Clinics & Services

Immunisations

We offer a comprehensive immunisation and vaccination service, covering childhood immunisations, tetanus, influenza, pneumonia, and travel vaccines. All appointments must be pre-booked.

Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, which are proteins that fight off specific diseases, without you actually contracting the illness. If you are later exposed to the disease, your immune system will recognise it and rapidly produce the necessary antibodies to protect you.

Newborn babies receive temporary protection (passive immunity) against some diseases, such as measles, mumps, and rubella, through antibodies passed from their mothers via the placenta. This passive immunity typically lasts a few weeks or months, up to a year for diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella. This is why the MMR jab is routinely given after a child’s first birthday.

Cervical Smear Test

A “call and recall” system, operated across Lancashire on behalf of GP surgeries, will remind you when your cervical screening (smear test) is due. These important tests are performed by our practice nurses.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme aims to significantly reduce the number of women who develop cervical cancer and the number of deaths from the condition. Since its introduction in the 1980s, the number of cervical cancer cases has decreased by approximately 7% each year.

All women registered with a GP are invited for cervical screening:

Aged 25 to 49: Every five years. If you have tested negative for HPV, screening is every five years; if you are positive, you will be invited more frequently.
Aged 50 to 64: Every five years.

Regular screening helps identify and treat any abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix at an early stage, which can prevent cancer from developing. If you have any concerns about attending for screening, please speak to or book an appointment with our practice nurse, who can answer your questions.

For further information on the Cervical Screening Programme, please click here.

Contraception

Our practice nurses conduct contraceptive checks once a doctor or Family Planning Clinic has settled you on your regular pill. We also offer coil and Implanon insertions. Please note, we currently do not provide coil thread checks.

NHS Health Checks

NHS Health Checks are carried out by our Health Care Assistants (HCAs), who perform general screening and provide lifestyle advice. You may receive an invitation to attend a health screening, or you can refer yourself directly by contacting reception. All new patients automatically receive a check-up upon registering with the practice.

Chronic Disease Management

Our practice nurses run clinics dedicated to chronic disease management. These clinics are designed for patients with conditions where a properly devised management plan can significantly reduce the risk of complications. Conditions covered include asthma, diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and heart disease.

Weight Management

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a free, 12-week online programme accessible via a smartphone, tablet, or computer. It could help you if you are living with obesity and also have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both.

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

You must be 18 or over.
You must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. The BMI threshold will be lowered to 27.5 for individuals from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds, as people from these ethnic backgrounds are at an increased risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI.
You must have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both.
You must have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.

If you do not have diabetes or high blood pressure, you may still benefit from the NHS Better Health programme.

Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations for foreign travel, please book an initial appointment with our practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. When booking, it is essential to inform the reception staff of all countries and specific areas within those countries that you will be visiting. This allows the practice nurse to determine which vaccinations are required.

It is crucial to make this initial appointment as early as possible – at least six weeks before you travel. A second appointment will be required for the actual vaccinations, as these vaccines need to be ordered and are not routinely held in stock. Your second appointment needs to be at least two weeks before your travel date to allow sufficient time for the vaccines to become effective.

Some travel vaccines are prescribed privately and will incur a charge beyond the normal prescription fee. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.