Cervical Smear Tests
Our trained nurses do the majority of the cervical smears although a lady doctor is also at hand if needed. We make every effort to contact you in the event of an abnormal smear. The Health Authority sends out the results and also runs a recall system and you may receive a written invitation from them to come to the surgery for your smear.
Family Planning Services
Our doctors and nurses offer a full range of contraceptive services, including general advice and provision of contraceptive pills and injections, fitting of implants and coils. We also provide the "morning after pill" and other forms of emergency contraception. You can obtain contraceptive services from us either exclusively or in conjunction with a local family planning clinic.
In line with the nationwide target of reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, you may be asked about your contraception during routine consultations.
Maternity Care
If you are thinking of starting a family and need advice, we offer a pre-conception counseling service. We undertake full ante-natal and postnatal care. We operate a “shared care” system with the community midwife and local maternity unit. When you become pregnant we will refer you to one of our local hospital obstetric units. We will follow up your pregnancy and ante-natal care at the Surgery and Health Centre (often in conjunction with hospital care) through to your delivery. If you prefer, you can book to have full care at the hospital, or arrange to be looked after by the local midwifery team who will try to ensure that you are seen by the same midwife in your antenatal sessions and wherever possible at your delivery. We will manage your post natal care in conjunction with the midwives and follow this up with a full complement of child healthcare facilities. The doctors are happy to assist in birth plans.
Baby Clinic
The health visitor runs the 'Healthy Family' baby clinic at the Waltham Abbey Health Centre from 9.30am to 12.00pm on Wednesdays. This is the perfect opportunity to have your baby weighed and charted on growth centiles, or to discuss any other child health issues such as feeding, nappy rash, teething etc.
Child Health Surveillance
We work together with our health visitors to do eight-week checks, eight-month checks, two-year checks and three-and-a-half-year checks. There are also developmental checks with Dr Dhawan by appointment. The Health Visitors also offer practical support where needed for families with children up to five years old.
Holiday Vaccinations
We offer a full range of travel vaccinations (except yellow fever). If you are unsure of your requirements ask the nurse. We will need to know, when and where you are going, the duration of your stay and also when you had your last vaccinations. We can then advise you what measures you need to take. Please speak to a nurse at least six weeks before setting off, as you may need a series of injections over a period of time.
Immunisations
Routine children's immunisations are done by our Practice nurse at 2, 3 and 4 months of age and the MMR vaccinations are done at 13 months. Pre school boosters are offered at the age of 4 – 5years.
Flu Vaccinations
An influenza vaccination is recommended for patients with heart, lung, kidney disease, diabetes, people over 65 and residents of nursing and rest homes. Please contact the reception staff at the end of September each year for details of the vaccination dates and to make an appointment.
Chronic Disease Monitoring
We feel it is very important to address chronic illnesses like Diabetes and Hypertension as a means of preventing complications such as heart disease. For this reason we encourage regular review of patients with these conditions. They are usually seen opportunistically in routine surgeries with a nurse or a doctor who will offer lifestyle advice and monitor weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and kidney function.
We also operate a recall system and make sure these patients are seen annually. We also review our asthmatic patients and those with chronic lung disease to ensure that they are taking the appropriate medication and that their condition remains well controlled.