Clinics and Services

Women who become pregnant often visit their GP at around six weeks. It may be necessary to confirm the pregnancy with a laboratory test. Women will then be invited to see the midwife when they are eight weeks pregnant. The midwife will perform the booking investigations, describe the routine procedures and discuss options for delivery.

The midwife holds two clinics each week, one at Bourton and one at Northleach. Women are welcome to see them at either surgery. Other midwives in the local team will provide cover during any absence.

The community midwife will then continue to provide care to the patient throughout her pregnancy, referring to the GP where necessary. During a normal pregnancy women are seen at least every three months, but more often towards the end of the pregnancy or if there are problems.

Women can choose to have a home delivery or to deliver in hospital, usually Cheltenham General.

The midwife will visit the mother at home for up to 10 days following the birth of the baby. Thereafter the health visitor is the first point of contact for advice on breastfeeding, childcare and development.

The baby clinics are run by doctors, practice nurses. At these clinics we undertake child developmental checks and immunisations. There is also an opportunity to discuss other problems e.g. sleeping, feeding and child health worries, with a doctor or health visitor.

The childhood vaccinations are given according to the current recommended guidelines at two, three and four months to protect small babies from whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hib, meningitis C and pneumonia.  A doctor is available to check that your child is fit to have the appropriate immunisation. Please visit the page on NHS vaccinations and when to have them for more information.

All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for a cervical smear every three to five years. This test is designed to detect changes in the cervix which appear before cancer develops. There are many early stages of cervical cancer which can be cured by simple treatment if picked up by this test.

This check is carried out by the nurse as part of the national screening programme.

We invite patients who have heart disease, angina or who have had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack to have an annual review of their condition with one of the nurses.

Nurses who specialise in Diabetes will invite diabetic patients to attend the surgery every six or 12 months for a review of their diabetes. This review includes blood sugar measurement, urine testing, advice on diet, eye examinations, foot care and blood pressure measurement.

Annual eye screening for diabetics is also available at the surgeries.

We provide a full family planning service. All doctors can offer advice about this. Dr Caroline Bennett fits coils.

We provide free emergency contraception help and advice. Please ask to see either a Doctor or practice nurse as soon as possible after failed or forgotten contraception. Emergency contraception is also available from family panning clinics and community pharmacies.

If you have been advised by the surgery to complete a review of your contraception, you will need to complete our Contraception Review Form.

We also provide screening for some sexually transmitted infections. Please make an appointment with a practice nurse.