The practice nurse is able to provide advice and vaccinations for travel abroad. We require travel forms to be completed 8 weeks before you travel, to ensure the full course of recommended vaccines are completed, if you are travelling in less than 8 weeks please attend a Pharmacy or Vaccine provider.

Each person travelling needs to book an individual, 20 minute appointment. Please ensure when booking your appointment, you let reception know you require a travel appointment, to ensure the correct amount of time is booked. You will be advised of the costs of vaccinations at your appointment, as some are not covered by the NHS. 

Prior to your travel appointment, please complete the online travel questionnaire.

We offer a confidential service to our young patients. We are here to discuss any health issues and offer any information/advice on things such as: contraception or personal matters. If you would like to speak to your GP or the practice nurse, please ask one of the receptionists to book you an appointment with them. 

Women aged between 24 and 64 should have a cervical screening every 3 to 5 years to help prevent cervical cancer. The screening is quick and painless and can be done here in the practice.

If you are aged over 24 and have never had a smear test, or if it has been more than 3 to 5 years since your last screening, you should arrange an appointment with our Practice Nurse. You should not have the test while you are having a period or in the 4 days before or after your period as this can affect the sample.

What is cervical screening?

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb).

A sample of cells is taken from the cervix for analysis. A doctor or nurse inserts an instrument (a speculum) to open the woman’s vagina and uses a spatula to sweep around the cervix. Most women consider the procedure to be only mildly uncomfortable.

Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing but like other screening tests, it is not perfect. It may not always detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer.

Who is eligible for cervical screening?

All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five yearsThe NHS call and recall system invites women who are registered with a GP. It also keeps track of any follow-up investigation, and, if all is well, recalls the woman for screening in three or five years time. It is therefore important that all women ensure their GP has their correct name and address details and inform them if these change.

Women who have not had a recent test may be offered one when they attend their GP or family planning clinic on another matter. Women should receive their first invitation for routine screening at 25.

Why are women under 25 not invited?

This is because changes in the young cervix are normal. If they were thought to be abnormal this could lead to unnecessary treatment which could have consequences for women’s childbearing. Any abnormal changes can be easily picked up and treated from the age of 25. Rarely, younger women experience symptoms such as unexpected bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. In this case they should see their GP for advice.

Why are women over 65 not invited?

Women aged 65 and over who have had three consecutive negative results are taken out of the call recall system. The natural history and progression of cervical cancer means it is highly unlikely that such women will go on to develop the disease. Women aged 65 and over who have never had a test are entitled to one.

What about women who are not sexually active?

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 25 and 64 for cervical screening. But if a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. We do not say no risk, only very low risk. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend that she continues screening.

Our practice also offers services which are not funded by the NHS and are paid by the patient. These include:

• Insurance claim forms
• Non-NHS vaccinations 
• Prescription for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Pre-employment and HGV medicals
• Vaccination certificates

For further information about the services offered and the prices, please contact the surgery.  

Oxfordshire Mind’s Primary Care Wellbeing Workers are offering one-to-one sessions for people who may be experiencing mental health issues or other social or lifestyle issues that are impacting on their wellbeing. Wellbeing Workers will focus on what matters to the individual to encourage and enable them to link in with existing support services (including online and telephone services) and develop tools to increase their ability to manage their own wellbeing. 

The service, which is usually offered face-to-face in the practice, is still running during the COVID-19 pandemic but now largely takes place over the phone. If you would like support with your mental health or wellbeing at this time and would like to access this service, you can self-refer via email or telephone (see ‘How to Self-Refer’ below). 

Face-to-face sessions are available for: 

• those unable to speak openly at home due to risk of abuse  
• those with hearing difficulties 
• those with learning disabilities or other needs that might make communication via phone challenging.  

If you would like to receive a face-to-face session for any of the reasons above, please state this when self-referring. 

How to Self-Refer: 

• EMAIL: Send an email to primarycarewellbeing@oxfordshiremind.org.uk with your full name, date of birth, phone number and registered GP practice. It would also be helpful to include a brief outline of the reason(s) for your self-referral. Please type ‘SELF-REFERRAL’ in the email subject so it can be easily seen.
• PHONE: Call the Oxfordshire Mind Information Line on 01865 24 77 88 and request a referral to the ‘Primary Care Wellbeing service’. The Information Line staff member will then take some details [full name, date of birth, contact details, registered GP practice and a brief outline of the reason(s) for your self-referral] and will send these on to the Primary Care Wellbeing service team. 

Once your referral is received, a team member from the Oxfordshire Mind Primary Care Wellbeing service will attempt to contact you within 2 working days. 

Using the service

If you’re a patient, find out more about appointment booking on the NHS.UK website.

Whether you’re using e-RS for the first time, or an existing user wanting to make the most of the service, NHS Digital provides a range of material for referrers (such as a general practice), providers (a hospital or clinic) and commissioners.

The health visitors are also based at East Oxford Health Centre. They can help with a broad range of issues and support for children (primarily under the age of 5) and their families. They can be contacted on: 01865 904483. An answer phone will take messages if they are unavailable, but they will get back to you. 

District Nurses

District Nurses are specially trained to address nursing needs and provide care to patients in their own homes. They care for a wide range of people, including: 

• post-operative surgical patients
• patients with long-term medical problems
• patients with palliative care needs

Our District Nurses are based at East Oxford Health Centre and can be contacted on: 01865 904814. An answer machine may pick up the call; however, the messages are listened to throughout the day. 

Patients who are aged 16-24 and require Chlamydia Testing, can use the Sexual Health Oxfordshire website by clicking here

This will allow them to access chlamydia testing for free via a postal testing kit.