At The Surgery

We offer blood tests to all of our Patients registered at the Surgery.

• Before you book a blood test please ensure that a GP has ordered a blood test request for you or you have a blood form from a Consultant.
• Patients under the age of 13 must arrange a blood test at Poole Hospital. (01202 442478)
• INR (Warfarin) blood tests should be undertaken at the hospital

Our blood clinic times are:

• Monday to Thursday 08:30am to 4:00pm. We no longer take bloods on a Friday. Later afternoon/evening blood test appointments are available at our treatment centre in Boscombe

Blood appointments are with our HCA

• Please ensure you are well hydrated before your blood test.
• Wearing a loose fitting or sleeveless top makes the procedure a lot quicker.

UHD (University Hospitals Dorset) no longer provides a walk-in blood taking service (booked appointments only). Blood tests requested by your GP surgery must be booked at your own surgery, the hospital will only action blood tests requested by a consultant or hospital department.

Pathology Bournemouth: Opening Times 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. You will need to contact the Pathology reception team to book a blood test. Booking line telephone number: 0300 019 4797

If you have an appointment for a blood test:

Please ensure you stay well hydrated before your blood test. Drink plenty of water to keep your veins plumper, more visible and easier to draw blood. This applies to both fasting and non-fasting tests. Thank you

Ear wax is normal it provides protection for your ears.

• Your ears are self-cleaning
• The movement of your jaw while eating and talking moves the wax along the canal
• Ear wax only becomes a problem if it causes deafness, pain or if a health professional needs a clear view of the ear drum

What makes ear wax worse?

• The amount of wax produced varies from person to person
• Some people produce excessive amounts of wax and this can block the ear canal
• Wearing a hearing aid, ear plugs and or head phones can interfere with wax expulsion
• Narrow and or hairy ear canals
• If you are elderly – the wax produced may be harder and drier
• Dry skin in people who suffer with eczema or psoriasis

What you shouldn’t do, some suggestions!

• Do not use cotton buds to clean the ear. This forces the wax deeper into the canal and can cause damage, trauma and possible infection
• Do not use objects such as matches, hair grips, crochet hooks, knitting needles, keys etc. this can cause trauma and possible infection
• If your ears are itchy do not scratch or rub them with your finger nails or any other objects
• Do not use anything smaller than your elbow in your ear!!

We no longer provide an ear syringing service at the surgery; we also do not recommend any private services.

The ‘syringing’ method of ear wax removal, which was once commonly used across the NHS, is unsafe and should no longer be used. Ear irrigation, also known as syringing, is no longer considered the first-line treatment for clearing ear wax. The NHS no longer funds it in General Practice as other methods are preferred. The NICE guidelines now recommend micro suction for blocked ears but this is only done privately.

Support for patients with Long Term Health Conditions

My Health My Way is an NHS service that can provide support to people to become more active in managing their health condition and risk factors such as diet and exercise. Support is provided through a choice of courses, one-to-one help from health coaches and a dedicated website and web-based tools. Patients are supported in developing skills to reduce the impact of symptoms. Support is available for anyone who lives in Dorset or is registered with a GP in Dorset.

Patients can self-refer by contacting us on 0303 303 0153 or through the website at:
www.myhealthdorset.org.uk/Support-to-manage-your-health

“It has been a great help to be able to talk to someone outside my family, someone I could open up to about my feelings without worrying that I was either putting pressure on my family or just getting the answers they felt I should hear………to realise that I am actually capable of both setting and achieving quite significant goals really was a light bulb moment”

Net Doctor

www.netdoctor.co.uk – Lists support group available for patients in the UK.

Non NHS Work

Some services are not covered by the NHS and a charge will be payable for these services. These private services include the following:

• Holiday cancellation form
• Private sick note
• Private insurance form
• Firearms application/renewal
• Gym/Sport club cancellation letter
• Simple/complex letter of fact

Please be aware that the non-NHS work listed above is completed in the GP’s own time and does not take priority over NHS services. Our GP’s will aim to complete non-NHS work within a 6-week timescale.

Please see our pricelist: Non NHS Work Price List

There are some non-NHS services that we do not provide, in particular the following:-

• HGV licence medicals
• Employment medicals
• Taxi Licence medicals
• Sporting related medicals/certificates
• Letters for blue badge applications
• Signing/verifying passport photos or passport applications
• Power of Attorney

There are several private providers locally that can help with non-NHS medicals.