Cheddar Medical Centre
Cheddar Medical Centre
Roynon Way
Cheddar, BS27 3NZ
01934 742061
Telephone:
01934 744374
Fax Number:
CheddarMC@chedmed.nhs.uk
Email address
Prescription Line 01934 744130
Website
www.chedmed.co.uk
When the surgery is closed call 0845 408 8000
Welcome to Cheddar Medical Centre Online
Welcome to our Medical Centre, which serves Cheddar and the surrounding villages within a 6mile radius. This leaflet describes the services we offer and gives guidelines on how best to use
them. We hope you will find it helpful and informative. We provide access and toilets for the
disabled and changing facilities for babies.
Free car parking is provided off the main car park. Please avoid leaving your car here longer than
is necessary to complete your visit to the Medical Centre.
In addition to everything you need to know about the practice you will also find a wealth of
health-related information in the menu on the right hand side. Please have a look around and do
send us some feedback if you like.
“NHS Direct– Help at the click of a button
NHS Direct is asking people in Somerset to use their online ‘symptom checker’. The
advice comes as the current cold weather had led to a 50% increase in the number of
calls to the service – mainly from people who believe they are experiencing flu like
symptoms. To check your symptoms online visit the NHS Direct symptom checker at:
http://www.nhsdirect.co.uk/ (www.nhsdirect.co.uk/) “
Opening Times
Monday
8.30am - 6.00pm
Tuesday
8.30am - 6.00pm
Wednesday
8.30am - 6.00pm
Thursday
8.30am - 6.00pm
Friday
8.30am - 6.00pm
Weekend
closed
Surgery Timetable
Morning
Afternoon
Monday
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Dr Howard/
Dr Thomas
(alt weeks)
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Tuesday
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Dr Thomas
Dr Howard
(alt weeks)
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Wednesday
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Howard/
Dr Thomas
(alt weeks)
Dr Hincks
Dr Davies
Dr Howard/
Dr Thomas
(alt weeks)
Thursday
Dr Howard
Dr Thomas
Dr Laband
Dr Howard
Dr Thomas
Dr Laband
Friday
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Dr Thomas/
Dr Davies
Dr Laband
Dr Thomas/
Dr Howard
(alt weeks)
Dr Howard
(alt weeks)
There is a Duty Doctor available for Emergencies only from 8.00am – 6.30pm
When We Are Closed
On weekdays between the hours of 6.30pm and 8.00am, and all day and night at weekends and
on Bank Holidays, services are commissioned by the Somerset Primary Care Trust.
Tel: 0845 408 8000
Other Sources of Medical Help or Advice
NHS Walk-in Centre
Your nearest NHS walk-in centre is:
33 Broad Street
Bristol
BS1 2EZ
NHS Direct
In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed you can call NHS Direct
(www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/) (0845 4647) to speak to a triage nurse. Your needs will be assessed and
advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.
Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery
re-opens.
Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an
emergency.
Appointments
Consultations are by appointment only.
Please see surgery timetable under Opening Hours and telephone the receptionist on 01934
742061.
Please be patient if the lines are busy.
Every effort will be made to give you an appointment with the doctor of your choice.
If you know you will need more than 10 minutes please tell the receptionist when you make the
appointment.
If you are unable to keep your appointment please notify reception as soon as possible so that we
may use this time for another patient.
Home Visits
Home visits are time consuming and have to be only for housebound patients or those too ill to
come to the surgery.
If you need a home visit please try to ring before 11.00a.m. We appreciate that this may not
always be possible but phoning early helps the doctors plan their day.
Repeat Prescriptions
Requests for repeat prescriptions received by midday will be ready for collection from the
Medical Centre within 24 hours.
Repeat prescribing is computerised and such prescriptions have an attached re-order form.
It would be helpful if you could request your next prescription by using this tear-off sheet,
ordering all you need at the same time and placing it in the prescription box in the entrance
vestibule.
Prescriptions can be sent to the Chemist in Cheddar or Axbridge and will be ready for collection
within 48 hours, or posted to Wedmore or Winscombe chemist, in which case please allow for
postage time.
We can also post your prescription to your home but please enclose a stamped addressed
envelope with your request.
Telephone requests
We would like to discourage the use of the telephone for prescription requests so that the line can
be used to increase telephone availability for other purposes but if it is essential for you to phone
the prescription line number is 01934 744130.
Telephone requests will only be taken between 10.00.am and 12.00 noon.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying
charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought
it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription
prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS charges
Prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) are available in England and they can save you
money.
Prescription costs as of April 1 2011



The current prescription charge is £7.40.
From 1 April 2010 a three monthly PPC is £29.10. This saves you money if you need
four or more items in three months.
A 12 month certificate is £104.00 and saves money if 15 or more items are needed in 12
months.
PPCs are available by 10 monthly direct debit instalment payments. The prescription prepayment
certificates allow anyone to obtain all the prescriptions they need for £2 per week
Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed.
Any problems please telephone the surgery.
Clinics & Services
Clinics & Services
Immunisation and Vaccination Clinics
We consider that it is important that all children should be protected against Diphtheria, Tetanus,
Whooping Cough, Polio, Mumps, Measles, Rubella and Haemophilus Influenzae B and
Meningitis C. There are very few contra-indications to these vaccinations but if you are worried
please discuss this with one of the Doctors or the Health Visitor. The Clinic is held on the 2nd
and 4th Thursday in every month from 2.00p.m. to 3.30p.m. (Practice Nurse)
Family Planning Service
A full family planning service is provided including emergency contraception and the fitting of
coils and counselling. The Practice Nurse also provides family planning advice and we are happy
to provide confidential services for people under 16, and advice on safer sex. The doctors in the
Practice will see patients from other practices for contraceptive services.
Child Surveillance Clinic
At Cheddar Medical Centre- The Clinic is on the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1p.m to
3p.m. (Health Visitors).
At the Valley Childrens Centre- The Clinic is on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 9.30am
to 11.30am (Health Visitors)
Antenatal Clinic
The Clinic is held every Monday from 9.10 a.m. to 12.10 p.m. or Wednesday 2.00.p.m. to
4.00.p.m. in Bank Holiday weeks. (Midwife).
Breastfeeding Support Group
The Group meets weekly at the Valley Childrens Centre on Thursdays between 12 and 1pm. This
is a 'drop in' session and no appointments are necessary.
Asthma Clinic
The Clinic is held every Tuesday between 3.45 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. (Practice Nurse)
Diabetic Clinic
The Clinic is held every other Wednesday from 5.00 p.m. to 6.20 p.m. (Practice Nurse) and on
alternate Tuesdays from 10.00 a.m. to 11.40 a.m. (Practice Nurse).
Cardiovascular Clinic
This Clinic is held every Wednesday from 9.00 a.m. to 1p.m. (Practice Nurse).
Travel Clinic
The Clinic is held on alternate Thursdays from 2.00 p.m. to 3.20 p.m. (Practice Nurse). If you are
travelling anywhere abroad make an appointment to be advised of your vaccination needs and
you will be given an advice sheet and travel tips. These can vary depending on where you are
going.
We do need 4 weeks notice to ensure we can offer an appointment. Within 4 weeks we will
try to help, but you may need to attend a private clinic and pay for your vaccines if we
cannot accomodate your request.
Minor Surgery
All doctors provide a minor surgery service by appointment.
NHS Physiotherapy Service
Provided on Monday afternoons from 1pm to 4pm by our Physiotherapist Vanessa Ayers.
Patients must be referred by their GP.
Hearing Aid Batteries
If your National Health Service hearing aid batteries need replacing you can obtain supplies of
these free from the Medical Centre. Please ask at Reception.
Test Results
Test Results
We would be grateful if you would not ring for test results on a Monday but phone any other
weekday after 12 noon.
Please note that we are not able to give results to anyone other than yourself unless you give us
your permission in advance.
Non NHS Services
Private Medical Examinations
These are not covered by the National Health Service. You will be charged a fee in accordance
with the recommended British Medical Association rate
CHEDDAR MEDICAL CENTRE
The NHS does not cover certain certificates, reports and examinations
You may need the Doctor to complete for you.
We may have to charge you, or a third party, a fee.
CERTIFICATES WITHOUT EXAMINATION
Simple certificate of fact
Private Sick Note
Freedom from Infection Certificate
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND REPORTS
£15
£20
£15
Life Assurance Report without exam
Life Assurance Supplementary report
Life Assurance GP exam
Employees Incapacity Report
Private Health Insurance Forms
Sickness/ Accident Claim Form
School Fees Insurance Claim report
Fitness for Sports Medical
Pre Employment Medicals (includes Local Authority)
HGV/ PSV/ Taxi Medicals
Seat Belt Exemption Examination and medical
Seat Belt Exemption Certificate without medical
Elderly Drivers Medical
Road Traffic Accident Report (1st Attendance)
Fitness for Education Examination and report
Court of Protection (CP3) with examination
Court of Protection (CP3) without examination
Adoption Report without examination
Adoption Medical AH Form
Adoption Form AH Update Form
To Certify Power of Attorney
To Certify Power of Attorney including Home Visit
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – No attendance
necessary
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) - Attendance
necessary
£94.30
£24.10
£92.30
£40
£30
£30
£30
£75
£75
£75
£75
£52
£65
£30
£75
£145
£75
£26.74
£73.86
£26.74
£100
£150
£19.50
£39
TRAVEL SERVICES
Fit to Travel Certificate
Fitness to Travel Examination and report
Vaccination Certificate (Cholera/ Meningitis etc)
Holiday Cancellation Certificate
Hep B, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations
Private prescription for Malaria
£15
£75
£26
£30
£33 each
£13
MISCELLANEOUS
Search fee (Access to Records under Data Protection Act)
Photocopies of Medical Records
£10
£0.35/ sheet
PAYMENT TO BE MADE ON COLLECTION OF THE FORM OR AT THE TIME OF THE
MEDICAL OR PROCEDURE
CHEQUE PAYMENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN APPROPRIATE CHEQUE CARD
SORRY, WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS
With effect from 1st January 2011
Registration
New Patient Registration
Anyone living within our Practice boundary is welcome to apply to register with us. Please bring
along your medical card to the surgery.
If you cannot find it we can give you a form to fill in.
When you register you will be encouraged to indicate a preferred doctor and we will make every
effort to provide appointments with them when requested.
You can, of course, see any of our other doctors if you prefer.
Registration Form
You may print off a registration form, fill it out and bring it in with you on your first visit to the
practice.
Registration Form (www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/regforms/gpregistration1.pdf)
Summary Care Record
Summary Care Record
A new Central NHS Computer System is coming soon, called the Summary Care Record (SCR).
The Summary Care Record is meant to help emergency doctors and nurses help you when you
contact them when the surgery is closed. Initially, it will contain just your medications and
allergies.
Later on as the central NHS computer system develops, (known as the ‘Summary Care Record’ –
SCR), other staff who work in the NHS will be able to access it along with information from
hospitals, out of hours services, and specialists letters that may be added as well.
Your information will be extracted from practices such as ours and held on central NHS
databases.
As with all new systems there are pros and cons to think about. When you speak to an
emergency doctor you might overlook something that is important and if they have access to
your medical record it might avoid mistakes or problems, although even then, you should be
asked to give your consent each time a member of NHS Staff wishes to access your record,
unless you are medically unable to do so.
On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish
to keep your information at the level of this practice. Connecting for Health (CfH), the
government agency responsible for the Summary Care Record have agreed with doctors’ leaders
that new patients registering with this practice should be able to decide whether or not their
information is uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System.
For existing patients it is different in that it is assumed that you want your record uploaded
to the Central NHS Computer System unless you actively opt out.
For further information visit the Connecting for Health Website
(www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/scr)
If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along
to the surgery.
Download the opt out form >>>>
(www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/regforms/optoutform.pdf)
Confidentiality
Confidentiality
Here at Cheddar Medical Centre we safeguard all confidential information about you and your
health. All staff are required to sign a confidentiality document when they start work at the
surgery. This is to ensure that they are fully aware of the need to maintain patient confidentiality
at all times.
So that we can all work together for your benefit, we may need to share information about you
with others in healthcare. We only ever use or pass on information about you if healthcare
workers have a genuine need for it and it is in your interest. Wherever possible we will remove
personal details that would identify you.
Freedom of Information
The ICO has published a new Model Publication Scheme that all public authorities are required
to adopt.
Model Publication Scheme - further information
(www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/introductory/freedom_of_in
formation_factsheet.pdf)
Comments & Complaints
Comments & Complaints
We have our own complaints procedure and, if you need to make a complaint, please address it
to the Practice Manager, Mrs Pauline Drummond who will take full details of your concerns and
decide how to deal with the problem. Full details of our complaints procedure may be found in
our complaints leaflet.
We would be grateful for any suggestions you may have to improve the services we offer –
please direct these to the Practice Manager.
The Health Service Ombudsman
The Health Service Ombudsman has published a booklet that describes the ‘six principles for
remedy’ in relation to complaints handling and involves:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Getting it right
Being customer focused
Being open and accountable
Acting fairly and proportionately
Putting things right
Seeking continuous improvements
If you remain unhappy after everything has been done to try to resolve your concern or
complaint you have the right to approach the Ombudsman.
Tel: 0345 015 4033
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
Write: Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.
Staff Details
Doctors
Dr Jonathan
R. Hincks
M.B.B.S. (London 1980)
Dr T. Elwyn
Davies
M.A., M.B., B.Chir. (Cambridge 1988) M.R.C.G.P., D.C.H.,
D.R.C.O.G.
Dr Elwyn Davies was once a zoologist, then a commissioning editor of
books of very limited readership (anyone remember ‘Beyond NeoDarwinism’?) and finally became a doctor in 1988, moving to Cheddar in
1994. He is the practice GP Trainer and has a special interest in Diabetes.
In his spare time he attempts to play guitar and speak French, and often
tackles books of very limited readership. He has successfully encouraged
his four English children to support Welsh rugby.
Dr Jillian C.
Howard
M.B.Ch.B. (Bristol 1993) D.R.C.O.G., M.R.C.G.P. (Part-time)
Dr Claire L.
Laband
M.B.B.S. (London 1981) (Part-time)
Claire qualified at the London Hospital in 1981. She worked in Japan and
Australia before moving to the West Country to complete her GP training.
She joined the Cheddar Medical Centre in 2001. She has managed a local
football team for several years and remains their worst player. She has
recently started growing vegetables and has acquired a dog
Dr Sara M
Frost
GP Registrars We are an approved training practice for young qualified doctors who
(Trainee
are attached to the Practice for a period of 6 or 12 months. Our
Doctors)
current registrar is Dr Natalie Lukeman
Nurses
Practice Nurses are employed in the Treatment Rooms where many
services are available including dressings, chronic disease management,
cervical smear tests, ear syringing, travel vaccinations, child immunisation,
blood pressure checks and support to stop smoking.
Jill
Peters
Anne
Martyn
Julie
Hutton
Healthcare Assistants
Kerry Randall
Takes blood tests and check blood pressure
Practice Management
Pauline
Drummond
Practice Manager, Pauline is responsible for the strategic running of
the practice including staff, IT, finance, premises, new services, audits,
complaints and innovations and may be able to help you if you have a
problem on a non-medical aspect of your health care.
Administration
Secretaries (Tess and Nadine) type medical correspondence, make
hospital appointments for doctors’ referrals and provide
administrative support to the Practice Manager.
Admin Assistants (Julie, Sue, Maria and Angela) deal with practice
administration and patient related services.
Tess O'Neill
Nadine
Higginbottom
Julie Crisp
Sue Callow
Maria Davies
Angela Francis
Reception
The Reception Supervisors (Lin and Angela) maintain the smooth
running of reception and organize the work of the reception team.
The Receptionists (Deborah, Bernice, Elaine, Nadine , Sandra and
Alison) are your first point of contact and will arrange
appointments and answer your queries in complete confidence.
Lin Hebden
Reception Supervisor
Angela Francis
Reception Supervisor
Bernice Parfitt
Nadine
Higginbottom
Sandra Slingsby
Deborah Monks
Elaine Snow
Alison
Barnhouse
Community Midwives
Helen
Crandon
Visits expectant mothers in their homes, holds a weekly antenatal clinic,
holds relaxation classes and cares for mother and baby after delivery. If
you need a midwife urgently out of surgery hours, please ring 01278
444517 (Mary Stanley Wing, Bridgwater Hospital Maternity Unit) and
they will bleep the midwife on call.
Community Nurses
Our Community Nursing Team give nursing care to those patients unable to visit
the surgery. They can be contacted on 01934 734207 where, if they are unavailable,
a message can be left on their Voicemail.
Health Visitors
Health Visitors are primarily involved in the provision of advice,
health education and developmental screening for children under 5
years. They can be contacted on 01934 744935.
Gina Ashman
Suzanne
Moss
Caroline
Woodcock