Services We Offer at Dr Jefferies and Partners

Common MSK conditions can cause pain in the parts of your body that help you when moving, such as your muscles, bones, and joints.

Examples include:

• Back/Neck Pain
• Shoulder/Elbow Pain
• Hip/Knee Pain
• Ankle/Foot Pain
• Muscle Strain
• Frozen Shoulder
• Trapped Nerves
• Sports Injuries
• Tennis/Golfers Elbow
• Whiplash Injury

Our service lets you book with an experienced musculoskeletal specialist (MSK), who has advanced expertise in the treatment and management of such conditions, and without having to wait to see your GP first.

What Happens In A Consultation?

Our MSK specialist will discuss your history and perform a thorough examination. They will assess, diagnose your condition and provide advice and management, all of which will be tailored to you.

Ability To Refer

Our MSK specialist is part of the practice medical team and can request any necessary referrals or further tests after your assessment, such as:

• Blood tests, X-Rays, medication
• Local physiotherapy, podiatry services or a specialist pain clinic.
• Local Orthopaedic/Rheumatology services.
• Minor surgery at Dr Jefferies and Partners.

How do I book an appointment?

Patients can make an appointment with reception in person or by phone.

We offer a range of services to aid those who care for others, feel free to contact the surgery for more information and advice or visit the NHS website. Some more specific links are listed below:

• Introduction to care and support
• Practical tips if you care for someone
• Care after a hospital stay
• Carers' breaks and respite care
• Support and benefits for carers
• Work and disability
• Help for young carers
• Carer's assessments
• How to pay for care and support
• Carer's Allowance

Carers Direct can also be contacted by email at carersdirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk or on 0300 123 1053 between 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm at weekends and calls are free from UK landlines.

If you have been off work poorly for less than seven days, you can self certify your absence and therefore do not require a sick note from the clinician.

If you will be off work for more than seven days, a Sick note can be requested using the form below. Please select Sick/Fit Note and then choose Sick Note and complete all relevant fields.

If you are feeling a bit better and would like to return to work but are not sure if you are ready, a Fit note can be requested using the same form. A fit note can help you get back to work by requesting additional support from your employer such as a phased return or amended hours.

A clinician will review your request and issue your note if appropriate within 10 working days.

If you require a medical letter, report or summary from your GP, please speak to reception who will advise you accordingly.

Please note this service can take from 10 to 14 working days and a fee will be applicable, from £40 - Fees for Non-NHS Services

Depending on your type of wound, our nurses will create a custom recovery programme to encourage healing of your wound, prevent infection and minimise further damage. They are experienced in dealing with acute wounds, chronic wounds and pressure sores.

Signs and symptoms of wound infection include:

• Locally - pain, swelling, warmth, redness, smelly, blood stains, cloudy secretions
• Generally - fever, chills, rigor, sweating, fast pulse, headache, nausea, loss of appetite and tiredness

Health checks are part of a national scheme to help prevent the onset of certain health problems. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 who has not been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia will be invited for a check once every five years. If you are outside the age range and concerned about your health, you should contact us.

To find out more about the free NHS health checks, use the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/ 

Long term illness clinics are available for the following diseases:

• Diabetes - Dietary Advice / Ramadan
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Chronic Heart Disease
• Thyroid problems
• High blood pressure

These clinics are run by the Nurse, the Doctor and a Health Care Assistant. Patients with any of the above conditions will be required to have a review at least once a year to ensure they are well controlled and that they are receiving the most adequate therapy for their condition. The patient will see the Nurse or Health Care Assistant for a general review which includes physical examination, some tests (blood tests, lung function, etc) and education.

Depending on how well controlled you are sometimes the Nurse will ask you to see the Doctor to review the results and management. Some of these reviews take longer that others, so when you book your appointment please mention which review you need so we have enough time to carry out a thorough check.

We operate a professional and experienced substance misuse clinic and appreciate that everyone is entitled to treatment for drug addiction in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem.

At your first appointment, you will be asked about your drug use and your work, family and housing situation. We may also do some urine or saliva tests.

We will then talk you through your treatment options and agree a plan with you. Treatment options can include:

• Talking therapies
• Treatment with medicines
• Detox
• Support groups
• Reducing harm

Please contact reception to discuss the way forward.

If you are taking Anticoagulants (most commonly Warfarin, sometimes Sinthrome) for a short period of time or as a lifelong treatment, you should be attending an Anticoagulation clinic. This group of drugs makes blood to take longer to clot and can make you prone to bleed for which is necessary to monitor your blood closely.

In this clinic, which is led by a nurse/healthcare assistant and supervised by a clinician, we take a blood sample from your finger and perform a test that measures how long your blood takes to clot and adjust your medication dose in order to keep your therapy safe and under control. It is extremely important that patients on this treatment attend regularly to reduce the risk of complications.

If your Doctor has prescribed you Warfarin, Sinthrome or any other anticoagulant (please note that Aspirin is not an anticoagulant) and you are not being monitored anywhere else please make an appointment for the Anticoagulation Clinic.

As well as routine vaccinations and immunisation injections, we can also carry out joint injections at the practice.

We are able to check your blood pressure to see if it is too high or too low. 

High blood pressure (hypertension) puts a strain on your heart and can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness and fainting but usually isn't as serious.

Having a test is easy and could save your life.

If you require a blood test, this will be carried out by appointment with the Health Care Assistant.

It is very important that you are aware whether or not this is a fasting blood test, in which case nothing can be eaten or drunk for 12 hours before the blood being taken. 

• You must not eat or drink anything, except for water, for at least 12 hours before your appointment with the nurse.
• You can have your regular medication with a glass of water on the day of the appointment. Do not stop you medication unless you doctor advised you otherwise.
• If the test requested is a lipid profile (cholesterol test) you should have a light, early meal the night before the test, avoiding greasy foods such as cheese, bacon, sausages, fries, etc.
• You must not have any alcoholic drinks the night before the test.
• If you have diabetes and are on insulin or oral medication, try to get the earliest appointment possible and ensure you have your breakfast as soon as you come out of the surgery. It is advisable that you bring a snack with you, like a banana or a yogurt, in case you experience symptoms of hypoglycaemia.

And finally, please let the nurse know if you think you did not follow these instructions; she will advice you what to do.

The minor surgery clinic runs every week on Wednesdays from 8.00am - 12.00pm.

All patients will be seen by a doctor prior to booking an appointment in the minor surgery clinic. We are able to provide various procedures within the Minor Surgery clinic. Please note however we are unable to do implants.

A referral to hospital can be a daunting experience, fortunately, since April 2008 - there has been the introduction of Free Choice.

Free Choice means that if you're referred to see a specialist, you can now choose to be treated at any hospital in England that meets NHS standards. This includes NHS hospitals and independent hospitals.

Free Choice is simple and effective so if you need a hospital referral ask your GP during a telephone consultation about your right to choose.

The practice provides a range of family planning services including:

• The combined oral contraceptive pill
• The progestogen-only pill
• Contraceptive injection
• Cervical screening 

For more information on family planning, please visit the NHS website: Where to get contraception

These appointments are with the practice nurse and we offer a range of appointments. Please contact us to book an appointment.

Please see the NHS site for immunisation advice 

Please note we do not offer Health Visitor services at Dr Jefferies and Partners, only the immunisations.

Note: Sick children should not be brought to this clinic, but will be seen during normal surgery hours.

Flu vaccination is available for all our vulnerable patients. This includes patients who are over 65 years, together with diabetics, asthmatics and patients with heart problems and anyone aged 2, 3 or 4 are allowed to have a nasal flu vaccination.

We recommend most strongly that if you fall into one of these groups that you have a flu vaccination each year.

The flu vaccination does not give you the flu.

Find out more: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/  

The pneumococcal vaccination is also available for the over 65’s and those who are at risk i.e. Diabetics, Asthmatics, COPD patients etc. Please check with the Nurse to see whether you are eligible for this vaccination on the NHS.

Our Nurses are able to provide comprehensive travel advice. This includes immunisation, malaria prophylaxis, information and general advice on health and safety while travelling abroad.

Some vaccines are not stocked but can be ordered or obtained from the pharmacy. If you have a query about these please contact the Surgery.

You must leave sufficient time for your vaccination programme to be completed, before you travel. This should be a minimum of four weeks before departure, but 6-8 weeks is preferable.

The Practice is able to offer a range of NHS and private vaccinations. Private vaccinations, such as Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis and Meningitis ACWY are charged for, as they are not available on the NHS - Fees for travel vaccinations

Our Nurses will be able to advise you on what vaccines you require for your particular destination.