You may find the following women’s health information and links helpful:
- Delaying your period:
- Requests for period delaying medication are assessed on a case-by-case basis, but the following should be noted:
- You will require a routine GP appointment to discuss the request. You should allow 6 weeks notice for an appointment
- Access to this service is subject to capacity at the Practice as it is not deemed a clinical priority
- Period delaying medication is available to purchase from many community pharmacies and online doctor sites
- We cannot guarantee the effectiveness of this medication in delaying your period
- This medication cannot be used as contraception, please let our team know if you wish to discuss contraception
- Vaginal Prolapse and Pessaries
- Menopause
- Information about Pre-menstrual syndrome
- Contraception
- Coil insertion
- A short film that gives you all the information you need about intra-uterine methods
About 1 in 20 people will get bowel cancer in their life. It affects men and women.
Screening can help detect bowel cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.
How it works
You use a home test kit to do the screening.
If you’re 60 to 74, you’ll be sent a kit every 2 years. The programme is expanding to eventually include those aged 50-59, so currently 56 year olds, and some 58 year olds, are also eligible for screening.
If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years. Call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
If you’re younger than 56 and you’re worried because you have a family history of bowel cancer, speak to your GP.
Call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60 if you have not been sent a test and you think you need one.
If you are worried about your symptoms
You can read about symptoms of bowel cancer on the NHS website.
If you have symptoms that you are worried about you can request an appointment.
Find out more on the NHS website
Visit the NHS website guide to bowel cancer screening
You can also find information about bowel cancer from:
Cervical screening (also known as a smear test) checks the health of your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.
It’s not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
Who the screening is for
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should get a letter to invite them for a smear.
If you’ve not been invited and think you’re eligible, please contact the surgery.
How often you need a screening
How often you need screening depends on how old you are.
If you’re:
- under 25, you’ll be invited up to 6 months before you turn 25
- 25 to 49, you’ll be invited every 3 years
- 50 to 64, you’ll be invited every 5 years
- 65 or older, you’ll only be invited if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal.
Getting an appointment
You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.
The letter will tell you where you can go and how to request an appointment.
If you have not received a screening letter
You can also request an appointment at the surgery if you have not received an invite by letter, or if you lost the letter.
Find out about local counsellors and advice services.
You can access these services by speaking to a GP or receptionist of the surgery.
Samaritans
If you want to speak to someone sooner, you can contact Samaritans for free. They will talk to you about an issue you have. You can contact them by:
- phone
- online chat
- email
- letter
- Samaritans self-help app.
Seek help and advice using Samaritans
The surgery cannot help with problems with your teeth and gums. We recommend seeing a dentist instead.
GPs cannot provide dental care
Contact your dentist or use the service below to find an NHS dentist near you.
NHS dental services
Dentists are open for routine and urgent treatments.
Treatment may be free if you meet the eligibility criteria.
You will get seen sooner if your condition is urgent.
Find NHS dentist services
Find out how to get support with drug and alcohol issues.
Alcohol addiction support
Alcohol addiction services can help you reduce or stop your drinking if it’s affecting your life or your health.
See things that Alcohol addiction support can help with:
- support to help you stop drinking
- rehabilitation
- counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
- group therapy
- self – help
Find an alcohol support service
Drug addiction support
There are local and national services that provide counselling and treatment in England for drug addiction.
Staff will talk you through all of your treatment options and agree a treatment plan with you. They’ll also tell you about local support groups for drug users and their families or carers.
Find a drug addiction support service
If you are having problems with your eyes, visiting an optician is often the best place to start.
The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)
The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) provides assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye problems.
It is an NHS service provided by accredited optometrists (also commonly called opticians).
The service is eligible for all patients.
Things that The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) can help with:
- red eye or eyelids
- dry, gritty or uncomfortable eyes
- eye irritation and inflammation
- a lot of recent discharge from the eye or watery eye
- recently occurring flashes or floaters
- painful eye
- ingrowing eyelashes
- recent and sudden loss of vision
- foreign body in the eye
Visit MECS
NHS optician services
Opticians are open for routine treatments including:
Treatment may be free if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Sometimes opticians may be able to help with other minor eye issues.
Things that NHS optician services can help with:
- eye tests to see if you need glasses
- checking for signs of eye disease
- referrals to hospital eye clinics for more tests
Find NHS optician services
A blood pressure test checks if your blood pressure is healthy, or if it’s high or low.
Having this quick test could save your life.
Local community pharmices
Free blood pressure checks are available through local community pharmacies. For more information, visit this page.
Contact the surgery by phone
If you do not want to take your blood pressure using the machine, or if you’ve been asked to request an appointment, please contact the surgery.
Find out more
For more information, including what your results mean, see NHS advice on blood pressure tests.
If you’re a veteran or ex-forces, let your GP know. This will help us to give you the best care we can.
Your GP may ask to see your military medical records. This will be kept confidential.
As well as giving you care, your GP may suggest you visit specialist mental and physical health services, or armed forces charities.
You’ll be able to speak to people who:
- understand military life
- are from the armed forces community, or work closely with them
- will work to get you the care you need
You can also read the NHS website guide to healthcare for the armed forces community.
Other resources and services
Find out how to get support for muscle and joint pain.
First Contact Physiotherapist
We’re able to offer physio assessments at both St Ives and Somersham sites for conditions affecting joints, bones and muscles. To book an appointment, just ask our reception team.
The service is free of charge.
Request an appointment at the surgery
If the services above are not suitable, you can request an appointment at the surgery.
Other organisations that could help you
There are a number of other NHS services and charity groups that work in our area.