Spirometry:

Spirometry is a simple test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions such as Asthma and COPD by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath.

It’s carried out using a simple device called a spirometer, which is a small machine attached by a cable to a mouthpiece. Spirometry is performed at the Practice by our nursing team.

Appointments are arranged through the Practice.

You’ll be told about anything you need to do to prepare for the test before the day.

If you use bronchodilators (medicines, usually inhaled, that help relax and widen your airways), you may need to stop using it beforehand.

You should also avoid smoking for 24 hours before the test, and avoid drinking alcohol, strenuous exercise or eating large meals for a few hours beforehand.

It’s best to wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of the test.

Spirometry – NHS

FeNO Testing:

FeNO (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide), is a test for measuring the amount of Nitric Oxide in the exhaled breath of patients. The results of the test can help with the diagnosis of asthma, by showing the level of inflammation in the lungs. A patient’s FeNO level helps improve the accuracy of asthma diagnosis and helps indicate which medications will work best for them.

FeNO testing can be undertaken at the Practice by our nursing team.

FeNO patient leaflet

An ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that records the electrical activity of your heart, including the rate and rhythm. It’s usually quick and painless.

There are a number of reasons why an ECG might be recommended, if you have been having chest pains, palpitations, an unusually fast or slow heart rate or have been feeling dizzy or short of breath. Some medications also require an ECG be undertaken before they can be started or continued.

ECGs can be undertaken at the Practice by our nursing team. Here’s what to expect on the day.

1. You’ll be asked to take off the clothes on the top half of your body, behind a screen.
2. You’ll be asked you to lie back and the healthcare professional will attach sticky patches (called electrodes) on your arms, legs and chest. These are attached to the ECG machine.
3. You’ll need to lie still for a few minutes while the ECG machine records the electrical signals that are created when your heart beats.
4. The healthcare professional will remove the sticky patches from your skin. You might feel some slight discomfort when the patches are taken off your skin, a bit like when you take off a plaster.

The ECG gives a real time result, if there are any concerns, then one of our clinical team will review your ECG result before you go home.

From time to time, the GP may recommend we refer you to the Community Liver Fibroscan service run by Mid Hampshire Healthcare if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Service Eligibility:

• All patients aged between 16 year and 85 years with…
• BMI of over 35
• Patients who are consuming in excess of >50 units per week for men and >35 units per week for women
• Type 2 Diabetic patients with BMI >35 
• Type 2 Diabetic patients with a BMI <35 AND a FIB4 reading (blood test) between 1.30 – 3.25

Service exclusion:

• Patients outside of the Mid Hampshire locality
• Patients under 16 or over 85 years old
• Patients on a palliative care register

During the appointment, the Nurse will scan the liver with a Fibroscan machine, this is a non-invasive test that has high sensitivity for identifying patients with liver scarring (fibrosis) as well as providing real time results. After analysing the results, patients will be offered preventative measures such as, lifestyle advice, guidance and information on local support to self-manage. Some may be referred on for further investigations to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital Gastroenterology team.

A patient information leaflet can be found here https://www.midhampshirehealthcare.co.uk/liver_fibroscan.htm

Support with losing weight on the NHS is a three step process, split into tiers of services.

Tier 1 Weight Management

Self care using NHS approved Apps and guidance https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

Tier 2 Weight Management (by referral)

• Face to Face sessions (located in community venues across Hampshire)
• Virtual Classes (these sessions will be the same as those in the community but will be led by the instructor online via Zoom or Teams).
• Provided by Home – Gloji Hampshire

Eligibility criteria for Tier 2:

• Adults aged 18+ years with a BMI ≥ 30
• Adults with a BMI ≥ 28 for those from Ethnic Minority Groups or those with long-term conditions, Cancer, Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure, Stroke or TIA, Hypertension, Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, Musculoskeletal disorders, Diagnosed mental illness.
• Must be resident in the administrative county of Hampshire or registered with a Hampshire GP.

Wish to be referred? Please complete this short form and we will be in contact:

Calculate your BMI https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/bmi-calculator/

Tier 3 Weight Management (by referral)

‘The Weigh Ahead’ service is a Specialist Community Weight Management Service for severe and complex
obesity, providing an intensive level of support to patients through a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
approach.

The Weigh Ahead (spirehealthcare.com)

Referral Criteria:

• Patients must be aged 16 or over
• Patients must have a BMI ≥ 35 (with co-morbidities; see list of significant co-morbidities below) OR a BMI ≥ 40 (without co-morbidities)
• Patients must have complied with a range of weight loss interventions at Tiers 1 and 2 of the pathway over a 2 year period and have failed to achieve or maintain weight loss goals.

Wish to be referred? If you are eligible and tried all of the above, please arrange a consultation with your named GP if you wish to discuss. If you do not feel the need to discuss, please simply ask for a referral form and drop back to us.

Andover Primary Care Network (PCN) (made up of the 5 Andover practices – Adelaide Medical Centre, Andover Health Centre, Charlton Hill, Shepherds Spring and St Mary’s Surgery) are running a Community COVID Vaccination Centre from The Chantry Centre, Andover, SP10 1RL.

This is a booked appointment service only, not a walk in service, unless advertised.

Please do not phone your surgery to request an appointment. We will contact you when it is your turn to be offered a vaccination via SMS or Phone. 

There is a strict priority list in which NHS organisations have to adhere to. Please do not shoot the messenger or demand your vaccination earlier as our staff can not over rule/accommodate these types of requests.

COVID-19 Vaccine eligibility

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Please arrive for your appointment 5 mins before your appointment and not early or late, as we are aiming to avoid queue formation in order to maintain social distancing.

Please do not attend your appointment if you feel unwell on the day. If you are unable to attend, please contact your surgery as soon as you can to cancel the appointment so that we can offer this space to someone else.

Private work means the surgery team providing any services which are included in the standard GP contract. This includes things such as:

• Driving medicals (HGV/taxi, DVLA)
• Private insurance claims forms
• Private letters
• Private sick notes
• Private tests
• Occupational health assessments
• Employment references
• Verification of documentation (passports, driving licences, etc)
• Any pre medicals for medical trials

These services can be arranged via our Reception team or by submitting an eConsult or the form linked below. All private services incur a fixed fee.

Non NHS Medical Services – Adelaide Medical Centre

All fees are to be paid in full before any action or work is carried out, Please allow up to 10 working days for the forms to be completed by the GP.

Our fees are inline with BMA recommendations https://www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/fees/fees-for-gps/what-to-charge-your-patients-guide-for-gps

PLEASE NOTE, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE LETTERS THAT STATE YOU ARE FIT TO TAKE PART IN EXTREME SPORTS (SKY DIVES, MARATHONS ETC) AS OUR DOCTORS ARE NOT INSURED FOR THIS.

You would need to seek assistance from a private GP service of which there are a number locally.

At AMC, we offer a minor surgery clinic monthly and a joint injection clinic every week.

If you feel you require a steroid joint injection then please request this via an online eConsult submission.

Whilst on the eConsult home page, click adult health problems and then use the search box to describe your problem (wrist, elbow, knee, etc) and this will take you to the correct form to fill out. If you’re unable to submit online please contact our reception team on 01264 351144 and ask for an assessment with our specialist MSK physiotherapist.

You can not directly book into a minor surgery clinic without a pre assessment, this is to ensure it is safe for you to go ahead. The joint injection clinics are provided by Clare Bolam (ANP) and Alexa Pohl (MSK Physio).

CLICK HERE TO READ OUR STERIOD INJECTION PATIENT INFORMATION SHEET

We also hold a minor surgery clinic once a month, this service is run by Clare Bolam, one of our Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP). Appointments can be offered after discussion with your GP or by submitting an eConsult with photos included.

Please be aware that the NHS no longer funds minor surgery for benign skin lesions or for purely cosmetic purposes. The skin lesions that we can remove need to be causing a degree of symptoms to be able to be considered for this service.

Carers are entitled to a FREE NHS seasonal influenza vaccination and a FREE NHS health check every 5 years.

Additional to that, health and social care can offer:

Carers’ assessments

See if you can get support from your council, such as extra money or a break from caring.

Carers’ breaks and respite care

How you can take a break from caring for someone else.

Benefits for carers

Financial support for people who care for others.

Help for young carers

If you are aged 13-19 and you care for someone else there are people who can support you.

More information can be found here:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/

Homepage – Carers Trust

Help and advice | Carers UK

Carers: help and support – Citizens Advice

Carers and Young Carers – Andover Primary Care Network (andoverpcn.co.uk)

Being a young carer: your rights

If you are 18 or under and you care for someone you are entitled to help and support.

Being a young carer: your rights – Social care and support guide – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Young carers | Barnardo’s (barnardos.org.uk)

There is also information for carers on the Who Do I See Page of our website.