Oakham Surgery

Clinics And Special Services

Please note that days, times and availability may change - please check with reception.

Blood Tests

A phlebotomist is at the surgery to take blood samples two mornings a week. A doctor will ask you to make an appointment. Blood tests can also be taken at our local hospital if more convenient.

Minor Surgery

Minor procedures, such as removal of small cysts, injections to ease painful joints etc, can be performed at the surgery on Friday evenings. Please make an appointment with the doctor to discuss this.

Dietician

The dietician holds a clinic every month by appointment. If you need to see a dietician, the doctor will refer you.

Infant Immunisation Clinic

This clinic is held every Monday by appointment. Appointments are not necessary. Infant immunisations can be given at other times by appointment with the practice nurse.

Maternity Care

All our doctors offer maternity care. Our antenatal clinics (run with the midwives) are held twice a week. Please make an appointment with a doctor in a normal surgery first. We also offer to see all our postnatal mothers at the six/eight-week child health surveillance check.

Well Baby Clinic/Child Health Surveillance

Routine development assessments are carried out at the surgery with the help of a health visitor, at six to eight weeks and at three and half years, by appointment generally on Monday mornings. The health visitor is also available to discuss other problems relating to your child.

Respiratory / Spirometery Clinic

This clinic is to assess and improve asthma control and is held twice a week. The clinic is run by our practice nurse with a doctor available if required.

Diabetic Clinic

Diabetic clinics are held on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with a GP and nurse. Other appointments, at the discretion of the doctor, may be available if these times are not convenient.

ECG Clinic

This clinic is held on a Monday and Thursday afternoon.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Clinic

This is a nurse-led clinic, run weekly, to monitor and improve the health and lifestyle of patients with heart disease. It offers patients an opportunity to discuss any concerns.

Elderly Health Clinic

This clinic is held on a Wednesday afternoon. A nurse undertakes a general health check (at home if necessary) on patients who are over 75 years of age. This is an opportunity to discuss any concerns with health professionals.

Learning Disability Clinic

We carry out annual reviews of health for patients with learning disabilities (and their carers). General advice is given plus referral to specialist services if appropriate.

Sexual Health, Family Planning And Emergency Contraception

All doctors and nurses will discuss all forms of contraception. However, we do also run a specialised sexual health clinic on Wednesday evenings. This covers all aspects of sexual health, including method discussions, coil and cap fittings, exploring any problems and concerns with any issues including pregnancy counselling and sexual infection screening. As with every service this is conducted in the strictest confidence and we are happy to see young people as well.

Please also remember that emergency contraception in pill form is effective up to 72 hours after intercourse. Other methods are effective up to five days after intercourse. Emergency contraception ('morning after' pill) is now available from many chemists.

Menopause Clinic

This is held weekly by our practice nurse with a doctor available if required.

Minor Illness Clinic

Our specialist practitioner runs this clinic daily and can treat most common illness, eg sore throats, earache, cough/cold and stomach upsets. She can also issue prescriptions and arrange emergency contraception when necessary. You can make an appointment with the specialist practitioner by telephoning in the morning. However, children under 12 months should be seen by a doctor. For further details, please ask at reception.

Flu Vaccination

Influenza immunisation is recommended for patients with heart, lung and kidney disease, diabetes, residents of nursing homes and patients aged 65 years and over. Please contact reception in September for details on booking an appointment. If you are unable to attend the surgery a home visit can be arranged.

16 - 18 Year Old Health Check

General health review - no examination. This is an opportunity for young people to discuss any health-related issues and to find out about services available to them at Oakham Surgery.

Counselling Service

This service is run by qualified counsellors who hold sessions at the surgery most weekdays. Access to the service is either by GP referral or patients can refer themselves (please ask a receptionist for a self-referral form).

Holiday Vaccination Clinic

This clinic is held weekly by a practice nurse. Before booking an appointment please complete a holiday vaccination questionnaire, available at reception.

General Health Advice And Information

Bereavement
When someone dies it comes as a great shock. Sometimes a death may be expected but nothing prepares you for the emotional shock of losing someone close. The practice can help and support you through this period.

If the death was expected, contact the surgery. If the doctor can certify the cause of death they will issue a medical certificate showing the cause of death (death certificate) and advise you about registering the death. If the death is sudden or unexpected you should contact the following people:

If there is any reason to suspect that the death was not due to natural causes, do not touch or move anything in the room. The death may be referred to the coroner.

Smoking
We encourage all patients who smoke to try and stop, as smoking alone causes several hundred deaths every week. If you want help in quitting please see a doctor who can advise you on treatment and refer you to a smoking cessation clinic if appropriate. For further advice you can ring the ‘NHS Quitline’ on 0800 169 0169 or Sandwell Smoking Cessation Service on (0121) 607 3337.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the surgery.

Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant which has the effect of dulling the brain and nervous system. In small quantities, alcohol can actually be beneficial to health. In large quantities, on a regular basis, it can have a very serious negative effect on health.

An accepted safe limit is 21 units a week for men and 14 units for women - a unit being approximately one glass of wine, half a pint of beer or a single measure of spirit.

The most effective way to avoid a hangover is not to drink too much! Failing that, if you have overindulged, drinking large quantities of water before going to bed is very effective in warding off the worst effects.

If you are concerned about your alcohol intake please make an appointment to see a doctor to discuss this.

A Healthy Diet
You are what you eat - if your diet is lacking, your body has ways of letting you know eg you may be overweight or underweight or you may have a spotty complexion or constipation. Ultimately a bad diet can lead to serious problems such as heart disease. A good diet helps fight off disease and makes you look and feel good.

Exercise
Regular physical activity will benefit your health and improve your enjoyment and quality of life as well as helping with weight loss. Regular exercise helps reduce the risks associated with many other conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, having a heart attack or a stroke, and osteoporosis (the thinning of the bones). It also reduces stress levels, helps with depression and improves physical and mental wellbeing, as well as reducing the risk of bowel cancer. See doctor or nurse for further advice.