All of our GPs are trained in using a Dermatoscope (a specialised piece of equipment to look at the skin) to aid in the earlier and more accurate detection of skin cancer. This will be included as part of a standard routine appointment.

Dr Archard has also done further training with a Dermatology Diploma and provides separate specialist skin clinics through the Mid Hampshire Hub service which reduces the need for a secondary care referral or helps put you on the right pathway.

MSK FCPs are highly experienced members of the wider general practice team and are able to assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with MSK issues. FCPs are mainly advanced physiotherapists with many years of experience. FCPs are offered as a better alternative to seeing your GP for MSK conditions such as hip, knee and back pain. Our service aims to improve your access and ensure you are seen by the right person at the right time. Early specialist assessment with take home advice/exercises has been proven to enhance patient recovery and self-management of the majority of these types of conditions. FCPs can help patients with musculoskeletal issues such as back, neck and joint pain by:

• assessing and diagnosing issues
• giving expert advice on how best to manage their conditions
• referring them onto specialist services if necessary

• By making it easier for patients to access physiotherapy services, patients will have quicker access to diagnosis and treatment, helping them to manage their conditions more effectively and recover faster, so they can get back to normal life quickly. This will in turn help GPs to manage their workload more effectively, and reduce the need for onward referrals.

The benefits of the MSK FCPs:

• Typically will be seen quicker than a GP appointment
• Faster access to specialist musculoskeletal care
• Longer more in-depth appointments (20 minutes not 10 or 15)
• Reduced referrals to other NHS departments (GP into Physio services etc)
• FCPs have direct referral access to tests such as XRAY/ultrasounds where needed in the same way a GP does

Service eligibility:

• Patients aged 16 or over
• An MSK problem which you are not already under active treatment for
• MSK conditions such as:
  • Soft tissue/muscle/tendon/ligament strains/sprains
  • Joint pain/injury
  • Acute flare up of a long-term condition
  • Back/neck Pain
  • Postural pain/problems
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Minor trauma (falls / sports injuries)

The service is inappropriate for you if you have any of these red flag symptoms alongside your MSK concern:

• Weight loss
• Previous history of cancer
• Violent trauma
• Fever
• Saddle anaesthesia (loss of sensation of the buttocks, perineum or thighs)
• Difficulty in micturition (abnormalities with the process of urinating)
• Progressive neurology
• Systemic steroid use

Musculoskeletal (MSK) First Contact Practitioners | NHS England | Workforce, training and education (hee.nhs.uk) First contact practitioners in musculoskeletal services (youtube.com)

As of June 2022, we no longer provide an in-house ear syringing service. This is because:

1. The service is not funded under our Primary Care General Medical Services (GMS) contract so we receive no income to be able to run a service, pay for the nursing team, equipment etc.
2. The workload in Primary Care is at an all-time high and we need to focus our staff resources on our core contractual services; as mentioned above ear syringing does not form part of that.
3. Ear syringing has the potential to cause harm to ears.

We will continue to provide ear care and advice such as diagnosing the problem, prescribing and/or referring for treatment if needed but we will not be able to offer routine ear syringing.

The team at Mid Hampshire Healthcare (MHH) do offer an ear irrigation service, appointments for this can be booked with reception.

There are many local private and high street services which provide ear hygiene procedures, as these are not NHS providers we will not be able to offer referral recommendations. You can find this information online.

There are also self care ear wax bulb kits that can be brought from Community Pharmacies or online. Please speak to your pharmacist for more advice.

Advice and guidance on ear wax can be found here:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/

For support with stopping smoking, please sign up online @ Smokefree Hampshire | Quit Smoking Support

Please note the Practice is unable to prescribe any nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum and vapes.

We offer all new mums and babies a joint ‘Mother and Baby Check’ between 6-8 weeks from birth. When you register your new baby with the practice, these appointments will be automatically generated for you. If you have not heard by the time your baby is 4 weeks old, please make contact with the practice. The appointment lasts for around 30-45 minutes.

What happens at a 6 to 8 week baby check?

Your baby will be invited for a thorough physical examination. This is done by a GP.

Your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and – for boys – testicles will be checked. They’ll also have their weight, length and head circumference measured.

A GP or health visitor will discuss your baby’s vaccinations with you – these are offered at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months old, and before your child starts school.

What happens at your postnatal check?

• You’ll be asked how you’re feeling as part of a general discussion about your mental health and wellbeing.
• You’ll be asked if you still have any vaginal discharge and whether you have had a period since the birth.
• Your blood pressure will be checked if you had problems during pregnancy or immediately after the birth.
• You may be offered an examination to see if your stitches have healed if you had an episiotomy or caesarean section.
• If you were due for a cervical screening test while pregnant, this should be rescheduled for 12 weeks after the birth.
• You’ll be asked about contraception.
• If you’re overweight or obese, with a BMI of 30 or more, you may be weighed. Your doctor should give you weight loss advice and guidance on healthy eating and physical activity.
• Your 6-week postnatal check – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• The 6-8 week postnatal check :: Healthier Together (what0-18.nhs.uk)

We run child immunisations clinics on a Tuesday morning 0900-11.45. 

You should receive notification from the Children’s Health Authority or Health Visitor regarding the children’s immunisation schedule but failing that the latest is below:

Childhood Vaccinations – Essential information :: Healthier Together (what0-18.nhs.uk)

Vaccinations – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Please contact the surgery 2-4 weeks in advance to book your first appointment. 

Further appointments will then be made whilst you are in the clinic.

Our on-site Phlebotomy service operates on various mornings across the week and is by appointment only.

You will be able to book into these appointments via Patient Access online, the NHSApp or by contacting our reception team on 01264 351144. Please note you should only book an appointment if you have been requested to do so by a member of our team otherwise a request will not have been generated for you and the blood test appointment will be wasted.

Appointments are also available through the Mid Hampshire Healthcare service on certain Saturdays, please ask Reception. These appointments also take place at the surgery.

Whilst attending for your Phlebotomy appointment why not use our surgery Health Pod at the same time and check your blood pressure, height and weight to keep your medical record up to date. Just ask at Reception.

You also have the option to book a Phlebotomy appointment at Andover War Memorial Hospital (AWMH), their services operate:

Andover War Memorial Hospital

7.30am – 4.50pm (Mon-Fri) 8.00am – 9.50am (Sat)

You can book online or by calling 01256 314751, option 1 for Andover.

https://www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/az-departments-and-specialties/pathology-inc-blood-tests/blood-tests

We have a blood pressure (BP) machine in our ‘Health POD’ room which patients may use to take their own blood pressure amongst other things.  Please ask at reception to be shown through. The printed recording can be handed to the receptionist for entry into your medical record.

What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.

They’re both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

As a general guide:

High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you’re over the age of 80). The ideal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.

Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.

Everyone’s blood pressure will be slightly different. What’s considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else.

More information can be found on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/

If you are found to have high blood pressure at a review in the POD room or with one of clinicians, you will often be asked if you are able to complete home blood pressure readings. You can submit these to us here Blood Pressure Review – Adelaide Medical Centre or by handing in to reception.

As a practice we encourage patients to become knowledgeable about their own diagnosed and long term health conditions. We strongly advise patients to engage with any monitoring appointments we recommend. This is so that we can effectively monitor your condition as part of our safe and preventative care ethos.

If you have a long term condition (see list below), you will be invited for a ‘LTC review’ just before the month of your birth.

The practice will write or SMS text message you at least annually or more frequently if this is felt to be required.

If you don’t hear from us for any reason please make contact at least annually for your review.

Our Practice Nurses are highly skilled to monitor your

• Asthma

• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

• Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

• COPD

• Diabetes and Pre Diabetes (non diabetic hyperglycaemia)

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Stroke/ TIA (‘mini stroke’)

All reviews are by appointment only and can range from 15 to 45 minutes depending on your condition. This will be communicated to you when you book. You will often require a blood test prior to your appointment and the results of these tests will be reviewed with you at your appointment.