Dr Weatherhead & Associates

Southwick Health Centre, The Green, Southwick, Sunderland SR5 2LT
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Services & Clinics

We have a number of services and clinics available at our practice with some requiring no appointment. In order to attend an appointment only clinic or surgery, please ring the reception or follow any details provided with the clinic information.

List of Services and Clinics

Chaperone Service

A chaperone is a person who is present as well as the person who is examining you. All patients (male and female) are entitled to have a chaperone present when an intimate examination or procedure will take place. Usually the chaperone would be a member of staff. In appropriate circumstances, a family member may act as chaperone.

Sometimes the Health Care Professional may request a chaperone themselves.

Asthma Management

Offering regular checks, providing general advice on inhaler technique and management monitoring. You should attend for an asthma review as a minimum once every 12 months, however you may be asked to attend more frequently.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) & Spirometry

You may require an assessment of your lung function. Further details can be obtained from the Practice Nurse. You should attend for a review as a minimum once every 12 months, however you may be asked to attend more frequently.

Coronary Heart Disease Prevention

Offering essential advice and management on the prevention of heart disease including cholesterol testing and blood pressure monitoring. You should attend for a review as a minimum once every 12 months, however you may be asked to attend more frequently.

Diabetes Management

Offering regular checks for insulin and non-insulin dependent diabetics including blood glucose monitoring, dietary advice etc. You should attend for a review as a minimum once every 12 months, however you may be asked to attend more frequently.

You will also be invited to attend a specialist centre for an annual assessment of your eyes, feet and diet. It is an essential part of your diabetic care and important that you keep/make your appointment when contacted.

Well Woman Services

Offering smear testing, advice on breast self-examination, menopause and other matters relating to women’s health.

Weight Management

Offering diet and lifestyle advice for anyone seeking assistance.

Vaccination & Immunisation

We offer travel vaccination and occupational immunisation where appropriate.  Please contact the Practice to speak to the Practice Nurse for further details.’

Childhood Immunisation

By appointment with the Practice Nurse every Tuesday morning between 10:30am – 11:30am. You will be sent an appointment from a central booking office, if there are any changes to this appointment the Practice will contact you

Smoking Cessation

Offering advice and support in quitting smoking. The Health Care Assistant is a qualified Smoking Cessation Adviser and can advise on the options available to you and obtain a prescription from the doctors for any medication required to help you quite, if deemed appropriate.

Other Services Available

Minor Surgery and Cryotherapy

A Nurse Practitioner, qualified to perform minor surgical procedures and cryotherapy, attends the practice once a month to provide this service. For minor surgical procedures you will be asked to attend at least 24 hours prior to your appointment so that the procedure can be explained and your written consent obtained.

Antenatal Clinic

Midwives from City Hospitals Sunderland host a clinic within the surgery every Thursday morning between 9:00am – 12 noon and undertake all aspects of antenatal care on behalf of the practice. If you need to contact the Midwife please call the main Health Centre number and ask to be transferred. Tel: 0191 502 6660.

Warfarin Clinic

This clinic is held at the Practice weekly on a Wednesday afternoon. All necessary blood tests and warfarin monitoring is undertaken here at the practice, or by visiting you at home if deemed necessary. For further information please ask at Reception.

E-Referral

If the doctor decides that you require specialist treatment you will be offered the choice of where you wish to receive this, from a wide list of hospitals and clinics, and at a time suitable for you. You will either receive details of the appointment booked for you or a unique booking reference number, a password and the number to ring to arrange your own appointment or website address if you have internet access and you wish to book your appointment online.

Further information is available on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk)

Military Veterans

The UK government launched the Armed Forces Covenant with the principle that the Armed Forces community as a whole should not be disadvantaged because of its military experience. The key principles of the covenant have been enshrined in law in the Armed Forces Act.

All ex-service personnel are entitled to priority access to NHS hospital care for any condition related to their service, subject to the clinical need of others. Identifying people on the patient list who are ex-service personnel can help with prioritization and signposting for access to wider health services.  Please help us to help you.  If you are ex-Military Service then please let us know.

Our Practice Armed Forces Champion is Dr Martin Weatherhead, GP.

Our Armed Forces Champion will offer advice and support and will be able to signpost our Military community to the services they may require.

Please let the Practice know if you have service in the Armed Forces as a Regular, Reservist or Adult Volunteer Cadet.  We have a pack that you can collect from our Reception.

The Practice works with Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group Armed Forces Leads and Veterans in Crisis Sunderland to ensure those who have served or currently serving in the Military have access to information across the City on services and support that is available.

Below are links to further information which may be of benefit to you, your family and friends.