We offer a range of clinics and services at the surgery. There are some tasks you can do, such as health reviews, using our online forms.
Information about duty clinics
We thought it might be useful to explain how our on the day clinics run and who should be booked into them.
Everyday there is a doctor and Paramedic available 8am to 6:30pm, who’s role is to speak with patients who have urgent medical complaints requiring on the day assessment.
Examples of medical issues appropriate for the duty team include ear infections, acute abdominal pain, acute back pain, urinary infections, abscesses/infections, acute breathing issues and acute mental health needs.
It is not appropriate to assess and manage ongoing, chronic issues in the duty clinics.
This care is best provided in a longer, routine appointment with the patients registered GP. Examples of this might include ongoing rashes, ongoing joint pain, non acute mental health, symptoms that have been ongoing for weeks or months that are not acutely worse.
If you think your symptoms are medically urgent requiring on the day assessment, you will be booked with the duty doctor who will call you back and ask more about your symptoms. The duty doctor may then arrange a face to face appointment if appropriate.
If the duty team feels there is no acute medical need for their input that day, they will redirect you to making an appointment with your registered GP for them to review your symptoms and make a long term plan with you. It is widely recognised that patient care is more safe and effective when there is continuity of care provided to the patient by their registered GP. We appreciate that this might mean waiting for a week or so to speak with your registered GP but continuity of care is number one in providing safe, quality care.
It is essential that you help us by considering whether your medical complaint is new and urgent, when asking for a duty appointment. Otherwise the duty clinic quickly becomes full of non urgent issues. This puts pressure on the duty teams clinics and potential delays in speaking with and managing those patients who are acutely unwell and needing emergency medical treatment.
Our receptionists may ask questions to help guide patients as to whether a duty appointment or routine appointment with the registered GP is more appropriate. They have received training for this and are only asking these questions to try and help make the clinics run smoothly and as a result improve patient care. We know it can be frightening when you feel unwell and frustrating to be asked these questions, but the receptionist is only ever trying to help. We ask that patients always treat our receptionist with respect.
There is no obligation for you to disclose the reason for needing a duty team call, however it may mean you are booked into a less appropriate slot and may be asked by the duty doctor to rebook. It will also mean the duty team will not be able to triage whether your call needs prioritising.
Working alongside the duty doctor we have a team of paramedics and a Nurse practitioner. They also assesses people needing urgent on the day medical attention. Medical issues they can assess are similar to the duty doctor and include acute breathing issues, chest pain, acute abdominal pain, ear infections and UTIs.
We hope this information is useful and appreciate your co-operation in making the system work.
Having a blood test
A patient guide to having a blood test
The process of taking blood is called venesection or phlebotomy, which involves taking a blood sample from a vein. The information given below outlines the procedure in more detail and answers some frequently asked questions.
Our blood clinic
In order to provide maximum capacity appointments in our blood taking clinic are booked every 7 minutes. Due to the speed of this clinic, we request that patients arrive five minutes before their appointment time. If late for their appointment patients will usually be asked to re-book.
Is there anything I should do before attending my appointment?
It is easier to take blood when a person is well hydrated, we therefore ask patients to drink 3 glasses of water (even if fasting) in the hour before their appointment. We also suggest that when waiting to be called through by the phlebotomist (blood taker) that patients keep their arms warm, as this dilates the veins (makes them larger) and helps the blood taking process.
How is a blood sample taken?
The procedure is performed by a trained phlebotomist, doctor or nurse. A tourniquet (an elasticated band) is placed around the arm, just above the elbow. A small needle is inserted into a vein, usually located in the inner elbow. However, occasionally the best vein is found at the wrist or the back of the hand. Blood is collected into sample bottles, before the needle is removed. Pressure is then applied at the site with a piece of cotton wool until the bleeding has stopped. The cotton ball is then secured with tape.
What if the phlebotomist, doctor or nurse is unable to take any blood?
If they are unsuccessful after two attempts the patient be will requested to attend the Royal Berkshire Hospital (walk-in service) or West Berkshire community Hospital (appointment only) phlebotomy service.
Will having my blood taken hurt?
Putting the needle into the arm involves a pin prick sensation and therefore can be uncomfortable, but after this the procedure should be more comfortable. Occasionally, people can continue to feel some discomfort or pain, this is thought to be due to nerves under the surface of the skin and settles by itself.
Will I bruise?
It is possible that patients will develop a bruise or a small lump after having their blood taken. The bruise can sometimes be large, appear away from the exact site the blood was taken from and can persist for a week or so. This can cause concern, but will resolve with time and requires no treatment.
Some circumstances can increase the risk of bruising. For example, medication (such as warfarin and aspirin), bleeding disorders/low platelets, difficulty finding a vein and in elderly patients. Patients should tell the blood taker if they have any of these conditions or if they have experienced problems in the past.
To reduce the risk of bruising, patients are asked to press firmly on the site until the bleeding has stopped, to keep the arm slightly raised and avoid too much movement of the arm (such as lifting) for an hour afterward. Ice cubes, wrapped in a towel, applied to the area, can help reduce swelling and bruising if necessary.
What if I feel faint?
Occasionally having blood taken makes people feel faint. If feeling faint, patients should inform a member of staff immediately. A nurse or doctor will be informed and will attend to the patient as required.
How will I find out my results?
Your results will usually be available after five working days. You can use our website ‘ ask a question and we will respond to you with regard to your results. Alternatively, you can call the surgery week days after 2pm.
Cancer support
How to use your bowel screening kit
For information on bowel scope screening, please view our leaflet (PDF)