Services

We host dedicated INR clinics every week at both surgeries for patients prescribed anti-coagulation therapy (warfarin). Our Level 4 service enables patients to have their INR levels checked through a simple finger prick test and then dosed accordingly. We provide this service not only for our own registered patients, but also those registered at East Quay Medical Centre.

For those suffering with long term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma/COPD, kidney disease, stroke we offer annual Birthday Reviews to help them manage their condition. We encourage patients to book their annual review in the month of their birthday.

At the annual review appointments the nurse or doctor will help patients to develop a Personalised Care Plan to help them better understand and manage their health condition. When booking certain types of annual review appointments patients may be asked to arrange a blood test a couple of weeks prior to their annual review, so the nurse or doctor has these results available to them for the review.

All doctors in the practice provide child health surveillance facilities and development checks. They are usually done during normal surgery appointments.

Some checks will be done by the heath visitors.

It is important that all children and babies are fully immunised. Please do not hesitate to ask our practice nurse, your doctor or a health visitor.

See the current recommended immunisation schedule

Child Health Clinics, run by the Health Visiting team are held every Thursday between 1.00pm to 2.30 pm at Sydenham Family Centre, Fairfax Road. All babies and children of pre-school age are welcome.

We provide a comprehensive cervical smear service for ladies over the age of 25. Smear appointments can be booked with one of our practice nurses.

Our experienced diabetes nurses will help you manage your diabetes.

The morning after pill has to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.

Monday – Friday you are able to obtain the Morning After Pill from Somerset Bridge Medical Centre.

However many pharmacies also now provide this service free of charge. At weekends or bank holidays please refer to your local pharmacist or the out of hours medical service.

All the doctors and practice nurses provide family planning and contraception advice as appropriate within their normal appointments.

Emergency contraception is available.

The Practice also provides the contraceptive implant Implanon for those patients registered with the Practice. Please book a routine GP  appointment with Dr Mengu or Dr Hewson for this service.

Visit SHISH - Somerset Wide Integrated Sexual Health Services

Flu  vaccination clinics are held annually during  the months of September, October and November. Details of clinics will be advertised in the surgery as well as the local press.

The flu vaccine is available to those patients:

• aged 65 and over
• those who suffer from a long term medical condition such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes or COPD
• pregnant women
• carers of patients who are clinically at risk of developing flu
• immunosuppressed patients

You don't need to wait to be contacted - book your flu vaccination as soon as possible.

A healthy pregnancy starts before you actually become pregnant. This is especially so if you need to take any regular medication.

As soon as you know you are pregnant, you need to self refer using the below link.

NHS Somerset - Maternity self referral

Your midwife will contact you to arrange your first appointment. This is usually between 8-10 weeks of pregnancy.

Antenatal care is usually provided by your midwife at your local GP surgery. during your pregnancy you will be required to come to the main hospital in Taunton. All scans are held within the antenatal clinic at the main hospital.

The Practice has 1 experienced minor surgeon. Dr Syed Akhter offers a range of surgical procedures which are undertaken at the practice.

Our minor surgery service saves our patients time having to be referred to the local hospital.

Due to recent commissioning changes, the removal of benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions such as cysts, warts, skin tags and moles will no longer be routinely funded by the NHS.  There are a number of local providers who undertake the above procedures on a private (cost) basis.

Only 3 – 5% of smokers manage to quit for a year using will power alone, so your chances of quitting successfully are more than doubled if you visit a Stop Smoking Adviser to talk about treatment options and other forms of support.

Take the first step and contact the local Stop Smoking Service: