Clinics & Services

Chronic Disease Management

The Practice offers the following clinics for patients suffering from:

• Prediabetes (Borderline Diabetes)
• Asthma
• COPD 
  
  • Respiratory Treatment
  • Inhaler Technique Videos
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Diagnostic Spirometry

Keeping Healthy

The Practice offers the following Clinics to help keep you healthy:

• Cervical Smear Tests
• Flu and Shingles Immunisations
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Smoking Cessation - ONEYOU Smoking Cessation service:
  Patient visit their website, download the App or call the National Smokefree Helpline on 0300 123 1044
• To find out more about keeping healthy, click here.

Sexual Health & Family Planning

The Practice offers the following Clinics covering Sexual Health and Family Planning:

• Chlamydia Screening
• Contraception
• Family Planning
• Sexual Health

To find out more about Sexual Health and Family Planning, click here.

Ultrasound Scans Service

An Ultrasound Service is provided at the Market Deeping surgery by Mediscan Diagnostic Services, who are an accredited AQP (Any Qualifi­ed Provider) and provider of ultrasound diagnostic services nationally commissioned by CCG’s.

As part of the CQC (Care Quality Commission) NHS initiative, they enhance the service offered by the practices, accelerating patient diagnosis and the quality of care.

Their clinics are led by consultant Radiologists who are always present with a Health Care Assistant.

They provide Ultrasounds Services for:

• Abdominal (Liver, Gall bladder, Pancreas, Spleen, Kidneys).
• KUB (Kidneys, Bladder, Prostate).
• Pelvic (Transvaginal and Trans-abdominal).
• Musculoskeletal (Shoulder, Knee, Achilles, Foot).
• Lumps and Bumps.
• Testes and Small Parts.
• Aorta.
• Neck.

Pregnancy

Since the 25th January 2016, the Peterborough Maternity Services became a paperless process.

This means that you will now need to register your pregnancy online at the Peterborough and Stamford hospital portal and complete the Maternity Self-Referral Form .

You can access the Maternity Self-Referral Form on the Peterborough City Hospital website by clicking here .

The Maternity Self-Referral Form must be completed and submitted in order for your notes to be created and passed to the practice electronically; you will no longer be given a Pregnancy Pack.

Once you have submitted your form online you will then need to contact the Community Clerk at Health Centre in Bourne on 01778 394185 who will arrange an appointment with one of our Midwives.  This appointment can take up to one and a half hours.

Please note, that in accordance with NICE guidelines all pregnant women are advised to take Folic Acid and Vitamin D supplements which are available from Pharmacies and all major Supermarkets.

Baby Clinic

The Practice holds a Baby Clinic every Thursday as follows:

• 11:15 - 12:00 for Immunisations
• 13:30 - 15:00 for Immunisations

You can see the nurse for immunisations or the doctor.

This is a well-baby clinic and children who are unwell should see the doctor at a different appointment rather than come to this clinic. They will not be able to see a doctor for their illness at this clinic.

Unfortunately, the community health visitors are no longer able to offer Baby Weighing appointment although your baby will still be weighted during the normal reviews.

Childhood Immunisations 

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It's the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are.

Please call the surgery to make an appointment.

For more information please visit the websites below:

• Your Baby's Routine Checks and Vaccinations - NHS Choices
• The NHS Vaccination Schedule - NHS Choices

Other Services

The Practice offers the services and Clinics listed below:

• Minor Surgery
• Heart Monitoring
• INR (Warfarin Monitoring)
• Community Physiotherapy Service
• Community Podiatry
• Enhanced Service for Minor Injuries
• Blood, urine and other tests
• Continence advice
• Health promotion and advice
• Ring pessary changes
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Leg Ulcer Management
• ECGs
• Nutritional advice
• Wound care, advice and dressings
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme

What happens when you have been referred to see a specialist?

The BMA, NHS England, and the National Association for Patient Participation have developed a patient leaflet which describes what patients can expect if their GP refers them to see a specialist or consultant, at a hospital or a community centre.

The leaflet also provides a helpful checklist for patients to use before they leave hospital. If you are unsure about any of the questions in the checklist, please make sure you discuss them with a member of staff before you leave hospital.

Download the leaflet from the NHS website

The BMA patient liaison group has also created a guide on hospital discharge which documents patients', carers' and doctors' perspectives of hospital discharge. The guide includes stories about good and bad experiences to illustrate the importance of sensitive and timely 'joined-up-working' to facilitate a smooth transfer of care for patients leaving hospital.

Travel Vaccinations

This Travel Clinic service is only available for the Registered Patients of the Market Deeping and Glinton Surgeries, with the exception of Yellow Fever Immunisations which are available for everyone.

Before travelling overseas (including Europe), it is important to be aware of the possible health risks and how to prevent problems, or minimise the chances of them occurring. Most importantly, you should know:

Whether there are any specific health risks in the country you are travelling to for which you need to take precautions - for example, malaria

• how to avoid becoming ill when you are abroad
• what to do if you do become ill when you are abroad
• how to get emergency medical treatment when you are abroad

Our Travel Clinics offer advice on travel illnesses and a full range of vaccinations.

Booking an Appointment in our Travel Clinic

Please note that the practice has no obligation to provide last minute travel clinic appointments and due to demand we usually cannot help at short notice.

We strongly recommend that you book appointments at least six weeks before you travel as vaccination does not gave immediate effective coverage.

Prior to ringing the practice to book an appointment in our Travel Clinics, patients are asked to complete and submit the Travel Health Questionnaire online to enable us to offer the best advice as possible - please do NOT print the form.

The exception to this is if your travel requirements are business related, in which case you should contact the surgery on 01778 579000 as there may not be a requirement to complete the questionnaire.

Once you have submitted the questionnaire a member of the practice travel clinic team will contact you within 3 working days to book an appointment.  Please ensure that the Practice has your up to date contact details.

NHS Vaccinations

Within the basic travel service provision are vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B for travel (not occupational reasons) typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria and polio plus all combination vaccines with any of these antigens are provided under the NHS.

Non NHS Vaccinations

All remaining travel immunisations are NOT provided as part of NHS services and therefore a private fee is chargeable.

These include: Yellow Fever, Rabies, Japanese B Encephalitis, Tick Borne Encephalitis, Meningitis ACWY and Cholera

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our staff will be happy to advise you about them when arranging your appointment.

A full list of these services and their fees is available here.

PAYMENT- The total fee charged incorporates the cost of the vaccine and administering the vaccine. Charges are set by individual practices.

General Information Links

The Travel Doctor - looking after travellers health

UK government site offering health advice for travellers

Official Foreign Office website for travellers

Pre-departure preparation tips see

Travel health advice from the NHS

Failure to make provision remains the responsibility of the individual but there are private clinics which may be able to help. These links are examples and the organisations are not specifically recommended by the Deepings Practice:

www.travelclinic.ltd.uk/contact_us.aspx

www.moorgatemd.co.uk/clinic/cambridge/

Who should have the flu jab?

Flu is an unpredictable virus that can cause mild or unpleasant illness in most people.

It can cause severe illness and even death among vulnerable groups including older people, pregnant women and people with an underlying health condition.

Certain people are more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These people are advised to have a flu jab each year.

For otherwise healthy people, flu can be very unpleasant. Most people will recover from flu within a week or two.

People who should have a flu jab

The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk. This is to ensure they are protected against catching flu and developing serious complications.

You are eligible to receive a free flu jab if you: 

• are 65 years of age or over   
• are pregnant 
• have certain medical conditions 
• are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility 
• receive a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill 

Front-line health and social care workers are also eligible to receive the flu vaccine. It is your employer's responsibility to arrange and pay for this vaccine. 

Availability of the flu vaccine for over 65s

This winter, people aged 65 and over are being offered a flu vaccine called Fluad. This is the best vaccine currently available for people in this age group because it contains an adjuvant that helps the immune system create a stronger response to the vaccine, please read the information leaflet below for more details:

The Flu Vaccination information for those aged 65 years old and over

The following is an update issued by NHS England in relation to alleged shortages of the flu vaccine for over 65s. 

There currently is a phased delivery programme, which has been put in place to manage the fact that there is only one supplier and we want to ensure everyone in the country has a fair chance to access it. There is more than enough stock of the vaccine in circulation and we would encourage practices to ensure patients are informed that there is no any shortage of the vaccination or any danger that they won’t be able to get vaccinated.

Some of the key points are:

• Getting vaccinated is really important for staying healthy over winter and we would encourage people in the eligible groups to get protected. This is people aged 65 or over, pregnant women, young children, and people with long term health conditions. 
• We want to reassure the public that there will be enough vaccines for everyone who needs one in these groups.
• For the first time this year, people aged over 65 should only be offered a particular version of the flu vaccine, because it is more effective for them.
• There is only one manufacturer of this vaccine and delivery of it is being co-ordinated nationally. Practices and pharmacies have received their first batches and more will be delivered in October and early November.
• This means that not everyone aged 65+ can get their flu vaccine as early in the autumn as in previous years. However, enough vaccines are being produced and there is plenty of time for people to be protected ahead of winter.

Patients wanting a flu jab should keep in touch with their GP practice or local pharmacy so they can be booked in for their vaccination at the earliest opportunity.

Pregnant women and the flu jab

If you're pregnant, you're advised to have the injectable flu vaccine, regardless of the stage of pregnancy you've reached.

That's because there's strong evidence to suggest pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu.

If you're pregnant, you will benefit from the flu vaccine because:

• it reduces your chance of getting serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy
• it reduces your risk of having a miscarriage, or your baby being born prematurely or with a low birth weight because of the flu
• it will help protect your baby as they will continue to have some immunity to flu for the first few months of their life

It's safe to have the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy from conception onwards. Talk to your GP, midwife or pharmacist if you want more information.

Read more about the flu jab in pregnancy.

Flu jab for people with medical conditions

The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:  

• chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma (which requires an inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis 
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure 
• chronic kidney disease 
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis 
• chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis (MS) 
• diabetes
• problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed 
• a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• being seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)

This list of conditions isn't definitive. It's always an issue of clinical judgement.

Your GP can assess you to take into account the risk of flu making any underlying illness you may have worse, as well as your risk of serious illness from flu itself.

The vaccine should always be offered in such cases, even if you are not technically in one of the risk groups above.

If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be advised to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about this.

Flu vaccine for children

The flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

• children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition
• children aged two and three on 31 August 2017 – that is, born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2015
• children in reception class and school years one, two,  three and four

Children aged between six months and two years of age who are eligible for the flu vaccine should have the flu jab.

Children eligible for the flu vaccine aged between two and 17 will usually have the flu vaccine nasal spray.

Flu jab for health and social care workers

Outbreaks of flu can occur in health and social care settings, and, because flu is so contagious, staff, patients and residents are all at risk of infection.

If you're a front-line health and social care worker, you are eligible for an NHS flu jab to protect yourself, your colleagues and other members of the community.

It is your employer's responsibility to arrange vaccination for you. So, if you are an NHS-employed front-line healthcare worker, the NHS will pay for your vaccination. If you are a social care worker, your employer should pay for vaccination.

In the case of health and social care workers employed by private companies, those companies will arrange and pay for the vaccinations.

The NHS has this advice on flu vaccination of health and social care workers (PDF, 223kb).

Flu jab for carers

If you are the main carer for someone who is elderly or disabled, speak to your GP or pharmacist about having a flu jab along with the person you care for.

Read more about the flu jab for carers on the Carers UK website.

Resources 

All about flu and how to stop getting it

Non-NHS/Private Fees

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.

Here is a full list of non-NHS/Private Services and their fees

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.

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 the General Medical Council or even the Police.

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.

If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask your GP if he or she is prepared to complete them all at once as a 'job lot' at a reduced price.

Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight. You should expect the form(s) to take upto 4 weeks for the GP to complete and return

Road Traffic Collisions

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the first doctor providing emergency treatment to a person injured in a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) is entitled to charge a fee.  A fee may be levied in respect of each person treated (section 158(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988).

The BMA advises that, since there may be a delay before injuries become apparent, anyone seen within one working day can be deemed to be an emergency.

NHS funding does not cover the emergency treatment of injuries sustained following a RTC and a charge of £21.30 is payable for each patient consulted within the first 24 hours following the collision.

The Fee is payable at the time of consultation and should be reclaimed from the drivers insurance company.

Community Surgical Scheme

The Deepings Practice has a purpose built level 3 surgical theatre offering community based surgical procedures, provided through the Community Surgical Scheme in Lincolnshire. 

Delivering care that is more accessible and convenient within a relaxing and familiar environment. 

All procedures performed by suitably qualified General Practitioners and hospital consultants

Excellent Patient Care and experience

Fully-equipped day case theatre

Friendly professional staff

Free Parking

We offer a range of procedures and treatments, all bookable through the NHS e-Referral Service, and include:

Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) low risk

Carpal Tunnel Release                           Cyst Excision

Eyelid Cyst Excision                               Ganglion Excision (any site) 

Hernia                                                     Ingrown Toenail Excision

Lipoma Excision                                      Morton’s Neuroma 

Steroid Injection                                      Trigger Finger / Thumb                             

Ulna Nerve Entrapment                           Vasectomy

We also provide Community based Ultrasound Scans.

Community Surgical Scheme - Health Professionals

We offer a range of procedures and treatments, all bookable through the NHS e-Referral Service.

All procedures performed by suitably qualified General Practitioners and hospital consultants.

Adult Hernia

The new adult hernia service will provide hernia repairs performed by a team of consultants led by Mr Bajwa Consultant Gastrointestinal Surgeon.

The repairs will be done via local anesthetic nerve block.

Prior to surgery the patient will have a dedicated appointment with the surgeon to discuss treatment options and consent.

Main exclusions are as follows:

• Divarication of recti - refer to Plastic Surgery
• Fast-track referrals - Cancer patients/2WW pathways
• Under 18 years
• A patient who is significantly obese with a BMI >35
• Current or previous MRSA Positive - unless negative swabs confirm eradication in previous 6 months
• Known significant cognitive impairments
• Recurrent hernia at same site (previously corrected with surgery)

Deepings Practice Adult Hernia leaflet

Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC) low risk

Inclusions

If the lesion is:

• located below the clavicle (that is, not on the head or neck)
• less than 1 cm in diameter with clearly defined margins
• not a recurrent BCC following incomplete excision
• not a persistent BCC that has been incompletely excised according to histology
• not morphoeic, infiltrative or basosquamous in appearance
• not located:
• over important underlying anatomical structures (for example, major vessels or nerves)
• in an area where primary surgical closure may be difficult (for example, digits or front of shin)
• in an area where difficult excision may lead to a poor cosmetic result
• at another highly visible anatomical site (for example, anterior chest or shoulders) where a good cosmetic result is important to the patient.
• If the BCC does not meet the above criteria, or there is any diagnostic doubt, following discussion with the patient they should be referred to a member of the LSMDT.

Exclusions

If the patient is:

• aged 24 years or younger (that is, a child or young adult)
• immunosuppressed or has Gorlin’s syndrome

Removal of Skin Growths Leaflet

Carpal Tunnel Release

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition where there is increased pressure on the median nerve that crosses the from of the wrist. The nerve runs through a tight tunnel, together with the tendons that bend the fingers. This causes pain, tingling and numbness in the index and middle fingers and thumb (usually).

Carpal Tunnel Release

Cyst Excision

Further information to follow

Eyelid Cyst Excision

Further information to follow

Ganglion Excision (any site) 

A ganglion is a lump under the skin that contains fluid. Most ganglions form near the wrist joint but they also commonly occur around the foot and ankle. The fluid in the ganglion may come from the joint through a narrow channel.

Excision of a Ganglion

Removal of Toenail

An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of your nail grows into the skin at the side of your nail, causing pain and swelling.

Removal of Toenail

Lipoma Excision 

Further information to follow

Morton’s Neuroma 

Morton's Neuroma is a condition that affects one of the nerves between the toes. The nerve becomes irritated and compressed, which results in severe pain on the ball of the foot and at the base of the toes. The exact cause is not certain.

Morton's Neuroma

Steroid Injection

Further information to follow

Trigger Finger / Thumb

Trigger finger treatment is surgery to prevent a hand digit sticks in a bent position and sometimes can remain so. It can be painful and annoying. Trigger finger treatment can include giving a steroid injection or a simple operation performed under local anaesthetic, which has a high success rate.

Trigger Finger / Thumb

Ulnar Nerve Release

Ulnar nerve compression is a condition where there is increased pressure on the ulnar nerve, usually resulting in numbness in your ring and little fingers. Ulnar nerve release surgery aims to resolve this.

Ulnar Nerve Release

Ultrasound Scans Service

An Ultrasound Service is provided at the Market Deeping surgery by Mediscan Diagnostic Services, who are an accredited AQP (Any Qualifi­ed Provider) and provider of ultrasound diagnostic services nationally commissioned by CCG’s.

As part of the CQC (Care Quality Commission) NHS initiative, they enhance the service offered by the practices, accelerating patient diagnosis and the quality of care.

Their clinics are led by consultant Radiologists who are always present with a Health Care Assistant.

They provide Ultrasounds Services for:

• Abdominal (Liver, Gall bladder, Pancreas, Spleen, Kidneys).
• KUB (Kidneys, Bladder, Prostate).
• Pelvic (Transvaginal and Trans-abdominal).
• Musculoskeletal (Shoulder, Knee, Achilles, Foot).
• Lumps and Bumps.
• Testes and Small Parts.
• Aorta.
• Neck.

Mediscan Referral Form

Vasectomy

Vasectomy Information Leaflet

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