Do You have chronic pain?
Non-NHS Services
The GP partners will undertake medical examinations for special purposes e.g pre-employment medicals,, HGV. These can be arranged through the receptionists and a fee will be chargeable at a private rate. Details of these fees can be obtained from the Receptionist and are details in the practice’s Private Medical Services Leaflet.
Why do GPs sometimes charge fees?
Your questions answered
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees; in other cases, it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self-employed, and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:
- accident/sickness insurance certificates
- certain travel vaccinations
- private medical insurance reports
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
- medical reports for an insurance company
- some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
- examinations of local authority employees
Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?
The BMA suggests fees for non-NHS work which is not covered under a GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, these fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested.
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload – the majority work up to 70 hours a week – and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.
I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?
When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with theGeneral Medical Council or even the Police.
What will I be charged?
The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up to the individual doctor to decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees which many doctors use. Please see the reverse of this leaflet for charges
What can I do to help?
- Not all documents need signature by a doctor, for example passport applications. You can ask another person in a position of trust to sign such documents free of charge.
- Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight: urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more.
Well Person Check
If you are aged over 16 and wish to have a basic well person screen that looks at your current health profile e.g. weight, smoking status, blood pressure, and urinalysis and provide basic lifestyle advice please book with the Health Care Assistant. Should any problems be identified then referral to a specialist nurse or GP will be arranged.
Vaccinations
The Nurses provide vaccinations for patients for:
* Influenza,
* Pneumovax,
* Tetanus,
* Vitamin B12 and others.
Please be aware that Hepatitis B injections advised as necessary for your occupation are not able to be dealt with at the practice but should be delivered via an occupational health doctor.Pneumoccocal Vaccination
Will people under 65 also be offered the vaccine?
People of any age who are at a higher risk from infection, such as those with other illnesses and medical conditions, are already recommended to be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.
These include people with:
* No spleen or severe dysfunction of the spleen, including homozygous sickle cell disease and coeliac syndrome
* Chronic renal disease or nephrotic syndrome
* Chronic heart disease
* Chronic lung disease
* Chronic liver disease including cirrhosis
* Diabetes mellitus
* Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment
* HIV infection at all stages.
* Cochlear implants
If you think this applies to you and you have not received an invitation to have the vaccine please email Danescamp.k83610@nhs.net.
If you would like to discuss the vaccination further before receiving it then please make a routine appointment to see the practice nurse or telephone them on 01604 709426.
If you are housebound and cannot get to the surgery then please contact reception and we will arrange for a nurse to call and give you the vaccination at home.
Down load our Pneumococcal Information leaflet
Flu Vaccinations
Patients over 65 and those in the “at risk” categories listed below will be offered the vaccination first.
The vaccine is available in October if you are:
* Over 65
* Are in a residential home
* A carer
* Have some chronic conditions, e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease, renal disease
* Have a lowered immune system owing to treatment e.g. steroids or cancer.
Other patients who would like the vaccination can request it via reception and will be immunised if stocks allow after dealing with priority patients.
Children of school Year 7 age in secondary schools (those aged 11 on 31 Aug 2020)
50 – 64 year old age group (from Nov – Dec 2020)
Flu Vaccinations – Additional Information
Flu is a highly infectious illness, which spreads very rapidly by coughs and sneezes from people who are already carrying the virus, and may lead to more serious illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia. That’s why it pays to get your flu jab in the autumn. It only takes a 5 minute appointment. It’s free and, and it’s really effective against the latest strains of viruses.
You are not suitable for the vaccination if:
If you have a serious allergy to hens’ eggs. Nor if you are pregnant. If in doubt, ask your doctor.
Arranging the vaccination
If you think you need a flu vaccination then please make an appointment via Reception from Mid-September until December. For those patients who are housebound we can arrange a home visit by the community nurses. Please telephone Sally, the Practice Administrator to organise this.
Some points to remember
The Flu vaccine protects against some of the latest strains of influenza, not the common cold. Influenza is not the same as the common cold, which tends to be a much milder disease. Influenza can be life threatening at worst and at best puts you to bed.
Travel Vaccinations
THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE PLEASE SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY OR TRAVEL CLINIC WHO WILLBE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
The following travel vaccines are available free on the NHS from your GP surgery:
- polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
- typhoid
- hepatitis A
Specialist and Hospital Care
If a GP or another member of our health care team believes that as part of the management of your problem a referral to a consultant is necessary they will ask you where and when you would like to go. Patients who have to attend hospital for out patient appointments now have more choice over the hospital and the day and time of their appointment under the ‘Choose and Book’ scheme.
Within 3 days you will receive an information sheet from the surgery which gives you details of:
* Your booking reference number
* Your unique password
* Telephone number to ring to arrange an appointment
Also included on the sheet you will receive are details of how to obtain information about services by either telephone, text service or via the internet.
Booking an ambulance
The reception staff are responsible for ambulance booking for the first attendance at an outpatient appointment. If you need an ambulance for appointments after this please contact the consultant’s secretary at the hospital. Please try to give 48 hours notice.
Smoking Cessation
Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service is still operational during COVID19. Please contact our Health Care Assistants or Practice Nurse to refer you.
Smoking Cessation
The practice is active in encouraging patients to stop smoking and participates in the Northampton PCT Stop Smoking Campaign. The Practice Nurses see patients by appointment to deal with smoking cessation. They provide advice, resources such as leaflets and aids and subsequent follow up appointments as well as prescribing Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT).
Pharmacy Support
Support can also be accessed via a drop in style service at one of the PCT’s specially trained pharmacists in Northampton where information, support and NRT are available.
FREE Stop Smoking Groups
The PCT run local stop smoking groups in both community settings and at Northampton General Hospital throughout the year. This enables potential quitters to gain information and benefit from meeting other people also wishing to give up.
Local NHS Stop Smoking Support Service Helpline (01604) 615272
Based at Northampton PCT Headquarters in Highfield, Northampton. The team are available to signpost people to specific services in Northampton; provide advice, support and resources.
NHS Smoking Helpline
0800 169 0 169
Lines open daily from 7am to 11pm with specialist advisers available from 10am to 11pm.
Specialist advice about smoking and pregnancy
Help line 0800 169 9 169
Open daily 12noon to 9pm
Useful External Quit Smoking sites:
No Smoking Day may be gone but whenever your quit day is, browse the links on this page for motivation, information and expert advice.
Smokefree– Accommodation, Dining, Drinking and Functions in a totally Smokefree environment.
Gosmokefree – This website contains detailed information about the free NHS support services.
Smoking Cessation – NHS Direct Site – if you smoke, giving up is probably the greatest single step you can take to improve your health.
Quit Org. – Quit is the independent charity whose aim is to save lives by helping smokers to stop.
Smoking Quitters Cost Tool – Calculate the money you will save with NHS Direct quitters cost calculator and plan how to spend it.
ASH – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is a campaigning public health charity that works to eliminate the h
arm caused by tobacco.
Minor Surgery
Danes Camp Medical Centre has a well developed minor surgery service. The surgery has a dedicated minor surgery theatre. 4 of our GPs undertake a number of minor surgical procedures e.g. joint injections and some excisions. These enable our patients to be treated here at the surgery. However they are costly in terms of medical resources and we ask patients to be aware not to misuse the system and always to cancel appointments at least 24 hours in advance to allow another patient to be offered the appointment.
Minor Illness Clinic
The nurses offer 10 minute minor illness consultations where they are able to assess, advise and treat many conditions, such as:
- cystitis,
- sore throat,
- skin and nail infections,
- hay fever,
- nappy rash,
- conjunctivitis,
- minor injuries,
- diarrhoea and vomiting.
Our practice nurses who run the minor illness clinics have received specialist training ad both of them have head further training to qualify for the Extended Formulary Nurse Prescribing which enables them to prescribe from a list of commonly needed drugs and medications. Our receptionists may give you the option of seeing a nurse or you may ask specifically for them.
Nurse Led Minor Illness Clinic Nurse led minor illness clinics are a straightforward way to reduce the workload of GPs within general practice given that minor illness accounts for 20% of this every day (Hassell et al 2001). There has been a significant amount of research undertaken to assess how effective these nurse led clinics are and the evidence shows that they are considered effective by the patients that use them (Keele University Study 2003). They form a key element of NHS modernisation (Dept. of Health 2003).
Improving minor illness management services is argued to:
- Empower patients to use more self care in the future.
- Make better use of the skills of the nurses and pharmacists.
- Improve access in primary care.
- Enable GPs to allocate more consultations to non-minor conditions.
- Reduce A E consultations for minor illness.
Lifestyle Advice
Helping patients to be active in their care and recovery
Our clinical team at Danes Camp Medical Centre believe that your involvement in your care is important. Here are some useful ideas to help you to make positive choices about your health and to help your recovery.
Counselling Services
Northampton Pastoral Counselling Service offers one-to-one counselling . There are no religious obligations. Tel: 01604 401 010.
Manna House Counselling Service Deals with a range of issues – From relationship problems to sexual abuse. Based on Christian values it is open to all. Tel: 01604 633 304.
Lifestyle Services
Activity on referral scheme – An exercise referral scheme is available for patient suffering from anxiety or depression, who don’t exercise at present. Please ask your GP or Nurse about this scheme. Also Northampton Borough Council Healthy Walks Scheme Tel:01604 837 647.
Age Concern – Offers home visiting, home delivery services and a wide range of social inclusion and education projects. Tel: 01604 611 200.
Expert patient and Living Well Courses – For people suffering from long term or recurrent health problems, e.g. anxiety or depression. They aim to promote skills, confidence and understanding of chronic illness. Tel: 01604 237 809.
Library Services, Northampton – have a wide range of resources including books and Internet access to find advice or information. Tel: 01604 462 040.
Carers Support Groups
Northamptonshire Carers offer support and information and social activities. Tel: 01604 624 088.
Ability Carers Forum offers support and advice on carers’ issues and information. Tel: 01604 624088.
Campbell House Carers Group holds monthly meetings between mental health professionals and carers of young people with a mental health problem. Tel: 01604 658 827.
Employment
NUTRAK is a charity which supports people who are unemployed and on benefits. It offers free courses aimed at raising self esteem and developing new skills. Tel: 01604 639 722.
Northampton Volunteer Bureau offers opportunities for volunteer work in the town. It is possible to develop many areas of interest e.g. teaching and mental health. Travel expenses are paid. Tel: 01604 637 522.
The Employment and Disability Service works to equip individuals with jobs in the local workforce. They provide long term support for individuals and their employers.
Useful Organisations
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) organise regular meetings for those dealing with drink related problems . Tel: 01604 637 788.
Aquarius (Addiction) offers a range of services and programmes and social activities. Tel 01604 632421.
CAN drug and alcohol drop in centre which offers help and support for users and their families, affected by drugs, alcohol or homelessness. Services include counselling, advice on voluntary work and assistance with housing issues. Tel: 01604 622 121.
Spring House NHS treatment service offering detoxification treatment in the community and in hospital. Offers advice on criminal justice system, probation matters, pregnancy testing and needle exchange. Tel: 01604 233 227.
Sub Zero Service for young people, their families and carers. They deal with substance misuse and mental health problems related to social or educational exclusion via GP or self referral. Tel: 01604 544 530.
Welfare Rights Advice Service provides help and advice with all aspects of welfare benefits Tel: 01604 636 112.
Advocacy Northamptonshire a service offering help and assistance for people with disabilities in all aspects of care and choice. Tel: 01604 639 813.
Users Support Service offers advocacy to people who use or have used mental health services. Tel: 01604 259 703.
Useful Telephone Numbers and websites
Cruse Bereavement Care: 01604 416 800
Relate (Relationship and Family Counselling) 01604 634 400
Marriage Care 0207 371 1341
Pastoral Counselling 01604 401 010
Citizen’s Advice Bureau 01604 636 000
Northampton Borough Council Housing and Money Advice Centre 01604 238 740
Mind 01604 624 951
The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90
Some useful websites
www.dwp.gov.uk – benefits advice
Five steps to healthy eating
Alcohol The recommended units of alcohol per week are Men:21 Women:14. Drinking more than 6 units on one occasion is not recommended.
Drugs Illegal drugs can ruin lives and have an unpredictable effect on your health.
Exercise Medical evidence has shown that keeping physically active is good for both the mind and body. We recommend that you take 20 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 times a week. For the less able 3 sessions of 45 minutes of moderate exercise such as rapid walking.
Healthy Eating If you eat a balanced, healthy diet this reduces tiredness, protects your immune system and gives you more energy. Our Practice Nurses are able to give advice on diet and healthy eating. Please book an appointment at reception.
Smoking Cessation Our Practice Nurses have information on how to stop smoking and are able to provide some one-to-one support. Please see our Practice Leaflet or Practice Nursing Leaflet for details or book an appointment at Reception.