CHATHAM STREET SURGERY

Some vaccinations will require boosters before you travel, so please always consult the nurse at the earliest opportunity after you have planned your journey. Please note that many travel vaccinations are not NHS services and therefore attract a fee. Details are available at reception or from the nurses. Many types of minor operation are available in the surgery. These include the removal of moles and other skin lesions, cryotherapy (freezing treatment usually used for warts), injections of joints and surrounding structures (for tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, etc.) and incision of abscesses. The midwives and doctors share a programme of regular checks on women who are pregnant, or who have recently given birth.

As soon as you know you are pregnant, make a routine (not emergency) appointment to see your doctor. Please note that we do not routinely do tests to confirm pregnancy, as the pregnancy-testing kits available in chemists are every bit as accurate as the hospital urine tests. The doctor will work out your dates, and give you some basic information, including the schedule of antenatal checks, blood tests and scans. You will then be asked to see the midwife for a ‘booking’ at 7-8 weeks (from your last period) and must be before 12 weeks. The ‘booking’ appointment is probably the most important.

It is usually an hour long and as well as providing you with a large quantity of booklets and information on your pregnancy, the midwife arranges your first blood tests (to be done at 16 weeks) and ultrasound scans (at 10 weeks and 19-20 weeks). In an uneventful pregnancy, antenatal checks follow at 16, 18-20, 25, 28, 31, 36, 38, 40 (the due date for your baby) and 41 weeks, if you get that far. The 18 week check is with the GP and subsequent checks alternate with the midwife. At each check they will test your urine for sugar and protein, do a blood pressure and check on your baby, as well as deal with any questions or problems you may have.