Practice Profile
Nursing
We have 1 full time and 2 part-time Practice Nurses and a Healthcare Assistant. Their roles include health promotion, e.g. dietary advice, screening (cervical smears), family planning and pre-conceptual advice, immunisation of children and adults and performing tests requested by your doctor. The Practice Nurses can be contacted by phone between 11.30am and 12pm for general enquiries.
All New Patients are required to attend the practice nurse for a health screen where we can obtain details of their medical history and present medication as it can take a while for their records to come from their previous doctor.
Community Matron
Our Community Matron Anne Hitchen looks after high dependency patients. Her role is to try and prevent unnecessary time in hospital, coordinating the care you receive from health and social services, helping to improve your independence and quality of life and enabling you to remain in your home. Community Matrons work with GPs and other members of the primary health care team such as District Nurses. They also work closely with social services and services at the hospital.
District Nurses
Our District Nurses provide skilled professional nursing care to patients in their own homes, advising them and their families on aspects of nursing care and health promotion.
Their direct telephone number is: 501922
Health Visitors
Our Health Visitors specialise in the care of the under 5s and the elderly. They run regular child health surveillance clinics. Children are reviewed at 8 weeks, 8 months, 2 and 3 years.
A Well Baby Clinic is held on the first floor. Check with Reception when the clinics are running. At this clinic your baby can be weighed and if you need any advice the health visitor will be there to help.
There is an immunisation clinic on a Tuesday afternoon. All registered children receive an automatic invitation to attend one of our clinics. The practice immunisation regime is: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hib and meningitis C at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. Mumps, measles and rubella at 14 months, diphtheria, tetanus and polio booster and mumps, measles and rubella at around 4 years of age.
Their direct telephone number is: 501714
Maternity Care
At this practice we provide antenatal and postnatal care. Our midwives run antenatal clinics twice a week:
Tuesday afternoons 1.00pm to 5.00pm at the Ash Grove Children's Centre (next to Ash Grove School, Ash Grove off Moss Lane, Macclesfield SK11 7TD) Telephone: 01625 374484
Friday mornings 9.00am to 12 noon on the First Floor, Waters Green Medical Centre. Telephone 01625 264094 or 01625 429555.
Counsellors
We have 2 counsellors who help manage depression, anxiety or relationship problems.
Health Promotion and other Clinics
The following clinics are provided; Asthma, Diabetes, Menopause, Child Health Surveillance, Well Baby, Minor Surgery and Wart Clinics. Details can be obtained from Reception.
Drug Misuse Service
The Barnabas Centre is the first contact point for help with drug misuse. We have a weekly clinic for those on the maintenance programme and have a firm policy on this. No prescription drugs can be issued by any other GP.
Family Planning
A full range of contraceptive services is available, including monitoring of contraception pills, fitting of caps and coils. Pre-conceptual advice is also available. Emergency contraception is available. If you need this please ask for an urgent appointment with the doctor or the nurse. (The morning after pill is effective up to 72 hours and the emergency coil can be fitted up to 5 days after). Dr Van Ross fits coils and Dr Leigh does contraceptive implants.
Adult and Travel Vaccinations
The practice nurses run these clinics. Appointments should be made in plenty of time. The NHS is only responsible for certain vaccines and others will need to be paid for. Malaria tablets must also be paid for.
Influenza and Pneumonia
Each autumn we run a vaccination programme for those at risk.
Speaking to a Doctor on the Telephone
The doctors are usually available to speak to patients by phone (around 11.00am and 11.30am). The Receptionist will schedule a telephone consultation which is recorded on the doctor's computer screen, along with other appointments for the day. The receptionist is required to record the time of the call, the name of the patient with a contact number and other information to help the doctor determine the nature and priority of the call.
Investigation Results
For blood test, x-ray, scans and specimen results, please ring between 2.00pm and 4.00pm a full 7 working days later.
Sick notes
You do not need a sick note for the first 6 working days as this is covered by an SC1 (Self certificate). If your illness continues for longer then you must see your doctor to obtain a sick note.
