Clinics and Services

All men will be automatically invited for screening in the year they turn 65. Men who are older than 65, and who have not previously been screened or treated for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, will be able to opt-in through self referral direct to the
screening programme.

West Sussex AAA Screening Programme 01243 831503.

More information is available on the Deparment Of Health website

We have specialist nurses who have an interest in respiratory disease (Asthma and COPD). We recommend that all patients with a respiratory problem should be seen at least once a year to maintain optimum control.

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69. People over 70 can request a screening kit by calling a freephone helpline when the programme reaches their area.

More information is available on the Department Of Health website

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. The first step involves an X-ray of each breast - a mammogram - which is taken while carefully compressing the breast. Most women find it a bit uncomfortable and a few find it painful. The mammogram can detect small changes in breast tissue which may indicate cancers which are too small to be felt either by the woman herself or by a doctor.

The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides free breast screening every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. Women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited.

More information is available on the Department of Health website

A cervical smear test is offered to all sexually active women over the age of 25, every 3 years.

The advisory committee on cervical screening recommends the following:

• Women aged under 25 should not be screened.
• Women aged 25-49 should be screened every 3 years.
• Women aged 50-64 should be screened every 5 years.
• Women over 65, should only be screened if they haven't had had screening from aged 50, or have had recent abnormal tests.

A nurse will take a small sample of cells from the cervix (the neck of the womb which can be felt at the top of the vagina), wipe these on to a glass slide (hence the word ‘smear'!) and send the slide to the laboratory, where it is checked for abnormalities which might become cancerous at some time in the future. If such abnormalities are seen, the woman is usually asked to have another test about 6 months later.

Women who have normal smear results can be reassured that they are at a low risk of developing cervical cancer.

Smears cannot be taken during your period, as blood will obscure the cells.

Who is at risk?

All sexually active women should be tested; discuss with the nurse if you are worried. Smoking and a history of genital warts may put you at higher risk. Smears are not the same as swab tests for vaginal infections, although they are taken in a similar way. This includes lesbian and bisexual women. 

Why bother? 

This simple test could prevent you developing cervical cancer.

What if I have an abnormal result? 

If your smear test shows changes which might be serious, you may be asked to have a colposcopy. A gynaecologist in an outpatient clinic carries this out; the doctor will examine the cervix and treat any significant abnormalities using a laser or by freezing, so the abnormal cells are removed before they become cancerous.

It is essential for children to be fully immunised and we advise all parents to heed current recommendations. Our Practice Nurses hold immunisation sessions each month and a doctor is available for advice as required.

Invitations to attend are sent automatically.

Jules Healy and Alison Richardson run the immunisations clinics.

For information regarding immunisations and ages, please visit the NHS website

Midwife Service
The midwifery service is provided by Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust; the Practice has an allocated midwife who sees patients at Yapton Surgery and at home.

Community Nurses
As part of the Primary Health Care Trust, the Community Nurses work in partnership with patients, their families, carers and other health care services.  The Community Nurses are NOT employed by the Practice.

For those patients who are housebound, our service offers skilled nursing care, advice and support.

This care includes:

• Full Nursing Assessment
• Care and support for those with terminal illness
• Wound care
• Continence issues
• Bowel Care
• Issues relating to prescribed medication
• Advice on health promotion
• Referral to and liaison with other relevant agencies

There are two teams, one covering Middleton and the other covering Yapton and Barnham

Health Visitors
A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing.

Yapton Health Visitors

As from 1st November 2020- Weekly weighing and general baby welfare check clinics will reopen. 

These can be pre-booked by contacting the Arun and Chichester team on 01243 696011 extension 5267

Advice lines are open between 9:00am and 4:40pm Monday to Friday.

Our Mental Health Liaison Practitioner works from both surgeries and offers up to twelve 45-minute sessions to patients who have been referred by a member of the Practice's clinical team.

The practice has over 500 patients with diabetes. We aim to provide the highest standards of care. We hold regular clinics at both surgeries:

Nurse Leads: Julie Cleeves and Samantha Seare

For access to health information on diabetes, contact Diabetes UK.

A complete contraceptive service is provided by individual doctors, including the fitting of coils and diaphragms. We also provide Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (known as LARCS). These are the Mirena Coil and the Implanon hormonal implant, the copper containing coils and the contraceptive injection. In addition, our Practice Nurses can provide comprehensive information, advice and follow-up care.

• Clinical Leads - Dr Victoria Beattie and Dr Brenda Gorrie.

The Family Planning Association website is a good source of information on these issues.

Immunisation against seasonal flu (the 'flu jab') is given every year to people at risk of developing serious complications from seasonal flu (influenza).

If you have the 'flu jab' you greatly reduce your chance of getting seasonal flu.

You should consider being immunised against seasonal flu if you are aged 65 or over or have certain diseases of the lung, heart, kidney, liver and nervous system.

Immunisation against swine flu also began in the autumn of 2009. Priority is being given to 'at risk' groups.

People who are not in the priority groups may be offered immunisation against swine flu at a later time.

For most people, seasonal flu is unpleasant but not serious and they recover within a week, however, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These patients may require hospital treatment. A large number of elderly people die from seasonal flu every winter.

The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free of charge to these at-risk groups to protect them from catching flu and developing these complications.

It is recommended you have a flu jab if you are in of these high risk groups:

• are 65 or over,
• have a serious medical condition
• live in a residential or nursing home,
• are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill,
• are a healthcare or social care professional directly involved in patient care, or
• work with poultry

If you are in any of the high risk categories above, you will receive a letter, SMS or email from the surgery requesting for you to make an appointment for the vaccination.

If you cannot get to your surgery but are in the high risk category you can also go to your local pharmacy and receive the vaccination free of charge.

If you are the parent of a child (over six months) with a long-term condition, speak to your GP about the flu jab. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.

If you are the carer of an elderly or disabled person, make sure they have had their flu jab.

Heart Failure is a condition that some of our patients develop over a period of time. It has a number of causes and can be well controlled.

Further Information from British Heart Foundation.

Dr Tej Bansil  undertake a variety of joint injections. Shoulders, knees and some joints of the hand can benefit from an injection of steroid into the joint. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), trigger finger etc. also benefit.

The type of conditions where injections might be useful include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gouty arthritis
• Synovitis
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Muscle trigger points
• Carpal tunnel syndrome 

Hypertension (high blood pressure) and Coronary Heart Disease are now recognised as a major health concern and clinics are held every week for anyone who has cardiovascular problems. It is recommended that all at-risk patients attend once a year. The clinic offers lifestyle advice, a blood pressure check, blood tests and an ECG. The practice also offers preventative health checks aimed to prevent the development of both hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease.

Midwives from St Richard's Hospital attend the Practice on a regular basis and offer a full range of antenatal and postnatal services. When you first attend, your doctor will ask you a number of questions and will undertake a physical examination of your cardiovascular and respiratory system, take your blood pressure and record your weight. You will be referred to the midwife and or the hospital antenatal clinic depending upon your individual circumstances.

It's very important to see a midwife or a GP as soon as possible. You should have had your long 'booking' visit by 12 weeks, and you should also have been given your hand-held maternity records by this time. At the booking visit, you'll discuss your health and any other concerns so that an individual care plan can be developed. You may be offered an ultrasound scan. You will also be weighed, and given information on the screening tests available, and have an opportunity to discuss them.

If you have found out that you are pregnant, you may also self-refer to a midwife.

More information is available on the NHS website

• GP Lead: Dr Brenda Gorrie

We have been providing a range of minor surgical procedures in the Practice since 1988. Procedures are undertaken at both the Yapton and Middleton surgeries, equipped with diathermy and cryotherapy equipment (temporarily suspended).

If your doctor has referred you to a specialist for further care you will be asked to book your appointment using the ‘NHS e-Referral’ system.

You will receive a letter from us within 2 weeks giving details of how to book your appointment and any passwords you may need.

To track your e-Referral you will need the following details to log into the e-Referral website:

• Your date of birth
• Reference number – this will be on the first page of your letter
• Password – this will be on the second page of your letter

Track an e-Referral

Why not take advantage of the Free NHS Health Check now available to you and patients aged between 40 – 74 years who attend at this practice. The check is confidential and includes:

• 30 minutes consultation
• Blood pressure check and finger prick cholesterol test
• Personalised advice about what simple steps you can take to stay healthy for the future.

Pneumococcus can cause diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections.

Children under two are offered the vaccine.

You should consider having the vaccine if you are over 65 years or have certain diseases of the lung, heart, kidney, liver and nervous system.

Are you eligible for the Shingles Vaccination?

The shingles vaccine is currently available to people aged between 70 and 79. Eligibility changes every year as per Public Health England.

Once you have had a shingles vaccination, you are covered for LIFE.

You can have the shingles vaccination at any time of year.

If you are eligible you will receive a letter from the surgery requesting for you to book an appointment for the vaccination.

For more information, visit the NHS website

Appointments for smoking cessation advice are available with a trained Smoking Cessation Adviser.

NRT (Nicotine replacement) is available on NHS Prescription – but only through our advisers. Evidence and our experience demonstrate that those people that enrol and complete the programme are the most successful.

Call the free NHS Smoking Helpline 0800 022 4 332 or West Sussex Stop Smoking Service on 01903 708000.

More information on NHS stop smoking services