Albert Road Medical Centre
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Surgery Reception

Clinics and Services

NB: ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIRE APPOINTMENTS.

All the doctors have antenatal appointments.

Most family planning including "coil" fitting is done during surgery consultations.

There is a child immunisation clinic run by the nurses each Tuesday afternoon from 2.00pm to 2.45pm. If you have not received an appointment for your child, or have missed one, please attend between these times or make an appointment with the nurse.

There is a regular diabetic clinic run by the practice nurse. Patients will be referred to either Dr Martin or Dr Branfield as necessary.

Dr Martin, Dr Branfield and Dr Bell perform minor surgery.

This is a cryosurgery clinic once a month.

There is a help to quit smoking clinic held twice a week with a practice nurse.

The nurses hold a regular healthy heart clinic.

A physiotherapist is here one session a week to treat patients from Albert Road and Mount Pleasant surgeries.

We have a diabetic chiropody clinic two afternoons a month.

A phlebotomist holds sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to take blood.

We have a counsellor one day a week.

Community mental health team workers are in surgery one afternoon a week.

A carers' link worker is available regularly to give advice and support to carers.

Routine Medicals

If you need a medical for HGV, taxi, insurance etc, please ask at reception where we will give you an appointment and inform you of charges.

The Albert Road Patients' Group

This Group was formed in 2001 and has two main objectives:

1) To raise funds to supply equipment not provided by the NHS, to enable the doctors to give albert Road patients the very best treatment.

2) To run health promotion campaigns which provide Albert Road patients with advice and information about common preventable conditions.

The Group has raised many thousands of pounds since it was formed and this money has been used for many purposes. Some examples are: The toddlers activity centre for the waiting area; Doppler machines to enable doctors to listen to baby's heartbeat more accurately when in the womb; Air-conditioning for the waiting area and the refurbishment of seating throughout.

Fund-raising activities include: regular "Cakes and Tombola" mornings; an Annual Raffle for those patients and family/friends attending the 'Flu vaccination sessions and an Annual Sponsored Walk.

The group consists of Albert Road patients just like you. We are a friendly, happy bunch, but could do with some fresh faces - particularly younger ones. If you would like to become involved just call the Chairman/Secretary Bernie Jones on 01743 709601 who will be happy to provide any further information.

Self Treatment Measures

Always seek advice if the patient is very young (less than 10 weeks), very old, frail or seems generally ill. Paracetamol rather than aspirin may be better for anyone with a tendency to suffer from indigestion. Aspirin must NEVER be given to children under 16.

Symptom Treatment When To Seek Advice
1. Fever Bed rest, tepid sponging, fluids with aspirin or paracetamol. If there is a headache, vomiting or pain in the tummy or on passing urine. If fever persists for three days.
2. Diarrhoea & Vomiting Bed rest, clear fluids, no solid food or milk. If there is tummy pain or blood is passed or vomited. If it is severe. If it persists for more than 48 hours. If the patient has recently been abroad.
3. Colds & Coughs Steam inhalation. Fluids & aspirin. Antibiotics have no effect. If there is breathlessness, pain or tightness in the chest, a past history of many chest infections, green phlegm.
4. Rashes Calamine if it itches. If accompanied by headache, sickness or if taking medicines.
5. Headache Aspirin or paracetamol. Bed rest. If sudden, severe, prolonged or with vomiting.
6. Tummy pain Rest, no solid food or milk, clear fluids only and mild antiacids. If severe or accompanied by: lump in the groin, vomiting, passage of blood, diarrhoea, early pregnancy or difficulty passing urine.
7. Croup Steam inhalation or steamy atmosphere. If severe or persists after 20 minutes.
8. Earache Paracetamol or aspirin (see above). If severe or persists more than 24 hours.
9. Backache Lie flat on a firm surface. Aspirin or paracetamol. If severe, prolonged or with fever. Difficulty passing urine or opening bowels.
10. Minor Injuries, Sprains, Bruises or Bites Bathe with water & apply a clean dressing if the skin is broken. Rest. If severe pain, swelling or any deformity.
11. Head Injuries Aspirin or paracetamol. If any loss of consciousness, vomiting, visual disturbance or drowsiness.
12. Chest Pain Rest. ALWAYS AND IMMEDIATELY.
13. Fits Rest. ALWAYS AND IMMEDIATELY (unless a known epileptic).
14. Loss of Consciousness Lie in 3/4 prone position. Lie down. ALWAYS AND IMMEDIATELY.
15. Vomiting Blood Lie in 3/4 prone position. Lie down. ALWAYS AND IMMEDIATELY.
16. Coughing Blood None. Always, but not urgent unless blood profuse or otherwise ill.
17. Passing Blood in Urine or Motions None. Always, but not urgent unless blood profuse or otherwise ill.
18. Bleeding Between Periods None. Always, but not urgent. Do not stop the contraceptive pill unless told to do so.
19. Lumps in the Breast None. Always but not urgent.
20. Tired or Depressed Talk to a close friend or relatives. If severe or persistent. If recurs regularly.
21. Sprains Apply a cold compress, a compression bandage and elevate the limb. If a fracture is suspected.
22. Burns Cool as quickly as possible for ten minutes or longer. Apply a box dressing if the skin is blistered or broken. If the skin is broken or the burn is greater than 4-5cm across.

These are only guidelines. If you are still worried then you should seek advice.