for anyone aged 18 or over living with any respiratory condition.

They are free to attend with no need for a referral or appointment.

Cancerhelp

Free information service provided by Cancer Research UK about cancer and cancer care for people with cancer and their families. Information is formatted in such a way that makes understanding the website an easy process

Diabetes UK

Largest charity in the UK devoted to the care and treatment of people with diabetes in order to improve the quality of life for people with the condition

Epilepsy Action

Epilepsy Action is the largest member-led epilepsy organisation in Britain, acting as the voice for the UK’s estimated 456,000 people with epilepsy, as well as their friends, families, carers, health professionals and the many other people on whose lives the condition has an impact.

Guide Dogs for the Blind  

Guide Dogs wants a world in which all blind and partially-sighted people enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everyone else. Their mission is to provide guide dogs and other mobility services that increase the independence and dignity of blind and partially-sighted people. We campaign for improved rehabilitation services and unhindered access for all blind and partially-sighted people.

Kooth

Online mental wellbeing community for young people

Lancashire Mind 

Mental health resources and coaching sessions for young people

Macmillan Cancer Support

Europe’s leading cancer information charity, with over 4,500 pages of up-to-date cancer information, practical advice and support for cancer patients, their families and carers.

Mental Health Foundation

Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is a leading UK charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems, whatever their age and wherever they live

MS Society

Around 100,000 people in the UK have MS. It affects two million more. We offer hope for the future by investing millions in research, and help for today through our information, support and campaigning.

Prop-Up Project 

A group for teenagers & young adults who find socialising with others their age hard & would like to improve their mental health.

Relate

Relate offers advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face, by phone and through this website.

Sense

Sense is the leading national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. We provide expert advice and information as well as specialist services to deafblind people, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. We also support people who have sensory impairments with additional disabilities

Young Minds

Provides young people with tools and resources to look after their mental health