To make an appointment please see our Appointments page by clicking on the button above.  The telephone number for appointments is:  01284 701331 for the main surgery and 0844 4773921 for the Barrow branch.

To see details about specific aspects of our services, click on the topics in the table on the left.

Asthma
A number of our practice nurses have undergone further training in providing asthma care.  We encourage all patients with asthma to attend for regular review, at least on a yearly basis.  Anyone experiencing frequent mild symptoms from their asthma should make an appointment for an asthma review with a nurse for assessment and help with medication.  For more severe symptoms an urgent appointment with a doctor should be requested.  Between 6.30 pm and 8.00 am, at weekends and on Bank Holidays, telephone 01284 701601 or NHS Suffolk Out of Hours Service direct on: 0300 130 3066.

Cervical screening tests
Cervical cytology sampling tests (used to be called cervical smears) are carried out by all nurses and doctors in the practice.  Women are usually requested to make an appointment with a practice nurse.  Routine calls and recalls are sent to women every 3 years between the ages of 25 and 49 years and every 5 years from 50 to 64 years of age.  The results are, then, sent to each individual woman by post.

Community nurses
We have an excellent team of community nurses based at the surgery.  They provide nursing care to those who are housebound and unable to attend the surgery through disability and illness.  They may be contacted directly by telephoning: 01284 752836.  If their office is unattended, you may leave a message on an answer phone and a nurse will contact you when available.

Contraception
Confidential advice on contraception is provided by Tricia, our lead practice nurse, and all the doctors.  A full range of advice and methods are offered, including coil insertion, although implant insertion is no longer offered in the practice.  We are happy to advise on implant insertion, however, but, if you prefer, you may contact the 3Cs Family Planning Clinic at Blomfield House Health Centre, Looms Lane, Bury St. Edmunds, telephone number:  01284 775200.

COPD
Assessment, advice and treatment is provided for those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  The practice possesses a spirometer for the assessment of patients with suspected COPD and two of our nurses have had additional training in this area.  You are advised to see your preferred doctor for initial advice if you have a chronic cough or shortness of breath.

Coronary heart disease
The practice provides advice, monitoring and treatment for those with heart disease.  Regular CHD reviews are encouraged on, at least, a yearly basis for those with stable disease.  This involves a visit to one of our practice nurses for physical checks, such as blood pressure and weight measurement, and the taking of a blood sample followed by a review by your preferred doctor when the results are available.  You are advised to consult your doctor if you have symptoms suggestive of CHD, such as chest pain and breathlessness on exertion, for initial advice.  In the event of someone experiencing severe chest pain, you are advised to telephone 999 and request an ambulance.

Counselling
Unfortunately, we no longer have an attached counsellor paid for by the NHS within in the practice.  However, we are able to make referrals for counselling to Suffolk Mind or to the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) Programme, funded by the NHS.  You are advised to talk things over with the doctor first.  Details of private counsellors in the local area are available, as well.

Diabetes
Regular monitoring and advice to those with Type 2 diabetes is provided with routine checks carried out, at least, every 6 months.  These involve a visit to one of the practice nurses for physical checks (such as blood pressure, weight, condition of feet etc.) and blood and urine tests.  When the results of tests are available, review with the preferred doctor is advised.  Insulin dependent patients are cared for by the West Suffolk Hospital diabetic clinic and specialist nurses.  See The West Suffolk Diabetes Service for more information about local services.

Dispensing
The practice provides a full dispensing service for patients living in rural areas and more than one mile from a retail pharmacy.  Unfortunately, we are unable to provide dispensing to patients living in Bury St. Edmunds, itself, except in the case of a genuine emergency when normal retail pharmacy services are unavailable.  Please go to our Prescriptions page for more details and how to obtain repeat prescriptions.

General medical
The doctors in the surgery offer full NHS general medical services which cover all aspects of modern primary care and traditional family practice.  Should referral to a specialist be necessary, your doctor can arrange this, either at our local West Suffolk Hospital or a selection of other hospitals in the region, under the Choose and Book scheme.  We are, also, able to refer to you to a private specialist, should you request it.  However, we do not, generally, provide private medical services, except to visitors from some countries.

General nursing
The nurses in the surgery provide full primary care nursing services in addition to the other services and clinics mentioned on this page.  These services include dressings, suture removal, ear syringing, leg ulcer care, minor injuries etc.

Health promotion
Our practice nurses offer assessment and advice on aspects of health and healthy living.  Newly registered patients are encouraged to make use of this service where checks on blood pressure, weight etc. are offered.  Well-man and well-women checks are available to existing registered patients.  Book an appointment on: 01284 701331 for the main surgery or 0844 4773921 for the Barrow branch.

Health visitors
Health visitors are no longer based in the surgery but may be contacted by telephoning Collingwood House, in Whiting Street, on:  01284 757700.

Home visits
Home visits may be appropriate for those who are genuinely housebound or whose medical condition would be made worse by travelling to the surgery.  The vast majority of ill patients can quite safely visit the surgery, including children and adults with fevers.  Visits are made at the doctor's discretion, only, and, whenever possible, patients should attend the surgery.  A doctor is able to provide medical care to several patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do one visit and you are likely to be seen much quicker by attending the surgery.  We are unable to provide visits for reasons of convenience or lack of transport.  If you wish to request a home visit telephone: 01284 701601 for patients who attend the main surgery and 0844 4773921 for patients who attend the Barrow branch.  The receptionist will request details of the reasons for the visit, along with details of directions and access to your home.  Except in an emergency, please ensure your request for a visit is received before 10.30 am.

Hypertension
The practice runs clinics to monitor and care for patients with raised blood pressure.  Two of our practice nurses have received further training and provide the service, liaising closely with the preferred doctor.  We are able to offer ambulatory blood pressure monitoring as well as providing monitors for patients to check their blood pressure at home, if necessary.  Further information on hypertension can be found at:  British Hypertension Society 

Immunisation
Children
Routine children's immunisations are provided by the surgery in a regular Friday afternoon clinic.  You will receive notification of the routine immunisations your child requires with advice on making an appointment for the clinic.  For advice on the immunisations recommended and further information go to:
NHS Immunisation Information
Adults
Immunisation against influenza and pneumonia is offered for all patients over 65 years of age or with the following conditions: asthma, COPD, diabetes that needs medication, serious heart disease, severe kidney disease, long term liver disease plus those who are immunosuppressed, have had their spleen removed or it doesn't work properly.  Carers of patients who would need to be admitted to hospital in the event that the carer became ill with influenza are, also, offered immunisation again influenza.
Tetanus immunisation, now combined with low dose diphtheria, is offered to all who have not been fully immunised or who have sustained a tetanus-prone wound.
Travel
We offer comprehensive immunisation for travellers, including Yellow Fever.  The practice is a Designated Yellow Fever Centre  To make an appointment telephone: 01284 701331.  You will be asked to complete a questionnaire giving details of the areas you will be travelling to, as well as the conditions under which you will be travelling.  Please complete this and hand to reception at least a day or two before your appointment to see the nurse.  This questionnaire is available at reception but may be downloaded from here:  Travel risk assessment form.

Please book your appointment at least one month before your intended date of travel.  Last minute immunisation may not provide adequate protection.  We use the latest information available from Traveller software from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene as well as Travax, provided by the NHS in Scotland.

Leg ulcers
All our practice nurses (and community nurses for the housebound) have considerable experience in the management of chronic leg ulceration and the practice is able to continue to offer this service.

Maternity/Midwives
We no longer have a midwife based in the surgery although ante-natal clinics are still run in the surgery.  Midwifery services, including ante-natal care, is provided by the Abbey Team of midwives who can be contacted on:  01284 755136.  Newly pregnant women are encouraged to see their preferred doctor, initially, for advice.  A prepared pack is available at reception with information and forms for completion prior to the first appointment with the midwife.  In an emergency, if unable to easily contact a midwife, women should contact their doctor for advice.  Between 6.30 pm and 8.30 am, on weekends and Bank Holidays telephone:  01284 701601 or NHS Suffolk Out of Hours Service direct on:  0300 130 3066.  Alternatively, in middle and late pregnancy, contact the Central Delivery Suite at the West Suffolk Hospital via the hospital switchboard on:  01284 713000.

Medical examinations
We are happy to carry out medical examinations for the purposes of obtaining, or renewing, HGV/PSV driving licences, hackney carriage driving licences, NPPLs as well as examinations and reports for insurance purposes.  Please see a list of our private charges for these services by going to the Private Charges page.

Minor injury
We provide a service for the assessment and treatment of minor injuries that do not require X-rays to be taken or the full services of the hospital Accident and Emergency department.  Please make an appointment by telephoning:  01284 701331.

Minor surgery
The doctors offer a minor surgery service for the removal of small skin lumps under local anaesthetic.  Cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) for warts and other skin lesions is available as well as joint injections for a variety of conditions.  It is necessary to consult with your doctor first,  for assessment.  The necessary treatment can, then, be arranged.

Private patients
The practice is a NHS general practice and we do not offer private medical services except for:
  Visitors from certain overseas countries;
  Medical examinations for licences and insurance purposes;
  Travel immunisations.
For information about the fees we charge for the above, click here:  Private Charges
We are not permitted to provide private services for our registered NHS patients, unless these are unavailable on the NHS, although we are able to refer patients to private specialists.

Smoking cessation
Our trained practice nurses run clinics to help those who smoke to stop.  This involves a clinic visit for assessment and decision on appropriate treatment with follow-up over the subsequent two months.  Appointments may be booked directly, without referral by a doctor, at reception or by telephoning:  01284 701331 for the main surgery or 0844 4773921 for the Barrow branch.  There is a pre-assessment questionnaire that patients are encouraged to complete prior to their first visit.  This helps in preparation for stopping smoking.  For more information go to Giving Up Smoking.

Terminal care
Wherever possible we try to care for patients close to the end of their lives at home.  We follow the principles incorporated in the Gold Standard Framework in palliative care.  Our community nurses, with whom we work closely, have much experience and additional training in looking after terminally ill patients in their own homes.  In addition, we work with community Macmillan Nurses who have close links with the local St. Nicholas' Hospice.

Travel advice
In addition to the necessary immunisations required for travel (see Immunisations), our nurses have access to up-to-date and comprehensive advice about keeping well and safe during overseas trips.  Please complete the questionnaire available at reception (or by downloading from Travel Risk Assessment Form) and hand it to reception at least one or two days before attending for your appointment.  This gives the nurse advance notice of the places you are planning to visit and enables all the relevant information to be made available on your surgery visit.  For more information on healthy travel visit:  Fit For Travel