Ante-natal clinics
Ante-natal Clinics
At Heathgate we provide a full range of antenatal and postnatal care on a shared basis with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The community midwife covering our practice area visits the Poringland surgery on Wednesday mornings and expectant mums should contact reception to make an appointment to see her.
Anticoagulation (INR Clinic)
Warfarin is a drug given to thin or anticoagulate the blood in various conditions in which there is the risk of abnormal blood clots developing. If you take Warfarin, you will need to have your blood monitored regularly to check the dose you are taking to make that your blood is not 'too thick' or 'too thin'.
We provide a state of the art anticoagulation monitoring service. Rather than taking a sample of blood and sending it to the hospital for analysis, this is done in-house with a sample taken from a finger prick. Our trained nursing team use a piece of specialist decision making software which will review the blood result and provide a new dosage for you. Patients will leave the practice with a personalized dosage chart detailing the date of the next review.
Asthma Clinic/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Clinic
These clinics are primarily run by our nursing team and provide a full review for patients with respiratory problems. Advice is given about inhaler technique and home monitoring of respiratory flows using peak flow meters and chart readings. Medication is adjusted where appropriate.
Breast Screening
Mammography (taking x-rays of breast tissue) is organised by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and takes place in mobile units which travel across the county.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical screening is undertaken to pick up mild pre-cancerous changes before they turn into anything more serious. There are several grades of abnormal smear before cancer develops, each of which can be treated successfully by a Gynaecologist. It is worth remembering that less than 10% of cervical smear tests show any abnormality at all. The nurse or doctor will take a sample from the cervix (the neck of the womb) by gently rotating a brush over it. This sample is mixed into a preservative fluid and sent to the laboratory at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for analysis. The result is usually sent within six to eight weeks. Our cervical smear recall program follows regional guidelines with the screening program starting at age 25, then every 3 years until the age of 49 and 5 years until the age of 64.
Child Health
Doctors are happy to provide advice on any aspect of child health by simply making a routine appointment at the surgery. Many parents first port of call is often the Health Visitor, a community nurse who is specially trained in child health. The Heathgate health visitor is Mary Pucknell and she is available on 01508 521061.
We provide a full child health surveillance service working alongside the local health visitors and school nurses. Routine examinations are undertaken at eight weeks by the GP. All childhood immunisations are performed at the surgery and a schedule of immunisations is detailed below:
| When to immunise | What vaccine is given | How it is given |
| Two, three and four months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hib (DTaP/IPV/Hib) Meningitis C | One injection |
| Around thirteen months old | Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) | One injection |
| Three years four months to five years old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) | One injection |
| Thirteen to eighteen years old | Tetanus, diphtheria and polio (Td/IPV) | One injection |
Chiropody Clinic
Referrals to the service are made either by the GP or self-referral, for which referral forms are available at both Poringland and Rockland St Mary surgeries. Patients will be seen by the Community Podiatrist at the Norwich Community Hospital.
Coronary Heart Disease Clinic
These clinics take place with either the GP or the nurse throughout the week. They are to monitor patients who have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Advice is given about reducing risk factors. The check includes blood pressure measurements, a medication review and advice on diet and exercise. If you do suffer from coronary heart disease, you will be contacted to arrange an appointment for an annual review.
Counselling
Counsellors work in the practice and are able to help adults (over 16 years) with a wide range of problems including stress, depression, emotional difficulties, relationship problems, bereavement and phobias.
You will need a referral from your doctor to see a counsellor.
Diabetic Clinic
We believe it is important to see our diabetic patients at regular intervals throughout the year. This enables you to understand your diabetes better and, therefore, manage it more successfully. The clinics provide dietary advice, advice on home monitoring of your blood sugar levels, blood pressure check and blood and urine tests. All our diabetics are also offered annual checks with a chiropodist and an annual eye examination.
Family Planning and Contraception
All the doctors provide a full family planning service including:
Advice on contraceptive methods including the contraceptive pill
Fitting of diaphragms
Fitting of coils
Emergency contraception
Counselling and referral for termination of pregnancy
Advice about sterilisation and referral if required
Advice on safer sex
Appointments for family planning advice are during regular surgery times. Please book a routine appointment with a doctor if it is the first time you have requested contraception and then with the nurse subsequently for the contraceptive check. This service is provide free of charge to patients.
Hypertension Clinic
High blood pressure for a long periods increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This risk can be reduced by controlling blood pressure and so those patients with high blood pressure are recalled six monthly for review. This review program includes blood tests, urine tests and ECGs where appropriate. Appointments for hypertension checks should be made with either the practice nurse or nursing assistant.
Medicals
Medical examinations for insurance purposes, HGV or PSV drivers, elderly drivers or for other reasons can be arranged by appointment. As these do not come under the doctors terms of NHS service, a private fee will be payable.
New Patient Consultations
Every patient registering with Heathgate Medical Practice will be offered a new patient registration medical. The appointment gives you a change to meet us, have your health checked and bring to light any ongoing medical problems or important past medical history before we receive your medical records from your previous surgery. Your appointment will be with either a doctor or practice nurse and you will be asked to bring with you a urine sample for analysis. The new patient registration medical also allows us to provide repeat medication from your previous surgery.
Physiotherapy Clinics
Our community physiotherapists visit the surgery four days a week. Appointments for theses clinics are by doctor referral only.
Smoking Cessation Clinics
Our smoking cessation clinics, run by our practice nurse team, are designed to help you kick the habit. At your first visit the nurse will take time to find out about your smoking habits and give your practical advice about giving up. She will also assess your suitability for nicotine replacement therapy and self management plan will be agreed.
Travel/Holiday Advice Clinic
Our Practice Nurse team will provide travellers with advice about immunisations and malarial prophylaxis relevant to the country they are visiting. Most immunisations are available at Heathgate Medical Practice although some, such as Yellow Fever, are only available at selected surgeries across the county. There may be a cost incurred for some of the immunisations as not all of these are covered by the NHS.
General advice about health measures and illness prevention whilst travelling is provided. Please remember that if you need immunisations you should start to prepare for these at least 2 months before you travel.
Minor Surgery and Cryotherapy
We all have moles. Most of them are totally innocent. However if you have a mole that is growing, itching, bleeding, changing in shape or colour then we are happy to look at it for you. It is still likely to be innocent.
We are also able to remove some sorts of moles, warts and other lumps and bumps. If you would like something removed, you can make an appointment to discuss it with one of the doctors.
It may be best to leave it alone or we may refer you to a specialist. We will only remove warts and moles it if is appropriate to do so and not for cosmetic reasons.
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