Clinics/Services

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Sperrin Family Practice offer a full general medical services plus…

Table of Contents

Adult Vaccinations

Tetanus and Polio – all adults should ensure they have a tetanus and polio booster in the last 10 years.

Ear Syringing

An Ear Syringing service is provided by Kathy Travers (Practice Nurse) at our Plumbridge Site.  Please contact the practice to make an appointment for this service.

 Anticoagulant Monitoring

All patients who are commenced on Warfarin treatment are invited to attend for regular monitoring. They will be given information such as the reason why they are on Warfarin and when they can be expected to stop treatment.

 Breast Screening

 Screening takes place at the static units or at one of the mobile units located within each Trust area. The mobile units move around their area staying at each site for a few months. Find out more on this link: https://cancerscreening.hscni.net/breast-screening/

Cervical Smears

 Cervical smears are undertaken by the Practice Nurses.

Patients should make an afternoon appointment with the receptionist for the Practice Nurse of your choice. Patients will receive a letter reminding you when your smear is due and they will also be notified of the results. More information can be found on this link: https://cancerscreening.hscni.net/cervical-screening/

Child Health Surveillance

 An 8-week review of babies and routine checks of pre-school children are provided by the health visitor and the doctor.

Childhood Immunisation Clinics are held in Sperrin Family Practice every TWO weeks.

Information on the recommended schedule can be found here

Family Planning

 We provide a full family planning service (fully confidential) by all doctors.

Please ask for an appointment with the doctor of your choice.

Female Health Problems

 Female GPs are available to deal with female health problems.  Please contact reception to make an appointment.

Flu Vaccinations

 Flu Vaccinations are available each autumn for those patients who are over 65 years or at risk due to certain medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, kidney disease or heart complaints, carers, pregnant women, or those who have disorders affecting the immune system.

Maternity Services

 Pre-conception, full Antenatal and Postnatal care in conjunction with the community midwife. Fully confidential by both doctors please ask for appointment with the doctor of your choice. Patients can also self refer for Maternity services at the following link: 

Maternity Services | Western Health & Social Care Trust

Minor Injury Service

 The Practice currently provides a minor injury service to those patients who require immediate attention from 8.30am to 6pm each day. 

Examples of types of injuries and circumstances that can lead to the use of the minor injury service include:

  • Lacerations (capable of closure by simple techniques)
  • Minor dislocations of fingers
  • Foreign bodies
  • Minor burns/scalds
  • Foreign bodies in eyes
  • Following head injury
  • Stabilisation of an injured patient prior to transfer to A&E

Minor Surgery

 Minor operations are undertaken by Dr D McAuley and Dr G Mangard by appointment.

Patients Over 75 Years

 Patients over 75 years of age may have a healthcare check-up if requested.

Pharmacy First Scheme

Community pharmacists | nidirect

Smoking Cessation

 The practice runs a smoking cessation programme to help you give up smoking. You will be seen on an individual basis and given advice and support. Contact reception for an appointment with Dr McAuley, Dr Mangard or the Practice Nurses.

Get support now

Private Medical Examinations

 Medical examinations for life insurance/HGV etc are by appointment ONLY. These and other services not provided by the NHS will attract a fee, which is recommended by the British Medical Association

Travel Vaccinations

 If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

Click here for more information

Foreign travel advice - GOV.UK

 

Long Term Conditions

The Surgery care for patients with long term conditions i.e Asthma, Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, COPD, Diabetes, Mental Health, Osteoarthritis, Pain and Stroke.

It is important that patients with these conditions attend for their review when invited by the Practice to the clinics.

For further information on each of these conditions contact the Practice or see information below. 

 

Table of Contents

Asthma

Asthma is a common long-term condition caused by inflammation of the airways, that can cause a cough, wheezing, and breathlessness. The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. Asthma can be controlled well in most people most of the time.

OVERUSE OF BLUE INHALER IN ASTHMA

Your blue inhaler is an essential emergency treatment if you are having an asthma attack BUT using a blue ‘reliever’ inhaler more than three times a week is a sure sign that your asthma is out of control unless advised to do so by hospital specialist. Overuse can increase your risk of dying from the condition.

While deaths from asthma attacks are still relatively rare, they do occur. Most asthmatics are prescribed two types of inhaler - one designed to relieve the wheezing symptoms, and another to control the condition and reduce the frequency of attacks or prevent them entirely.

Research suggests it is possible to spot asthma patients at greatest risk of dying simply by checking how many ‘reliever’ inhalers they are getting through.

We are here to help you get your asthma under better control and stop you getting daily symptoms of shortness of breath, wheeze and/or chest tightness.

We will NEVER not issue a blue ‘reliever’ if you have run out. You may, though, have to speak to the Respiratory nurse or GP before we re-issue it. We will then arrange an appointment for you with one of our doctors or nurses to help you get your asthma better under control.

There are a lot of things we can do. Our aim is to get you using one or two blue ‘reliever’ inhalers a year BUT to ensure that you always have a blue inhaler available to hand in case of an asthma attack.

We are doing this because we know that uncontrolled asthma is a serious issue and one we can help you with. We are not trying to be difficult. We can get rid of your usual symptoms and help you get back to living your life without being short of breath, feeling tight chested or wheezing.

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Cancer

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the UK's biggest killer, causing around 82,000 deaths each year. About one in five men and one in eight women die from the disease. In the UK, there are an estimated 2.7m people living with the condition and 2m people affected by angina (the most common symptom of coronary heart disease).

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is the name used to describe a number of conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, where people have difficulty breathing because of long-term damage to their lungs. It is thought there are over 3 million people living with the disease in the UK, of which only about 900,000 have been diagnosed.

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Diabetes

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.The two main types of diabetes are:

  • type 1 diabetes
  • type 2 diabetes

In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million people. There are also thought to be around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes..

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Mental Health

Mental health describes a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder. One in four people in the UK have a mental health problem at some point in their lives, which affects their daily life, relationships or physical health.

Mental health disorders take many different forms and affect people in different ways. Schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders are all examples of mental health problems. Diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia generally develop in old age, whereas eating disorders are more common in young people.

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Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It usually develops gradually, over time. Several different joints can be affected, but osteoarthritis is most frequently seen in the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine.

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Pain

The GP and use of NHS services dedicated to pain management can help make sufferers more independent, reduce the severity of pain and assist in day to day coping with what can be a debilitating condition.

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Stroke

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off, causing your brain cells to become damaged or die. The two most common types of stroke are ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.

  • Ischaemic strokes: Happen when the artery that supplies blood to your brain is blocked, for example by a blood clot.
  • Haemorrhagic strokes:Happen when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds into your brain, damaging brain tissue and starving some of your brain cells of blood and oxygen..

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All the links on this page come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.