We have improved access to the Health Centre by offering more appointments online. It is your responsibility to ensure that you book the correct type of appointment e.g Advanced Nurse Practitioners are only able to see specific issues which are listed on the document under the section below.
Patients can now book direct with our Healthcare Assistants for blood test or Blood Pressure only. Please note your blood test must have been requested by your Doctor. If you book an appointment with our Healthcare Assistant and it is not for a blood test or blood pressure we will not be able to see you.
If you wish to book an appointment on-line, please contact the surgery who will provide you with details to access this service.
Please note that GP appointments are for 10 minutes with a Doctor who will usually deal with a single medical problem. Please do not allow multiple medical problems to build up and ask the GP to sort them all out in 10 minutes, as this will delay appointments following. If you require additional time you will need to book a double appointment.
CGL Rotherham is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for adults in Rotherham.
Please refer to additional info on their website:- https://www.changegrowlive.org/content/cgl-rotherham#
Their aim is to support people to design their own personal treatment journey. They offer a range of interventions from harm reduction to opiate prescribing, residential and community detoxes, emotional support and supported access to mutual aid. They also work with local GP practices as part of the Shared Care offer to ensure local people can access recovery support within their local communities.
They are based at Carnson House, Rotherham. You can call them on 01709 917649 or email them on [email protected]
CGL provide:
- Foundations of Recovery (structured program)
- One-to-one keyworking
- Needle exchange
- Blood borne virus screening
- Naloxone
- Signposting and referrals on to specialist services
Can’t make your appointment?
It’s really important that you let them know. Ideally please call them on 01709 917649. You can also email to let them know on [email protected].
Where can I go for further support?
Sickness Certificates
You do not require a Doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your Doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a Dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.
Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'
The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)
Simple steps to an accurate reading
There are a few simple steps that you can follow to be sure that you get an accurate reading of your blood pressure.
Before you take your blood pressure reading
- Many things can make your blood pressure rise for a short time. Make sure you do not need to use the toilet, and that you have not just eaten a big meal. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or smoking.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short sleeved t-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably.
- Always use the same arm for blood pressure readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses when measuring your blood pressure.
- Before you take your readings, rest for five minutes. You should be sitting down in a quiet place, preferably at a desk or table, with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor.
- Make sure your arm is supported and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. You may need to support your arm with a cushion to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.
How to take your blood pressure using a home blood pressure monitor
- Put the cuff on following the instructions that came with your monitor.
- Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, this will make your blood pressure rise temporarily.
- When you are taking your reading, keep still and silent. Moving and talking can affect your reading.
- Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart, and then work out the average. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is true for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading.
- Record your reading, either in the memory of your monitor or on computer or paper.
Tips on taking blood pressure readings
- Do not round your measurements up or down – if you don’t keep accurate records of your blood pressure it may affect the treatment you receive.
- Do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – a one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high after a period of time, see your doctor or nurse.
- Do not check your blood pressure too often – you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading. This can raise your blood pressure in the short-term. Worrying about your blood-pressure reading may actually make it higher.
Further information can be found at http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Homemonitoring/Howtomeasure
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. This applies to all appointments for Doctors, Nurses and Health Care Assistants.
To cancel an appointment please email [email protected]
These are done by appointment and are normally carried out by our Practice Nurses. When you receive an invitation to attend for a test please make an appointment with one of the practice nurses.
There are Child Health Clinics here every Wednesday to immunise children against disease and to check that they are well and developing normally.
What is the Rotherham Health App?
The Rotherham Health App allows you to book appointments, manage your medication, view test results, and access your medical record. It is available 24/7, wherever you are, on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices. It is free to download and available for all Android and IOS devices.
- Book appointments
- Manage medication
- Access medical record
- Online triage
- Self-help guides
- Lifestyle and long term condition monitoring
Find out more and how to sign up https://rotherhamhealthapp.com/splash
Patient’s Not Attending For Their Appointments
We understand how frustrating it is to have to wait. Our Clinicians try their best to work to their appointment times and we hope that you do too. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to make a new appointment and be counted as a Did Not Attend (DNA). In conjunction with our Patient Partnership Group we will be introducing a ‘Did Not Attend’ policy (DNA) for patients who fail to contact us to advise us that they are unable to attend the appointment they have made with a member of our team.
The average number of monthly appointments which fall into the ‘Did Not Attend’ category for the year is listed in the attached document. The figures are also published in our waiting area for all patients to see.
Please find a list for our DNA’s attached.
We appreciate that emergencies happen but we need patients to understand what the effects of not contacting us to cancel their appointment are:
• An increase in the waiting time for appointments
• Frustration for other patients who are not able to obtain an appointment
• A waste of time and money i.e. precious NHS resources
• A potential risk to the health of the patient
We will be regularly reviewing the number of appointments which are missed and contact the patients who miss their appointment to help us to understand the reasons why.
Patients will be given an opportunity to improve on their attendance however if this doesn’t materialise, we may decide to remove them from the practice list and advise them to register elsewhere.
To cancel your appointment please contact us on 0114 4333888 or email [email protected]
Think! – someone else may be in need of this appointment.
We have reviewed our DNA Policy and unfortunately will need to be strict with this in taking a consistent approach with all our patients.
Please refer to the policy below:-
Extra appointments are available for all Rotherham patients and are designed to help people who struggle to attend their GP practice during the working week.
The appointments are routine which means they must be booked in advance and are not for urgent problems. You can book an appointment by contacting your usual GP Practice where you are registered, they will have access to all the available appointments .
The hubs will have appointments with any one or more of the following clinicians. GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse and Healthcare Assistant. The receptionist at your GP Practice will help to direct you to the right appointment type.
Any registered Rotherham patient can access routine appointments at the following practices:The Hub Surgeries are held at the following times and locations:
Dinnington Surgery – (New Street, Dinnington, S25 2EZ)
-Saturday Mornings (8am – 12 noon)
Broom Lane Surgery – (Broom Ln, Rotherham S60 3EW)
-Weekday Evenings (6.30pm – 8pm)
-Saturday Mornings (8am – 12 noon)
-Sunday Mornings (8am – 12 noon)
Kimberworth Park Surgery – (Langdon Rd, Rotherham S61 3QH)
-Saturday Mornings (8am – 12 noon)
Dalton Surgery – (Saville St, Dalton, Rotherham S65 3HD)
-Monday Evenings (6.30pm – 8pm)
-Saturday Mornings (9am – 1pm)
Please refer to Connect Health's Website for further info http://connecthealthcarerotherham.co.uk/index.php/extended-access/
Monday to Friday, including extended hours on a Tuesday.
The Health Centre is not a walk-in centre, patients are seen by appointment only. Please telephone or call in person to make an appointment and remember a separate appointment is required for each person.
If you require a longer appointment time, please ensure that you request a double appointment.
If you have a preference for a GP, you must be aware that you may have to wait longer for an appointment.
Normally there are Doctors available between 08:30 and 11:00 and between 15:30 and 18:00 Monday to Friday. We also offer a number of early morning and evening appointments every Tuesday between 7:00 and 8:30 and 18.30 and 20.30 for patients who find it difficult to attend surgery during our usual opening hours.
When arriving at the surgery please use the anti-bacterial hand wash and then use the touch screen service to advise us that you have arrived. This service will tell the Clinician that you are in the building and it will also advise you how long you are likely to be waiting. This procedure allows our Reception staff to handle more complex queries in person and to answer our telephones more promptly.
All our Doctors offer contraceptive services and advice and an emergency contraceptive service is available.
Specially trained Nurses, working closely with the GP's, run special clinics at which they provide advice and treatment for patients suffering from these conditions. Please ask your practice Nurse or at reception for details.
Home visits are strictly for housebound patients only. Please be mindful that several patients can be seen at the surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit and daily surgery emergency appointments are available.
If you feel a home visit is required, please call the surgery by 10.30am to allow us to try to assess your condition as promptly as possible. You may be phoned by a Clinician to decide the appropriate action, which may not be a visit.
Our Reception Staff are not qualified to explain any results: they can only repeat the brief comment that the Doctor has attached to the results, such as "normal" or "make appointment". Sometimes if the result is particularly sensitive (e.g. HIV test) or complicated, the Doctor will recommend receiving the result in person.
Normally results are sent to the Doctor who ordered the test. If a hospital Doctor orders a test, the GP may not receive the result and may even not know it has been done. You can contact the Specialist's Secretary to ask about results, although usually a Hospital Secretary will not provide a result directly- the Secretary may ask a Hospital Doctor to phone you back or they may involve the GP. Routine hospital letters can take up to a month to reach us, sometimes longer.
Children are normally immunised at our Child Health Clinic. For all other immunisations please make an appointment to see the Practice Nurse. Allow 8 weeks before travelling if you require immunisation for journeys overseas. There may be a charge for some travel vaccinations.
Here is how you can make the most of our services:-
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- Read the notices posted in the surgery
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- Make sure you know the opening times of the surgery
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- Find out how to arrange home visits, repeat prescriptions, and urgent appointments
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- You may not always need to see a Doctor; ask what services the nurse can provide
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- Keep your appointment or cancel it
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- Take a list of questions with you when you see your Doctor or Nurse
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- Ask your Doctor to write down anything that you do not understand the answers to
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- Take a friend or relative with you if necessary
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- Tell the Receptionist if you need more time to speak to the Doctor, she may be able to arrange this
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- Think twice before making an appointment: Do you really need to see a Doctor? Have you tried simple home treatments?
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- Find out how your practice deals with complaints
Advanced Nurse Practitioners as part of our team who are trained in clinical assessment and are able to prescribe independently. They are able to see patients with minor illnesses. This allows Doctors' more time to deal with the ever more complex patients' that are managed in general practice.
When you contact the surgery to arrange an appointment you will be asked for brief details of your symptoms. This is so that the Receptionist can offer you an appointment with the most appropriate person.
Please find attached a list of the conditions which are suitable for a nurse practitioner to deal with.
The Doctors at the Health Centre carry out some minor surgery.
We have an Ante-Natal Clinic at the Health Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. If you think that you may be pregnant, make an appointment to see a Midwife. The Midwife will arrange all your maternity care.
Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Passport signing
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private sick notes
- Vaccination certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
We can only accept cash and cheques covered by a bank card – we do not have facilities for card payments.
You can now have a NHS Physiotherapist assessment within one of our Rotherham Hubs.
If you have:-
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow, wrist or hand pain
- Knee, hip or ankle pain
- A sprain or a strain
Contact your GP practice and ask Reception to access the Physio First service to make an appointment to see the next available physiotherapist.
To read more info regarding this service click the links below:-
http://connecthealthcarerotherham.co.uk/index.php/physiofirst/
http://connecthealthcarerotherham.co.uk/index.php/physiofirst/
Integrated Sexual Health Service
Based at The Rotherham Foundation Trust and community venues
The confidential service will be available, at the hospital on C Level, Junction 3 at the following days and times:-
- Monday - Thursday: 9am-8pm
- Friday: 9am-5pm
- Saturday: 10am-2pm
For further information or to book an appointment: Telephone – 01709 427777
A range of community based youth clinics are also provided at the following times and locations (NB - this may be subject to change please consult the services website for the most up to date information):https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/news/article/1161/changes_to_the_rotherham_nhs_foundation_trust_s_integrated_sexual_health_services
- Wath Comprehensive School: Monday 12.30-1.30pm
- JADE Young Person's Centre, Dinnington: Monday 3-5pm
- Dearne Valley College: Tuesday 11.45am-1.30pm
- Swinton Comprehensive School: Wednesday 3-5pm
- Rawmarsh Community School: Thursday 3-5pm
- Maltby Linx Youth Centre: Thursday 3-5pm
The service provides confidential advice, testing and free treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, as well as a full range of contraception.
For more information about Chlamydia testing - http://www.rotherhamchlamydia.co.uk
When you attend for a test of any kind you should be told that you will be contacted if the results need following up. If you sign up for online services you will be able to check your own results on-line at any time, as soon as they have been checked by a Doctor. You will also be able to compare them with previous results in your notes.
Please do not assume "no news is good news" in case the result has gone astray or we have tried and failed to reach you.
Most blood tests results are back in a few working days, but some tests, especially rarer ones may take longer. Just because one result is back, it does not mean they are all back. Most x-ray results are back within 7-10 days, but if a test suggests something serious, it is likely we will be told more quickly.
Our reception staff are not qualified to explain any results: they can only repeat the brief comment that the Doctor has attached to the results, such as "normal" or "make appointment". Sometimes if the result is particularly sensitive (e.g. HIV test) or complicated, the Doctor will recommend receiving the result in person.
Normally results are sent to the Doctor who ordered the test. If a hospital Doctor orders a test, the GP may not receive the result and may even not know it has been done. You can contact the specialist's secretary to ask about results, although usually a hospital secretary will not provide a result directly- the secretary may ask a hospital Doctor to phone you back or they may involve the GP. Routine hospital letters can take up to a month to reach us, sometimes longer.
If you are planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.
In the UK, the NHS routine immunization schedule protects you against a number of diseases but does not cover all of the infectious diseases found overseas.
In order to establish the most appropriate advice and treatment options for you, a full travel health risk assessment needs to be undertaken and we would recommend that you attend a private travel health clinic or pharmacy.
We are only able to offer a travel vaccination service to cover vaccines which are available free of charge on the NHS service.
If you are advised during your health assessment that you need any of the NHS funded vaccinations listed below, please make a routine appointment with the practice nurse at least two weeks (or four weeks with MMR) before you travel.
The vaccinations covered by the NHS are -
- Polio/tetanus/diptheria
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis A
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
"Fitfortravel" and "Travel Health Pro" are websites that provide useful information and specific destination guides.
DIVERT Rotherham is a free and confidential drug and alcohol service for children and young people aged up to 18.
Please refer to additional info on their website:- https://www.changegrowlive.org/young-people/divert-rotherham
DIVERT is a specialist substance misuse support service for young people affected by drugs or alcohol living in Rotherham. They provide free and confidential support and offer support across Rotherham to ensure that young people can access support in a place that works for them. The service also offers targeted group work and training for professionals.
How to contact them
They always welcome new clients, so please get in touch if you are interested in getting help from the service or you’d just like to ask some questions. Feel free to bring someone with you on your first visit.
They are based at Carnson House, 1 Moorgate Road, Rotherham. You can call them on 01709 917651 or email on [email protected].
Referral
If you would like to refer yourself or another young person to service, please either call or email them using the above contact details.
You can also complete their referral form in advance and either email it to them or bring it with you when you visit the service.
They provide:
- Information, advice and guidance around drugs and alcohol
- 1-2-1 sessions with a project worker
- Early intervention
- Group work sessions
- Professionals training
- Outreach work - They can see young people across Rotherham
Can’t make your appointment?
It’s really important that you let them know. Ideally please call them on 01709 917651. You can also email them let them know on [email protected].
Please find details of UCount2 – A confidential drop in clinic for help and advice for young people aged 11-22, based at Kiveton Park Medical Practice every Monday and Wednesday from 1st November 2021.
Please see poster and leaflet attached for further information.
Swallownest Health Centre Zero Tolerance Statement
NHS Staff must be able to come to work without fear of violence, abuse or harassment form patients or their relatives. The NHS has Zero tolerance attitude towards violence.
Violent, threatening or abusive behavior including shouting and swearing will not be tolerated at this practice.
Patients who act in such a manner will be asked to leave the premises; the Police may be called and you could be removed from our patient list.
Our staff are here to help you, please treat them with respect.
We take any bullying/threatening, inappropriate behavior or undermining remarks about staff on Social Media or other online internet platforms very seriously and this will not be tolerated. We will take action to manage this type of behavior. Any such action may result in reporting the patient to the police in regard to sections 2, 2A, 4 or 4A Protection form Harassment Act 1997, or offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Communications Act 2003 .