Chaperones

If you feel you would like a chaperone present at your consultation, please inform your doctor/nurse who will be happy to arrange this for you.

The practice prides itself in maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer (a ‘chaperone’) will be required.

This impartial observer will be a practice nurse or health care assistant who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a nurse in unavailable at the time of your consultation then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time.

You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.

The role of a Chaperone

A chaperone is there to:

• Maintain professional boundaries during intimate examinations
• Acknowledge a patient’s vulnerability
• Provide emotional comfort and reassurance
• Assist in the examination
• Assist with undressing patients, if required

If you require Urgent dental care and are unable to get booked in with your own dentist or if you don’t have a dentist you can call 0333 332 3800 Between the times of 8am and 10pm they are open everyday including weekends and bank holidays.

Please see posters below for more information.

The health care assistants are fully trained in phlebotomy and various fields.

You can see the health care assistants for blood tests, BP checks, over 65 health checks, NHS health checks, foot pulses, flu/pneumo/shingles vaccinations and B12 injections.

If you are aged 25 years you are now due your first smear test.

If ages 28 – 65 years and not had a recent smear over the past 3 years please ensure that you book an appointment with the receptionists.

This health check is to assess people aged between 40-74 to see if you are at risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.

The health check is made up of two appointments.

The first one being a 5 minute appointment to have your bloods taken to check your cholesterol level.

This test is usually fasting which means nothing to eat from 12 o’clock the night before.

Once your blood results are back you will then have the second appointment where the rest of the health check will be completed.

We will record your height weight and take your blood pressure.

The health care assistant will also discuss your results with you from the blood test and tell you what they mean and help support you to reduce your risk and stay healthy.

You will be given personalised advice on how to lower your risk and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Depending on the results some people may need to have another blood test to check for type 2 diabetes and also some people with high blood pressure will have their kidneys checked through a blood test.

Treatment or medication may be prescribed to help you maintain your health.

The practice nurse can be seen for various health problems and advice, COPD reviews, smears, contraception, immunisations (flu, pneumonia, shingles, child imms), BP checks, asthma reviews, diabetic reviews, and mental health reviews.

The practice nurse will carry out elderly checks in the comfort of their own home if they are unable to attend the surgery (by appointment only).

A referral from the GP must be obtained in order for an appointment to be arranged.

The Audiology clinics are held at the surgery every Tuesday.

You can call the district nurses on 0161 357 5190, who are based at Royton Health & Well-being Centre; there is an answerphone service to book an appointment.

They provide services such as removal of stitches and dressings, they also provide nursing care help and advice to patients in their own homes.

They can also organise equipment and adaptations to help the disabled.

The surgery runs a baby clinic every Tuesday but these can be booked at anytime if needed just ask the reception staff.

The nurse at the practice carries out all vaccinations; you will need an appointment if your child requires any immunisations.

Child assessments are also available by appointment these are sent out direct from the NHS Child Health service.

Please ensure you bring your RED BOOK to every baby clinic, this is very important as it enables the GP and nurse to check the child’s progress and immunisation status.

Our health care assistant currently has a comfort calling clinic for patients who are housebound, are vulnerable, have dementia patients, and isolated patients.

We recognise that patients do wish to be cared for in their homes locally with the support of the practice team.

The practice supports patients by monitoring their progress and reviewing their needs with the support of the GPs, voluntary and third party suppliers such as Age UK, Concern, Oldham Carers, Dementia Friends etc.