SERVICES AVAILABLE AT OAKFIELDS HEALTH CENTRE

The practice is contracted by NHS County Durham to provide a wide of core services for people who are unwell including treatment, health promotion advice and referral, as appropriate, to other services.

The practice also supports patients with chronic diseases to stay as well and independent as possible.

Additional services include: cervical screening, contraceptive services, vaccinations and immunisations, child health surveillance, maternity and minor surgery services.

Enhanced services include: anti coagulation monitoring and more complex minor surgery.

GP CLINICS

GP clinics are held every morning and afternoon, except Thursday afternoon. An additional clinic is held Tuesday evenings for people who have difficulty getting to the practice during working hours.

Oakfields Health Centre has got medical students on placements with Dr Ellis on a Wednesday morning from January - March 2012.

Nurse-led clinics & services

Minor Ailments
Clinics are held daily by the specialist nurse to ensure speedy access to treatment if you have any of a number of minor ailments e.g. sore throat, ear ache, coughs, colds, flu, chest infections, sinusitis, hay fever, nose bleeds, water infections, aches or sprains

Chronic Disease Management
Specialist nurse clinics are also held daily to provide regular reviews with the nurse for patients with long term conditions such as chronic obstructive airways disease, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease.

• Weight management
• Adult vaccinations
• Flu vaccinations
• Travel immunisations

A full range of family planning , HRT and sexual health services are also available from the specialist nurse.

Child Health
The practice works with the health visitor to provide child health development checks. All children under school age have regular reviews. You will receive a letter inviting you to attend one of the scheduled clinics for child development checks and immunisations.

No appointment is necessary to attend the Baby Clinic for weight checks or to discuss any concerns you may have with the health visitor.

Women’s Health
A full range of services including family planning, smears, breast clinics are available, provided by either a doctor or nurse.

Sickness Certificates
You do not require a doctor’s sickness certificate for any illness lasting 7 days or less. In cases of prolonged illness (7 days or more) all the doctors can issue sick certificates for statutory sick pay purposes.

Doctors are not obliged to issue sick notes for periods of absence from work of less than seven days including weekends. After three days absence you should obtain a self certificate from your employer. If your employer insists on a ‘private certificate’ then either they or you must be prepared to pay a fee for this service.

Health Information Area
Our health information area has a selection of information for you to take away to read at home. We also have a health information kiosk which provides links via the internet to web sites that provide information about healthy lifestyles, health problems, services and useful contacts.

CLICK HERE for Clinic Times