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Patient Reviews: What to expect
Health check-ups
New patients
When you register with the practice, you will be offered a general health check which can often be done at the time of registration or usually within 72 hours. This helps to ensure that your electronic medical record is accurate from the time that you join our list.
Existing patients
There are several health checks that we recommend for patients:
-You should have a blood pressure check every three years after you are 35
-People aged 75 and over should have an annual health check
-All women aged 25-49 should have a cervial smear every three years
-All women aged 50-65 should have a cervical smear every five years
-If any member of your family has heart disease, asthma, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure, you should talk to your doctor about your own health
-If your family comes from the Caribbean, Africa or the Mediterranean, you should have a check for Sickle Cell Anaemia or Thalassaemia
-All people over 65 should have an annual injection of influenza vaccine
Asthma
If you suffer with asthma you should see the asthma nurse for an annual check up every 11 months. You should have a flu jab every year. If you feel you start to suffer from an infection you should contact the doctor as this might make your asthma worse. You should check your peak flow on a regular basis and keep a diary of this, as your peak flow will reflect how your asthma is affecting you. Try and remember to bring you peak flow diary when you see the Nurse or Doctor.
Chronic Obstructive airway disease (COPD)
You should attend the surgery for a spirometry check every year. You should have a flu jab every year. You should have a pneumococcal vaccination once in your life. If you feel you start to suffer from an infection you should contact the doctor as this might make your COPD worse. You should check your peak flow on a regular basis and keep a diary of this, as your peak flow will reflect how your COPD is affecting you. Try and remember to bring you peak flow diary when you see the Nurse or Doctor.
Heart disease
Angina and heart attack patients should see the nurse or doctor twice a year for a blood pressure check, this should be below 140 systolic, 85 diastolic. You should have a flu jab once a year. Once a year you should have your cholesterol checked, as a high cholesterol increases the risk of further heart attacks. Your cholesterol should be lower than 5.0. Your sugar level should be checked once a year as diabetes is more common in Heart disease patients. You should also have your kidney function checked once a year.
Heart failure patients should have their blood pressure checked twice a year, as a low blood pressure reduces the workload for their heart, this should be below 140 systolic, 85 diastolic. You should have your kidney function checked once a year. You should try to reduce your weight as much as possible to reduce the workload for your heart.
Diabetes
You should have your blood pressure checked twice a year, this should be below 130 systolic, 80 diastolic. You should have a flu jab once a year. Your cholesterol should be checked once a year, this should be less than 5.0. Your kidney function should be checked once a year. Your HBA1C should be checked once a year, this should be between 3.6 and 6.8. HBA1C is the percentage of glucose attached to your haemoglobin, which gives an indication how well your diabetes was controlled over the last 3 months. You should have your urine checked once a year for protein loss, as kidney failure is a complication of diabetes. You should have your eyes checked once a year - the surgery arranges retinal photography at green lane medical centre once a year. You should have a full diabetic check with the nurse once a year.
Hypertension
You should have your blood pressure checked twice a year, this should be below 140 systolic, 80 diastolic. You should have blood tests done yearly, checking cholesterol, blood sugar and kidney function. You should have your weight checked on a yearly basis.
Epilepsy
You should be seen once a year, to document any fits and medication side effects. On some epilepsy medication you need an annual blood test to measure the level of that medication in your blood. You can apply for your driving license if you have not had a fit for 12 months.
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid)
You should have an annual blood test for your thyroid hormone level. Your cholesterol and sugar levels will also need to be checked as the hormone that regulates your thyroid hormone level also affects your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Stroke/TIA (mini-strokes)
You should have your blood pressure checked twice a year, this should be below 140 systolic, 80 diastolic. You should have your cholesterol checked once a year, this should be below 5.0. You should have your blood sugar checked once a year.
Mental health
You should be seen at least once a year to discuss an annual mental health care plan for you.
Over 75 years
You should have an over 75 years check every year.
All other patients on repeat prescriptions
You should be seen at least once a year by your doctor.
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