Medical services and clinics

Patients that are diagnosed with Asthma have an annual review with a respiratory nurse. Please remember to bring your blue inhaler to your review appointment.

If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns, please make an appointment to see the respiratory nurse or a doctor.

Book an appointment

Further information on asthma is available at Asthma NHS

If Death Occurs At Home

1. Telephone the doctor who will visit to confirm that death has taken place.
2. Contact a funeral director.
3. Arrange to collect the doctor’s Medical Certificate of Death (usually from the surgery).
4. Take this to the Registrars Office, (together with the deceased’s Medical Card and Birth Certificate, if available) for the area in which the death took place. Alternatively you can register by declaration at any convenient Registrars Office but certificates will not be available as these will have to be posted to you a few days later.
5. The Registrar will normally issue a Green coloured certificate for you to give to your funeral director who will look after necessary arrangements for the funeral. The Registrar will also issue a white notification certificate for the DSS. They will also enquire as to the number of Certified Copies you require for dealing with the deceased finances (a fee is payable for each copy).

From January 2024 all deaths in the community will be reported to the Medical Examiners service. The Medical Examiner will contact you to discuss the recent care your family member had received. Once they have looked into the death they will allow the GP to issue the death certificate. 

If The Death Occurs In Hospital

1. Contact a funeral director to inform him his services are required.
2. Collect the certificate from the hospital then follow 4 – 5 as above

Note For Cremation

Your funeral director will usually liaise directly with the surgery regarding the additional certification required.

Support

CRUSE Bereavement Care is there to support you after the death of someone close. If someone you know has died and you need to talk:

Helpline:  0808 808 1677

Website: Cruse

The Compassionate Friends offer support for bereaved parents and their families after a child dies. A telephone helpline is available for support and information 365 days a year. The line is always answered by a bereaved parent.

TCF Helpline: 0345 123 2304

Website: TCF

SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) Anyone over the age of 18 affected by the death of someone by suicide will be made welcome at the SoBS Bath support group, run by volunteers who themselves have been affected by suicide. Meetings are in the centre of Bath on the third Wednesday every month, 6.30-8.00pm.

Text/phone: 07498 179229                                                                          National Helpline: 0300 111 5065 (available 9.00am-9.00pm Monday to Friday)

Website: SOBS

If you have been asked to check your blood pressure by the surgery, this may be due to a variety of reasons, this may include previous high readings, as part of an annual review, or simply because we haven’t had a recent blood pressure reading. The options for checking your blood pressure are outlined below.

Why check your blood pressure?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second most common cause of premature death in England, after cancer, affecting seven million people. One in four premature deaths are caused by CVD, and 1.6million disability adjusted life years can be attributed to it. High blood pressure significantly increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke, but early detection and treatment can help people live longer, healthier lives. The NHS long term plan focusses on tackling health inequalities and the prevention of ill health and aims to prevent 150,000 strokes and heart attacks as a result of CVD, over the next ten years.

A single raised blood pressure reading does not usually indicate any persistent underlying problem. However, we would like to recheck your blood pressure to make sure that it has come back to normal.

If someone’s blood pressure is persistently higher than the recommended levels, then this is a condition known as Hypertension which needs tablet treatment to avoid future medical problems.

There are several options available to you to have a blood pressure reading done:

At the Pharmacy

Several local pharmacies are now offering a blood pressure check service for people aged 40 years or over. The results of your check will be shared with your GP surgery.

• J Hoots 129 Newbridge Hill Bath BA1 3PT 01225 424401(Monday – Friday)
• J Hoots Weston 125 High St Bath BA1 4DF 01225 421644 (Monday – Friday)
• Boots in Bath Southgate Centre, 1 Newark St (any day except Sundays) BA1 1AT – 01225 464402
• Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsburys, Green Park Station, Bath BA1 2DR – 01225 422740
• J HOOTS Pharmacy Odd Down, 88 Frome Rd, Bath BA2 2RX – 01225 833003
• Combe Down Pharmacy, Combe Down House, The Avenue, Combe Down, Bath BA2 5EG – 01225 833195
• Avicenna Pharmacy, 87 Bradford Road Combe Down, Bath BA2 5BP – 01225 833640
• Hawes Whiston & Co, 38 St James’s Square, Bath BA1 2TU – 01225 424662
• Superdrug Bath, 31/32 Westgate St, Bath BA1 1EL – 01225 421680
• Boots Pharmacy, 84-85, The Parade, High St, Twerton, Bath BA2 1DE – 01225 423382
• Preddy Newco, 41 Moorland Rd, Bath BA2 3PN – 01225 425356

We recommend that you contact the pharmacy by phone first to arrange an appropriate time to come in.

At the GP surgery

At Newbridge Surgery there a Health Monitor available in the reception area. You do not need to make an appointment; you can just turn up during our opening hours. Ask the receptionist for a token for the machine. You can take your own blood pressure and pass the reading to the receptionist. Your GP team will then decide if any further action is needed. If your blood pressure is persistently raised, then we may suggest arranging home blood pressure readings.

Home blood pressure readings:

At the Surgery we have a supply of blood pressure monitors for patients to rent for a week, these require a £10 cash deposit which will be returned to you when you return the monitor. To borrow one of these, please come into the surgery and speak to one of our reception team. You can record your results in the below form.

Blood pressure review form

Owning a monitor:

You can buy blood pressure monitors directly from the manufacturer, from many local pharmacies or online from retailers. Use the table above to record your readings.

Things to help you after your diagnosis.

Things to expect along with your treatment.

Treatment Summary (TS)
This is done by the hospital and is a detailed summary of your cancer, the type of treatment you have received, any side effects caused by your treatment. This lets you know how to contact your cancer team if you have any concerns.
A letter or treatment summary will be done after each treatment/intervention has been
completed, this includes after surgery, at the end of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and
other treatments. A member of the clinical team will talk you through the document and give you and your GP a copy

Cancer Care Review (CCR)
The cancer care review is carried out at your GP practice to provide
further support with your diagnosis. You can request a review at anytime
by phoning the practice and booking an appointment.
This is an opportunity for you to talk to a health professional on how your
diagnosis has affected you and your loved ones. To ask any questions
and raise any concerns and needs you and your loved ones may have.

Handy hints
• Calls from hospitals may show as private number or withheld.
• Check to see if you can take a family member or friend with you to the hospital to appointments or for planned phone calls.
• There may be a lot of information given at this time
• Have a pen and paper ready
• Have questions prepared

Here to help
Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk
0808 808 00 00, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm
Cancer Care Map: www.cancercaremap.org
Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org

It is recommended that women between the ages of 25-50 have a smear every 3 years and patients between the ages of 50-65 every 5 years; it is a test that helps prevent cervical cancer. It checks for a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and, if you have HPV, cervical cell changes (abnormal cells).

Invitations are sent to all patients in these groups who are then notified by letter of the result (this may take several weeks).

Please see link below for more detailed information:

What happens during a smear test?

If you are unsure or nervous please book an appointment to discuss with our nurse first.

You can book online

Book an appointment

The NHS sends out appointments for regular checks and immunisations for pre-school children. This is to make sure that our clinicians and health visitors can check that children are developing normally and that there’s nothing to worry about.

Our doctors and nurses give confidential advice on all aspects of family planning, including coil fitting and emergency contraception.

Find out about local counsellors and advice services. You can access these services by speaking to your GP or the surgery's receptionist.

Patients that are diagnosed with Diabetes have an annual review with a diabetic nurse. Before there appointment with the diabetic nurse they will be asked to make an appointment for a blood test.

If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns, please make an appointment to the diabetic nurse or a doctor.

Further information  on living with Type 2 Diabetes in Bath and North East Somerset is available from the BaNES Diabetes Wellbeing website

Diabetes Wellbeing

Alcohol is sociable and will not damage your health in small quantities.

More information about acceptable quantities is available at the Drink Aware site.

Drugs are never good!

If you feel you have a problem with drugs or alcohol any of the Doctors at the Surgery will be happy to discus things with you. Local help for Drugs & Alcohol is available through:

Developing Health & Independence

Bath & Northeast Somerset Council

Advice on specific drugs can be found at Talk to Frank

Symptoms of earwax build-up

Symptoms of earwax build-up include:

• hearing loss
• earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked
• ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
• vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)

How you can treat earwax build-up yourself

Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it does not and blocks your ear, put 2 to 3 drops of medical grade olive or almond oil in your ear 3 to 4 times a day. Do this for 3 to 5 days.

It is recommended you use a dropper while lying your head on one side for a few minutes to let the oil work its way through your ear canal(s).

You may find it easier to do this first thing in the morning and then just before you go to sleep.

Over about 2 weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear, especially at night when you’re lying down.

There’s no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of earwax.

A pharmacist can help with earwax build-up

Speak to a pharmacist about earwax build-up. They can give advice and suggest treatments.

They might recommend medicines to dissolve the earwax. The earwax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.

Do not use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum).

Removal of ear wax/Syringing

Newbridge Surgery no longer do ear syringing, this can be done by alternative providers locally in Bath.

We offer a wide range of health screening for men and women at our surgery.

NHS Health Checks can be booked with our Healthcare Assistants. Find out more information here:

NHS Healthchecks

Weight

Are you interested in losing weight?

The Surgery offers a number of referral options for patients who would like to shed a few pounds:

Exercise on referral:

Exercise on referral (also known as Passport to Health) entitles you to discounts on a variety of activities such as gym sessions, swimming & exercise classes, as well as motivational sessions and support for fitness and weight loss.  

If you are overweight and have a range of medical conditions and feel you may benefit from increasing your activity please call the surgery on 01225 425807 and make a telephone appointment with Sister Jo Wilson to discuss referral.

For more information please follow the link to Passport to Health & Healthwise

Parents, carers and healthcare professionals can access expert advice about common childhood illnesses and how to treat them via a mobile app, called HANDi App. It is free and can be downloaded to any Apple or Android smartphone or tablet.

Developed and approved by Paediatric Consultants here at the RUH, the HANDi App provides expert advice on how best to manage the six most common childhood illnesses; diarrhoea and vomiting, high temperature, chestiness, newborn problems and stomach pain.

The HANDi App aims to give parents and carers more confidence in dealing with minor conditions at home.

It’s easy to use as it takes the user through a series of questions about the symptoms their child is experiencing and then advises on the best course of action, whether that’s to treat at home, make a GP appointment or to go to A&E.

To download the free HANDi App, please use the following links:

Download from: Google Play

Download from: Apple store

Happy Maps

Worried about your child’s behaviour or mental health and not sure what’s normal ? Wondering whether to go and see your GP ? Perhaps you’ve been referred to specialist services but there is a long wait…or perhaps you’ve been told the problem isn’t quite serious enough to be referred.

Happy Maps

will signpost you to books, websites, counselling services and parents groups so you can find help and support for you and your child, teenager or young adult.

Rainbow Resource

Local information for families with a child or young person with additional needs, a special educational need or disability. Further information is available at

Rainbow Resource

Women aged between 50 and 60 are advised to attend the Breast Screening Unit every three years for a mammography. This is to make sure checks can be made to detect any abnormalities as soon as possible. These appointments are sent out by the local Breast Unit.

Find breast screening services on the NHS website.

Our antenatal and postnatal clinics are held at our surgery by our doctors and the midwives.

The more you know about your pregnancy and your options, the more you are likely to feel in control. The information given here is based on The Pregnancy Book, which your midwife should give you at your first appointment.

The community midwife team are based at the RUH, Bath. You can contact them on 01761 417278

For further information about pregnancy and pre-conception advice, please click on the following link: www.nhs.uk/pregnancycareplanner

All women receive post-natal visits from their community midwife once they are home with their baby. These visits last until around 10 days after birth, when care is handed over to the Health Visitor.

The practice provides complete care during pregnancy, birth and after delivery in co-operation with our community midwife based at the Royal United Hospital. 

Bluebell

Experiencing ante or postnatal depression or anxiety? Are you a mum living in B&NES? Feeling anxious? Overwhelmed? Isolated? Difficulty sleeping?

Bluebell can offer you 1:1 support during pregnancy and up to 2 years after birth.

Bluebell Buddy: A free, weekday, confidential, befriending service for parents experiencing depression related to pregnancy and birth.

To find out more:
T: 01179 220746
E: info:bluebellcare
W: www.bluebellcare.org

Breastfeeding

All Mums are welcome to breast feed at the surgery.

The UK has on of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world, with just 34% of babies receiving breast milk at six months of age, compared to 62% in Sweden. Breastfeeding has proven maternal and infant health and wellbeing benefits which translate into reduced demand on healthcare services. It is also sustainable, using no additional land or water resources, producing no carbon emissions and minimal/zero waste. Formula milk, most of which is based on powdered cows milk, has a large water, carbon and methane footprint in it’s production, packaging, transportation and consumption.

Dads in Mind

1 in 10 dads find their mental health is affected by becoming a parent.

Are you a dad living in B&NES? Is your partner experiencing antenatal/postnatal depression? Are you anxious/depressed about your own new role? Feeling isolated?

A Dad’s In Mind worker can offer you support. If it might help to chat to another dad, who has lived experience, please get in touch via their Facebook page or call or text. (They aim to get in touch within a week).

T: 07710 050400
E: Andy@dadsinmind.org
F: DADSINMIND

Healthy Living in Pregnancy

For all you need to know about pregnancy, birth and looking after baby, including trying to get pregnant, foods to avoid, antenatal care, breastfeeding and bottle feeding see:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/

Some services available are not covered under our contract with the NHS. This means that these services need to be paid for.

The services that include charges are:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements
• Insurance claim forms
• Passport signing
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates.

Our reception staff and GPs will be happy to talk through the charges with you during your appointment.

More information on private work can be seen here:

Non NHS Work

Fees March 2023

Occupational therapy aims to promote independence amongst people who may be recovering from illness, are temporarily disabled, recovering from an accident or learning to adapt to a permanent disability.

The occupational therapist will visit you in your own home to assess your individual problems and give advice, information and practical solutions (such as small aids or equipment), to help you to cope with everyday tasks (for instance, getting washed and dressed or getting in and out of bed).

Referrals are made via your GP, the district or practice nurses, or health visitors.  You will usually be contacted by the occupational therapy team within two weeks of referral in order to arrange a time and date for a home visit.

B&NES  Stop Smoking Service is a free confidential service offering support and advice to local smokers who either want to stop smoking or to cut down the amount they smoke.

This service is for smokers aged 12 years and over who live, work or are registered with a GP in Bath and North East Somerset. We also offer support to pregnant smokers through our Health and Pregnancy Advisors

Further information can be found at support to stop smoking

You are four times more likely to quit if you see a stop smoking adviser! So book now! 

For more information on quitting smoking follow the link to

NHS Smoke Free

Please feel free to look at relevant information for Young People in the Surgery entrance lobby and take any leaflets that you may find useful.

Confidentiality

You can be sure that anything you discuss with any member of this practice – family doctor, nurse or receptionist – will stay confidential.

Even if you are under 16 nothing will be said to anyone – including parents, other family members, care workers or tutors – without your permission. The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission, would be to protect you or someone else from serious harm. We would always try to discuss this with you first.

If you are being treated elsewhere – for example at a hospital, Walk in Centre or Brook Centre – it is best if you allow the doctor or nurse there to inform the practice of any treatment you are receiving.

If you have any worries about confidentiality, please feel free to ask a member of staff.

 Sexual health advice for everyone

More information can be seen here:

Sexual health

 Off the Record

Off The Record – aims to improve the emotional, physical and mental well-being, and self esteem of young people aged up to 25 who live, study or work in Bath & North East Somerset.

Thinkuknow

The education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command

Thinkuknow gives practical information and advice that aims to keep children and young people safe from sexual abuse on and offline. The approach of the programme is to develop their skills in identifying and avoiding risk, learning how best to protect themselves and their friends, and knowing how to get support and report abuse if they do encounter difficulties. Thinkuknow also offers information and advice to parents and carers, as well as professionals who work with children and young people by providing educational resources, including films, cartoons and lesson plans.

Eating Disorder Health Integration Team

The team is focused on enhancing prevention and early identification of eating disorders as well as improving the care and quality of life for people living with an eating disorder in our region.

We offer routine NHS vaccinations and general advice to our patients travelling abroad.

It may take up to eight weeks for a full course of vaccinations, so please contact us in advance to give you plenty of time if you're planning to go abroad where you need to be vaccinated.

Visit our vaccination page for more information