The local services

We work closely with other services to help support people and their families at this very difficult time.

Together we work with individuals and their families to address physical, emotional, social, spiritual and financial issues.

The core team includes a GP, District Nurse and MacMillan Nurse.

Please book with your GP if you or someone you care for needs help now.

Advice

The Sue Ryder website has some excellent articles called Practical & Emotional Advice, we recommend them highly. Don’t forget to click on the ‘load more’ button on the bottom of the first page, its easy to miss.

Other useful sites

NHS choices page on end of life care.

Also Leeds Palliative Care has a wealth of information on local services.

Wheatfields hospice

St Gemma’s hospice

Screening is a way of finding diseases and problems at an earlier stage in apparently healthy people, when treatment will be more successful.

We encourage all our patients to take up the offer of screening as it saves lives.

The following screening services are offered as part of the NHS.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of detecting a dangerous swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta – the main blood vessel that runs from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body.
This swelling is far more common in men aged over 65 than it is in women and younger men, so all men are invited for screening in the year they turn 65.

An AAA usually causes no symptoms, but if it bursts, it’s extremely dangerous and usually fatal. Around 8 out of 10 people with a ruptured AAA either die before they reach hospital or don’t survive surgery.
Screening involves a simple ultrasound scan of your stomach (abdomen), which takes about 10-15 minutes.

Find out more about abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

If you have been invited and lost the details, please contact Tel: 0113 3923740 or Email: leedsth-tr.AAAScreening@nhs.net

Bowel cancer screening programme

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.
We offer screening every 2 years to all men and women aged 60 to 74 as this is the group most at risk.  We do this via a home testing kit that is posted out to you.

Completing and returning your testing kit could save your life as it gives us the chance to detect the disease in its early stages.

Find out more about bowel cancer screening

Breast cancer screening programme

Breast cancer screening is offered to all women aged 50 – 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women aged over 70 can make their own screening appointments through their GP or by contacting the Leeds breast screening service on 0113 2063816.

Breast cancer screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they are too small to feel. If breast cancer is discovered in its early stages, there is a very good chance of recovery.

Women who notice any breast symptoms or changes should make an appointment to see a GP immediately.

Find out more about breast screening

Cervical screening programme

Cervical screening is available to all women aged 25 to 64.

If you are registered with us you should automatically receive an invitation by post every 3 years for women aged 25 – 49 and every 5 years for women aged 50 – 64. You simply need to contact the practice and make an appointment to see a nurse.

It is very important that you make these appointments, as early detection and treatment of abnormal cells can prevent cervical cancer.

If any concerns have been raised in the past, you may be invited for more frequent checks.

Find out more about cervical screening.

Background

Most people would be shocked to know that around 22,000 people with diabetes die early every year. Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.There are currently five million people in England at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. If these trends persist, one in three people will be obese by 2034 and one in 10 will develop Type 2 diabetes. However, evidence shows that many cases of Type 2 diabetes are preventable.

Routine practice diabetes care

The majority of people with diabetes are looked after by the practice diabetes team.

We like to see all people with diabetes twice a year.

Both of the appointments will be with a nurse and you will need to have a blood test before each appointment.

It will help our nurses if you fill before coming the questionnaire “diabetes review” available on SystmOnline.

There are times when you will need to be seen more often than twice a year, for example after you are first diagnosed or if problems are detected during one of the routine reviews. We arrange these additional reviews as needed and may be with a nurse or one of the Drs.

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP)

The NHS DPP is a joint commitment from NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK.

The intention is to identify those at high risk of diabetes and refer them onto a behaviour change programme. Those referred will get personalised help to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes including education on healthy eating and lifestyle, help to lose weight and bespoke physical exercise programmes.

The programme started in 2016 with a first wave of 27 areas covering 26 million people, and we are part of this first wave.

An advocate is one who pleads the cause of another; and a patient advocate is an advocate for patient health’ rights. In that role, the Gap and the nurse protects human and legal rights and provides assistance in asserting those rights if the need arises.

GPs often act as advocates for patients when dealing with issues in hospital or by making sure that their patients’ and/or families’ voices are heard when a decision is needed about their care.

Advocacy involves looking at choices together and helping patients to make decisions. It may be writing a letter of support or communicating on behalf of the patient.

When advocates who are not part of social services or the NHS are needed, they can be found in Leeds at:

• Advonet
• Articulate Advocacy CIC
• Leeds Independent Health Complaints Advocacy

Our nurses offer health screening and NHS health checks, which can help you identify the changes you need to make to your lifestyle.

However, if you have already decided you want to lose weight and want some specific advice and support in doing this, there are a number of online resources and local clinics that you can access (both NHS and private).

Good websites to look at are:

• One You Leeds
  This provides some general advice and links to services locally.
• NHS Choices weight loss guide
  This is an excellent guide with suggestions on a 12 week plan. It also has email support.

There are also private services (that you would need to pay for) such as Weight Watchers and Slimming World who both provide popular classes locally.

If you are planning a trip abroad, you need to check whether vaccination is needed to prevent unpleasant surprises.

Please note if you are traveling within 4 weeks you would need to attend a travel clinic, not the surgery.

1. Please complete a travel questionnaire through our website form or via SystmOnline for each person travelling, and hand it into the surgery.
2. We should contact you with advice and to organise any appointments needed. If not heard from us after 48 hours please ring the practice.

For further information please visit

• Fit For Travel website – which is an informative NHS travel website.
• Foreign Office. For other essential information.

Please be aware that you need to pay for vaccinations that incur a charge

Stopping smoking increases your life expectancy and helps improve your quality of life, not to mention making you wealthier as well!

It is never too late to stop and the NHS is here to help you.
Getting NHS support really works – it can be four times more successful than going it alone (cold turkey) and it’s completely free of charge. So why not try it? You have nothing to lose.

ONE YOU LEEDS

This is the service we recommend to our patients. It is free to everyone and has helped over 10,000 people stop smoking in the last 10 years.

If they recommend medication or patches to help you stop then we will prescribe them for you (according to your agreed treatment plan).

How to book an appointment

It’s quick and easy to book your appointment with a Stop Smoking Advisor, simply:

• Phone: 0800 169 4219
• Link to one you Leeds

Further information

Electronic cigarettes

E cigarettes are marketed as a cheaper, safer alternative to conventional cigarettes. As they do not produce smoke, research suggests that electronic cigarettes are relatively harmless in comparison with smoking. To find out more have a look at the ASH Briefing on electronic cigarettes.

Local smoke free stories

In need of inspiration? Then why not listen to some people who have been successful at giving up: today is the day.

Private Medical Services

You may have to pay a fee for certain services that are not covered by the NHS. These fees reflect the time it takes for the doctor to look at your medical records and some admin time.

Services include private health certificates, insurance claim forms, HGV/taxi medicals, signing passports and some travel vaccinations.

See Non NHS fees.

More information about why we charge can be found on the BMA website.

Private Medical Forms

There are also times when we are asked for information about a patient’s health, such as when you are applying for a mortgage or life insurance. We only do this with your permission and you have the right to see the report before it is sent.
To avoid any delays, please make sure you sign the consent form that the company gives you.

Please note the last blood test appointment on an evening is 4.45pm.

Nurse

• Ear irrigation/ syringing *
• On going contraception
• COPD checks *
• Asthma checks *
• Travel vaccinations *
• Baby vaccinations *
• Immunisations *
• Diabetic check * (please book with Sharon Poole or Rhona Davidson)
• Smear * (please book with Nurse Rhona Davidson or Nurse Sharon Poole only)

Health Care Assistant

• Bloods
• ECG *
• Spirometry
• NHS Health Check *
• Blood pressure
• B12 Injection

Antenatal care is usually lead by the midwife.

A midwife is a qualified nurse who specialises in looking after pregnant women and their babies before, during and after the birth.

They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for you and your baby. The midwife will guide you through your pregnancy providing advice and monitoring.  She will also make any relevant referrals if necessary.

You can book an appointment with the midwife via reception.

She will liaise with the doctors at the practice to support you during this important period.