Private Medical Services

You may have to pay a fee for certain services that are not covered by the NHS. These fees reflect the time it takes for the doctor to look at your medical records and some admin time.

Services include things like private health certificates, insurance claim forms, HGV/taxi medicals and some travel vaccinations.

This is our current list of Non NHS fees.

More information about why we charge can be found on the BMA website.

Private Medical Forms

There are also times when we are asked for information about a patient’s health, such as when you are applying for a mortgage or life insurance. We only do this with your permission and you have the right to see the report before it is sent. To avoid any delays, please make sure you sign the consent form that the company gives you.

GPs often act as advocates for patients when dealing with issues in the hospital or by making sure that their patients’ and/or families’ voices are heard when a decision is needed about their care.

Advocacy involves looking at choices together and helping patients to make decisions. It may be writing a letter of support or communicating on behalf of the patient.

When advocates who are not part of social services or the NHS are needed, they can be found in Leeds at:

• Advonet
• Articulate Advocacy CIC
• Leeds Independent Health Complaints Advocacy

Are you traveling abroad and need advice. It is best to be prepared and the team here at Vesper Road and Morris Lane Surgery can help with this.

• Advice on vaccinations
• Travel health e.g. protection against malaria
• Safety advice at your destination

Please see one of our nursing team at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to travel to discuss what you may or may not need. Please bring a vaccination history or travel vaccine card with you if possible.

You can share your travel details by completing the Travel Advice eConsultation form and we can let you know what you need to do.

It is also worth looking at these websites:

Fit for Travel (NHS)

National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)

Currently, these vaccines are available on the NHS:

• Hepatitis A – our stock is limited due to a global supply shortage. We will update the website as this changes. If we can not provide this, you can use on the many private travel clinics in Leeds, though there will be a charge.
• Typhoid
• Diptheria, Tetanus, and Polio

These are not available on the NHS:

• Hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningitis ACWY
• Rabies
• Yellow Fever
• Tick Bourne encephalitis
• Tuberculosis (TB)

Social prescribing can help people with different social, emotional or practical needs to find the right support and improve their health and wellbeing.

The service can help you:

• Get support to improve your physical health.
• Find employment or volunteering opportunities or learn a new skill.
• Tackle money, housing, work or benefits issues.
• Cope with a particular condition or difficulty.
• Access ways of improving your emotional wellbeing such as befriending schemes, peer support or arts and leisure activities.

Our local service is run by Linking Leeds

To make an appointment please contact them on 0113 336 7612 or email linking.leeds@nhs.net

Midwife

Susan Duncan is our midwife.

She is available at the practice on Tuesdays. You can book an appointment with her via the reception desk.

The role of the midwife

A midwife is a qualified nurse who has undertaken further training to provide and promote normal midwifery.

They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby by advising on the effects of drinking, smoking and good diet whilst you are pregnant.

The midwife guides you through your pregnancy and endeavours to detect any problems and make relevant referrals if necessary.

First appointment with the midwife

If you are pregnant you do not need to see the Dr in order to have your first appointment with the midwife.

You can arrange an appointment via the reception desk. This first appointment should be at about 9 weeks of pregnancy.

Due date calculator

The Midwife will discuss your options for delivery, arrange appropriate referrals and provide you with dietary advice.

She will also take blood tests and will subsequently discuss the results with you. Whilst you are pregnant and until your baby is one year old you are entitled to free prescriptions and dental treatment. The Midwife will organise for an exemption certificate to be signed and sent off.

During The Pregnancy

Your maternity book lists when you will be seen by the Midwife, Doctor and hospital through your pregnancy. Should you have any concerns at any other time you can contact your midwife or, if she is not available, make an appointment to see a Doctor during normal surgery hours.

At some point during the course of your pregnancy, the Health Visitor will meet you to talk to you about her role in your care and about the childhood vaccination programme.

After Your Birth

After delivery, your Midwife will visit you at home to help you and your baby. Following the birth, she will visit you on your first day at home. When your baby is five days old she will carry out the Guthrie test (which is a special screening test that the Midwife will give you information about) and at ten days old she will discharge you and your baby from her care. Extra visits may be arranged according to need.

Your Health Visitor will visit you at home when your baby is between 10 and 14 days old and can advise on feeding, weaning and any family issues you may have.

About 6 weeks after your birth you should make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss contraception and any concerns you have about your own health.

Breastfeeding

It takes time for you and your baby to learn how to breastfeed.

The NHS Choices page on breast feeding might be useful.

Your midwife can also offer support and advice.

There are also a number of national services offering local support groups, which can be accessed via their websites:

• Babycafe
• Association of Breast Feeding Mothers
• La Leche League GB
• Breastfeeding Network

Clinical Care Co-ordinators

As you get older the range of problems you face can grow, to the point where it might be difficult to cope, know what to do for the best, or make it difficult for you to leave your house.

We have a small team of nurses at the practice who support older people with complex needs to sort out problems you can find yourself faced with.

The sorts of things they can help you with are

• Mobility issues
• Memory problems
• Loneliness and isolation
• Housing issues
• Practical issues such as help dressing and cleaning
• Health issues

Their role is to help you understand the range of services available and support you in deciding the best course of action.

If you feel they could be of help then ask your Dr to put you in touch.

District Nurses

District Nurses carry out many roles for housebound patients, including:

• General nursing procedures and investigations
• Post-surgery care
• Assessment of patients’ needs
• Care for terminally ill patients
• Loaning of equipment
• Looking after wounds and leg ulcers
• Educating patients about self-care

Referrals can be made by a Dr or nurse at the practice, patients themselves or by carers and family members.

Community Matron

Tracy Kent is our Community Matron.

Community matrons specialise in caring for older people, whether they live in their own home or a care home. They help patients manage their health problems and try to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital.
If a patient has to be admitted, they will communicate with the hospital team to ensure a smooth a discharge as possible.

Dementia services

It is very important that anyone who has problems with their memory has a proper assessment. If these problems are due to dementia then early diagnosis and referral have many benefits for the patient, their carer(s) and family. It can help them to plan and access the treatment and support they need and to improve their quality of life.

Please book with one of Dr’s who can make the initial assessment and refer you to the memory clinic if needs be.

Adult Social Care

Leeds city council help people aged over 18 to live as well as possible with their illness, disability or other problems. It can include help with things like washing, dressing, eating, getting out and about and keeping in touch with family and friends.

Adults who may need extra care and support include:

• Older people
• People with learning disabilities
• People with physical disabilities
• People with mental health problems
• People with drug and/or alcohol issues
• Carers

They offer a wide range of support and help and their adults and health page is a good place to start.

Or call them 0113 222 4401 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

This can be done by you, a family member, a friend.

If you have difficulty using the telephone please email them at feedback@leeds.gov.uk.

AVSED

Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly (AVSED) is a charity working across Aireborough (including Yeadon, Rawdon and Guiseley; LS19 and LS20 postcodes)

Their aim is to prevent social isolation of local older people and help them live happy, healthy and independent lives.

If you have one of the following conditions then you will be invited for an annual health check.

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Learning disabilities
• Dementia
• Severe mental health problems

We invite all people for their annual health check in the same month as their birthday. You may need a blood test before the appointment, in which case the invite will say this.

The appointment will be 20 minutes long, however if you have more than one problem it will be longer.

Do I need help?

Take the alcohol test this is an excellent online tool which helps you work out if you’re at risk of alcohol-related problems and some simple things you can do to reduce the risk.

Getting help

Alcohol Adviser

We have an alcohol adviser available for appointments every Tuesday afternoon. Please speak to reception to make an appointment with Jayne Cummings.

Forward Leeds

Forward Leeds has a wide range of services that support young people, adults and families in Leeds with alcohol and/or drug use.

It is the service that our Dr’s will refer you to if you need help, you can also self-refer to the service.

Here is the list of Forward Leeds services

Or call them on 0113 8872477

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is a national network of free self-help groups aimed at helping people recover from alcoholism.

Some people find them very useful and our Doctors often recommend them.

The best way of finding out about them and your closest group is at Alcoholics Anonymous