Clinics & Services

Antenatal

Thursday afternoon (Smethwick) and Monday afternoon (Hollybush)

If you become pregnant please book a triple appointment with the midwife in which she will ask you a few questions and carry out a general health check. You will be seen regularly throughout your pregnancy either at the practice or at the local hospital.

Child immunisations

Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon (Smethwick) and every other Tuesday afternoon (Hollybush).

All new babies are invited for regular check ups from eight weeks old.

Stop Smoking

Thursday afternoon by appointment

We offer one-to-one sessions to help you stop smoking.

Minor Surgery

Minor operations can be done here at the surgery in our treatment room. Please discuss this with your doctor who will then arrange an appointment for you.

The following clinics and services are offered at both Smethwick and Hollybush by referral from your clinician:

• Diabetes
• Asthma
• COPD
• Health Trainer
• Chiropody
• Counselling
• Drugs Counselling
• Alcohol Counselling
• Elderly Care

Local Services

You can find medical and other support services that are available to you in our area by clicking this link

http://www.encanvas.com/smethwick/signposting/Page.aspx

Attached Services

District Nurses

The district nursing team work from The Smethwick Medical Centre and attend to those patients on our list who are housebound.

Community Midwives

Our midwife runs a clinic for pregnant women on Wednesday afternoons.

Specialist Care

If a GP or another member of our healthcare team believes you need hospital treatment or specialist care elsewhere, they will ask you where and when you would like to go. You can then book your own appointment.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to have some time to think about where and when you would like the treatment you can be offered the option of calling the practice later and we will be happy to book the appointment for you. 

Travel Vaccinations

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.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

Travel Questionnaire

If you are travelling to Europe a very useful booklet has been published with advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday. To visit please click:- http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/86/en.pdf (this is a large document and may take a minute or two to view)

You do not require a doctor's sickness 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, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

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.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. 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.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

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