Clinics We Offer

Once you have been diagnosed by the Doctor as having asthma, it is usual that the Practice Nurse will supervise your review, with the exception of children under the age of ten years - such children are asked to book an appointment with Doctor. You should undergo asthma review at least once a year or more frequently if you feel there is a need for earlier review. You are required to bring your asthma medication along to your review so as your inhaler technique can be checked.

It is usual that your appointment will take approximately twenty minutes for asthma review.

Undergoing asthma review can help you avoid an exacerbation of your asthma and possible attendance/admission to hospital. It also gives the Clinicians within the Practice the opportunity to check you are on the most beneficial regime of asthma therapy - please make the time to attend such reviews.

Additionally, please note that you are also able to attend the Wigan GP Alliance Hubs outside of normal surgery hours for asthma review - please see the section FAQs 'Access medical advice or treatment outside of routine surgery opening times' for further details.

Should you be diagnosed as having COPD the Practice would like to review you on a regular basis every six months or so in an attempt to avoid acute exacerbations of your COPD and thus avoid attendance at/admission to hospital. You are required to arrange an appointment with the Practice Nurse, who will check your lung function (spirometry), your inhaler technique and will consider if you are on the most beneficial regime of COPD therapy - please remember to bring your inhalers along to the appointment. The appointment with Nurse will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes but attending these appointments can prove beneficial in avoiding the need to attend hospital with an acute exacerbation of your COPD - please make time to attend for review.

You are also able to attend the Wigan GP Alliance Hubs for COPD review - please see FAQ 'Access medical advice or treatment outside of routine surgery opening times' for further details.

If you are diagnosed as having diabetes you will require regular review by the Practice Nurse. Such reviews are by appointment only and will be at least on an annual basis but may be more frequent if Nurse feels it is advisable. Regular review allows us to carry out any necessary blood checks, discuss your diet with you and check that we have you on the most beneficial regime of diabetic therapy. The reviews can help avoid complications caused by diabetes such as deterioration in your eye sight, loss of sensation, numbness or ulceration of your feet and poor circulation.

As with all chronic disease management, regular review is highly important - please make time to attend for review.

You are also able to attend the Wigan GP Alliance Hubs for Diabetic review (you will need to have your annual blood tests before you attend for appointment) - please see FAQs 'Access medical advice or treatment outside of routine surgery opening times' for further details.

If it is established that you have Coronary Heart Disease (CVD) (such a diagnosis may follow if you suffer a heart attack) you will be offered annual review with the Practice Nurse. It is usual that Nurse will invite you by letter in your birth month. Along with the invite to attend for review, you will also receive a blood test form and we will ask you to attend for blood testing at one of the local clinics (i.e. Golborne Clinic) - you should have the blood tests completed at least a week before your appointment is due with Nurse. Annual review will allow Nurse to consider if you are on the most beneficial therapy regime; she will offer dietary advice, check your blood pressure, urine and listen to any concerns you may have.

Annual review can help to avoid extension of your CVD - please make time to attend for review.

You are also able to attend the Wigan GP Alliance Hubs for CVD review (again, you will need your annual bloods carried out before you attend for your review appointment at the Hubs) - please see FAQs 'Access medical advice or treatment outside of routine surgery opening times' for further details.

An Antenatal clinic is held at the surgery on alternate Thursdays from 12:30 and 14:30hrs It is run with the assistance of the Byrom team of Midwives of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust.

When you first become pregnant it is usual, though not mandatory, that in the first instance you book in with Doctor to arrange referral to the hospital in which you wished to have your baby delivered. The Doctor will then ask that you book your first appointment for the Antenatal Clinic, when you will be able to meet with the Midwifery team. Your first appointment with the Midwife will take approximately 30 minutes; after this you will be instructed by the Midwife as to the frequency with which they wish you to book follow-up appointments for the surgery Antenatal Clinic.

Following the birth of your baby you will be sent an invite to attend surgery for an appointment with a GP for postnatal and baby check at your convenience; such check will take place 6 to 8 weeks after your baby is born. The invite letter will contain all the information you will need to follow on the day of the check.

Baby Clinic

The Practice Health Visitors hold a Baby Clinic locally on a weekly basis - please ring 01942 775480 or 01942 775481 to check days/times and venues of Baby Clinic and 01942 775496 if you wish to contact the Health Visiting team to discuss any concerns you may have about your child.

Childhood Immunisations

Generally routine childhood immunisatons are carried out by the Practice Nurse, every Tuesday morning between 9.00 and 11.00 a.m. However, if Tuesday morning does not prove convenient for you to attend surgery with your child, we can offer alternative days and times - please ask Reception staff.

New born infants commence their immunisation programme at approximately 8 weeks of age; reinforcing doses are given at 12 and 16 weeks of age. Pre-school boosters are then given at approximately 4 years of age. You will receive an invite from Child Health Section of NHS Ashton, Leigh & Wigan at the appropriate intervals.

If you have any queries re childhood immunisations ask Reception staff to put a query to the Practice Nurse, on your behalf.

The Practice can offer contraceptive advice. Currently the Practice is only able to offer contraception by means of a contraceptive pill or depo-injection; currently we are not able to offer contraceptive implants or IUDs (coils). Contraceptive implants or IUDs (coils) are considered at Sullivan Way Sexual Health advice clinic in Wigan - please telephone 07974 490068 for appointment - Services at Sullivan Way include testing for sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, herpes, hepatitis and gonnorhoea - these tests are not completed at Slag Lane Medical Centre.

If you wish to commence contraception, you would need in the first instance to arrange an appointment to see the Doctor. Following consideration of which contraceptive method may be best for you, the doctor will either prescribe the contraceptive pill/depo-injection or advise you to contact the central booking office for Family Planning Department on telephone number 01942 483188 to arrange an appointment at a Local Authority Family Planning clinic, where you will be able to consult with one of their Clinicians regarding insertion of contraceptive implant or IUD. Family Planning clinics are also run at other sites locally on varying days and times, thus giving you the opportunity to choose an appointment/venue which is most convenient for you - ask the Family Planning Department appointment booking staff for further details.

You are also able to attend the Wigan GP Alliance Hubs for contraceptive check (but not contraceptive injection) - please see the section FAQ - 'Access medical advice or treatment outside of routine surgery opening times' for further details.

If you are prescribed a contraceptive pill/depo-injection, it is usual for any medication check/administration of depo-injection to be carried out by arranging an appointment with the Practice Nurse. Medication checks should be carried out at the very least on an annual basis and involve an appointment which is approximately twenty minutes duration.

NHS Health Check is available by arranging a twenty minute appointment with the Practice Nurse. Nurse will advise if you require blood tests (to check for such as diabetes or cholesterol); check your blood pressure, offer you a cardio-vascular risk assessment which will calculate your risk of developing heart disease in the future; weight management advice can be offered any much more.

Anyone can arrange a Well Person/NHS Health Check with Nurse but we would highly recommend that those patients who are over the age of 40, who don't attend the surgery on a frequent basis, do avail themselves of such. Through carrying out such checks, the Practice has identified risk factors for many patients and have worked with such patients with regards their lifestyle so as to avoid problems with their health in the future.

Think about having a Well Person check if you have not already had one - it is well worth having.

Counselling

The Practice have access to a stress/anxiety Counsellor. Once a decision has been taken that you should be referred for Counselling, it is usual that you be seen off site/away from surgery premises. Referral to a Counsellor may be made on the recommendation of the Doctor or Practice Nurse, or you can self-refer by completing a referral form which is available from Reception. Once your referral has been accepted by the Counselling team, you will be advised when and where you will be seen.

Smoking Cessation

The Practice can help you in trying to stop smoking. Please speak to the Doctor or Practice Nurse if you wish to receive help with stopping smoking. Further information can be gained by following the link below: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/smoking/Pages/stopsmokingnewhome.aspx

Clinics We Offer

Asthma Reviews

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Reviews

Diabetic Review

Coronary Heart Disease

Maternity Services