Surgery clinics and services

Acupuncture is provided at the surgery predominantly through a subsidised private clinic.

For further information, please read our patient information leaflet (PDF)

Blood tests are taken at St Albans City Hospital.

You need an appointment to attend the hospital for a blood test. Please follow this link to book a blood test: www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/bloodtests

If you have previously had any problems with obtaining blood, for example, difficulty finding a vein or fainting, please contact pathology at St Albans City Hospital.

Parkbury House no longer offer fasting blood tests. 

1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it.

Be clear on cancer leaflet (PDF)

Parkbury House operates a cardiovascular clinic each fortnight to provide on-going care for our cardiovascular patients.

The cardiovascular clinic is supervised by a senior GP partner and run by a trained nurse who has attended specialist cardiovascular training and accreditation in order to deliver this service.

Are you a carer?

You are a carer if you provide help and support, unpaid, to a family member, friend or neighbour who would otherwise not be able to manage. The person you care for may have a physical or learning disability, dementia, mental health problems, may misuse drugs or alcohol or may be ill or frail. The person may live with you or elsewhere, may be an adult or a child but if they rely on you for support, then you are a carer.

The new NHS framework is steering its focus towards providing better support for carers. If you are currently a carer we would like to invite you to attend an annual health check in order for us to make sure your health needs are regularly assessed. If you have already told us you are a carer you will have received an invitation for this health check. However, if we don’t know you are a carer then you could be losing out on a valuable check-up with us.

We would be grateful if you could let us know you have become a carer, either by telling the nurse when you have your flu vaccination, or at reception, or via emailing to parkburyhouse.info@nhs.net

Let your clinician know that you are a carer.

For further information about carers please visit carers in Herts.

Carers rights

As a carer you have specific legal rights and entitlements. Knowing your rights can help you to get the support that you need.

These rights for carers include:

• the right to have your needs assessed by your local authority
• the right to receive direct payments so that you can chose what services to have
• rights in the workplace

For further information please visit NHS Choices.

Young Carers

Young Carers are children and young people who care for a member of their family who may be ill, have a physical or learning disability, or a mental health, drug or alcohol problem.

For further information please visit Young Carers service – Carers In Herts

There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

Carewaves newsletter

• Read the latest Carewaves newsletter.

Caring at home

Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you’re a carer is important so they understand and can support you.

• Telling people

Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it’s essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.

• Taking a break

Finding appropriate housing, or adapting either your home or the home of the person you care for, can make your life as a carer a lot easier.

• Housing and carers

Support for bereaved carers

Carers of someone who has recently passed away can feel lonely, isolated and confused. It can help them if they know that they are not alone and that there are services available to support them.

If a carer’s life is impacted by the recent bereavement of someone they loved, cared about and provided caring support for then Bereavement Support service at Carers in Hertfordshire may be able to help.

Carers in Hertfordshire have bereavement volunteers who provide support over the phone and through group sessions. To find out more about how bereaved carers can access these services, contact the Carers Bereavement Group via email at bereavement.group@virginmedia.com.

Learn more by visiting www.carersinherts.org.uk

Further information

• Organisations that can give advice and information (PDF)
• Carer support hubs

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

At Parkbury House, our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 10 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Parkbury House Surgery provides children and young people friendly services including:

• Acne and other skin problems advice and treatment
• Antenatal & post-natal checks
• Baby immunisations
• Chlamydia test and treatment – if you are sexually active and aged 15-24, you should be tested for Chlamydia every year or if you change your sexual partner. Ask reception for a testing kit or ask for a testing kit when you go into your appointment.
• Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Drug and alcohol problem support
• Emergency contraceptive and advice.
• Family plaining and long or short active contraceptive advice e.g., pill, implants, as appropriate
• Implant and IUS/IUD fitting and removal
• Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccination
• Mental health & wellbeing
• Pertussis (pregnant women) vaccination
• Seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccination
• Sexual health advice
• Stop smoking
• Stress & self harm support
• Teen pregnancy support
• Weight management

Why am I being offered a Chlamydia Test?

• If you are sexually active and aged 15-24, you should be tested for Chlamydia every year or if you change your sexual partner.
• For most people Chlamydia has no symptoms, so you probably won’t know if you or your partner(s) have it without having a test.
• Untreated Chlamydia can have serious long term health problems and may lead to you being unable to have children (infertility).

Ok, so what do I do?

• The test is free, simple, painless and confidential.
• You can do the test yourself – you do not need to be examined.
• Ask reception for a testing kit or ask for a testing kit when you go into your appointment .

Benefits of having a coil

• It is a very effective form of contraception (over 99% effective) which is immediately reversible on removal.
• They are long lasting; depending on the type fitted they can provide on-going contraception for 5-10 years.
• They contain no or a very low dose of hormones so are very good methods for women who cannot use hormones for medical reasons or who suffer from side effects of hormonal contraception.
• The mirena coil can be very helpful at reducing menstrual pain and bleeding. It may also be used as part of HRT.

Possible risks of having a coil

• The copper coil may lead to heavier or more painful periods. It is also possible to have an increase in bleeding in the few months following a mirena insertion.
• Hormonal side effects are possible with the mirena although they are very rare.  In most cases they lessen after a few months. If present, these may include breast tenderness, acne, mood changes and headaches. There is also a very small increase in the risk of ovarian cysts with the mirena; most settle without any treatment.
• Following a coil insertion there is an increased risk of infection or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This mostly occurs in women who have chlamydia or another STI at the time of insertion. It is very important these infections are treated before your coil insertion.
• There is a small risk of perforating the womb during the insertion of a coil (about 1 in 1000 insertions).
• There is a 1 in 20 risk that a coil can fall out or be pushed out by the womb. This is most likely in the 3 months following insertion or after a heavy menstrual bleed.
• The coil is not 100% effective; there is a very small failure rate. It is also still possible to have an ectopic pregnancy while using the coil.

Preparation for your appointment

If you have started a new relationship in the last 6 months or think that you could be at risk of a sexually transmitted infection such as Chlamydia, you should arrange an appointment to have a swab for infection prior to your appointment for a coil fitting.

The coil fitting will last approximately 20 minutes. You will be examined to ensure that it is possible to fit the coil and a swab may be taken if there is any concern about infection. You will experience some discomfort and period like cramps during the fitting. You may wish to take some painkillers 30 minutes before attending your appointment, such as ibuprofen 400mgs (or paracetamol 1g if you are unable to take ibuprofen).

You may have some light bleeding after the fitting and so you may wish to bring some sanitary protection. You will not be able to have a coil fitted if there is any risk you could already be pregnant. Therefore it is very important you follow instructions on contraception before your period.

If you are using the hormonal contraception such as the pill, patch, injection or implant you should continue these until the day of your appointment. You will usually be advised to continue these for 7 days after your coil has been fitted.

If you are using condoms or natural family planning you should abstain from sex from the first day of your period until your coil fitting appointment. If you are attending for a change of coil then you should abstain from sexual intercourse for 7 days before the appointment.

There are a number of options for dealing with depression and anxiety.

Self help leaflet (PDF).

One of our GPs has a special interest in dermatology for which she has received extra training. If you have a concerns in this area please call the Surgery to talk to the duty doctor who will organise an appropriate appointment for you.

Parkbury House operates a diabetes clinic each week to provide on-going care for our diabetic patients.

The diabetic clinic is supervised by two senior GP partners and run by a team of trained nurses. The nursing team have attended specialist diabetes training and accreditation in order to deliver this service.

At Parkbury House we have appointments for ear irrigation.

For more information or to book an appointment please contact the surgery.

Parkbury House operates a hypertension clinic each fortnight to provide on-going care for our hypertensive patients.

The hypertension clinic is supervised by a senior GP partner and run by a trained nurse who has attended specialist hypertensive training and accreditation in order to deliver this service.

Clinical pharmacists

The in-house clinical pharmacy team at Parkbury House are responsible for the safe and effective prescribing of repeat medication, and ensure that the correct medication is available for patients in a timely manner from their nominated pharmacies.

Our clinical pharmacists run a number of clinics to review long-term conditions and monitor medications, as well as being responsible for the timely reauthorisation of repeat prescriptions and offering advice for patients on multiple medicines. With clinical pharmacists managing these services, GPs are better able to manage the demands on their time.

In collaboration with an extensive network of healthcare professionals, including community pharmacists, secondary care practitioners, and our own GPs, nurses, physician’s associates, and administrative staff, our clinical pharmacists are vital to improving the quality of care for patients at Parkbury House and the outcomes from medicines.

Dr Freedman and some of the other GPs are able to offer joint injections where clinically appropriate e.g. for Osteoarthritis. You will usually be referred for this after a consultation.

The community midwives hold their own clinics at the surgery. They supervise antenatal care, undertake deliveries in hospital and at home where appropriate.

Help from the midwives can be obtained on 01923 217361.

New pregnancy information leaflet (PDF)

We offer a number of minor operations/surgeries for dermatology related concerns. These can be offered by way of referral from your GP and approval from the PCT.

Parkbury House surgery is offering NHS health checks. If you are eligible please contact reception to make an appointment with our Healthcare Assistant.

Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented – even if you have a history of them in your family. Have your free NHS health check and you will be better prepared for the future and be able to take steps to maintain or improve your health.

NHS health checks are for adults in England aged 40-74 without a pre-existing condition, it checks your circulatory and vascular health and what your risk of getting a disabling vascular disease is.

Think of your NHS health check as being your “midlife MOT”. It checks that some of your body’s most important systems are all running smoothly. Among other things, your blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI will all be checked and your results given to you. Crucially, your NHS health check can detect potential problems before they do real damage. Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented.

Your NHS health check will assess your risk of developing these health problems and give you personalised advice on how to reduce it. It’s free of charge, including any follow-up tests or appointments.

By taking early action, you can improve your health and prevent the onset of these conditions. There is good evidence for this. This check should take about 20 minutes and is based on straightforward questions and measurements such as age, sex, family history, height, weight and blood pressure.

Read more

• NHS Choices – What is an NHS health check?
• NHS Choices – How do I get an NHS health check?
• NHS Choices – What happens at an NHS health check?
• NHS health check leaflet (PDF)

NHS and private physiotherapy is available at Parkbury House Surgery. Referral is via your doctor.

Private physiotherapy, Physio2Go, is located in the neighbouring building.

Parkbury House Surgery offers private services including medical certificates, reports and vaccinations for a fee.

For a full list of fees please see our private fees page.

Parkbury House operates a respiratory clinic twice a week to provide on-going care for our patients with respiratory problems.

The clinic is run by a practice nurse and the nurse practitioner who have both attended specialist respiratory training and accreditation in order to deliver this service.

Asthma reviews

If you have asthma you should be able to lead a full and unrestricted life. For most people, the treatments are effective and they should enable you to keep the condition under control. Therefore, it is crucial you have an annual review at the surgery.

We offer seasonal influenza vaccinations to all our eligible patients who are 65 years and over, or who fall into certain at-risk groups. Patients who fall into these categories should attend one of our dedicated flu sessions to receive the vaccination. Texts and letters will be sent out to those patients who are eligible inviting to book via Patient Online Access, or by phoning the surgery. Clinics are being held at Parkbury House Surgery, St Peters Street. Please note, these are not walk-in clinics. Appointments must be booked in advance.

We urge you to book an appointment as soon as you can. If you do not attend, we cannot guarantee that your vaccination will still be available at a later date. Having your flu vaccination at the surgery allows us to keep an accurate record of your vaccination and health information, offer clinical support and ensures we can provide this service year after year.

On arrival at the surgery please follow the direction signs for the Flu Clinic. The entrance for the flu clinic is at the back of the building. We will have several vaccinators available to minimise your waiting times. To assist in the smooth running of the clinic please wear clothing which allows comfortable access to your upper arm(s). We would be grateful if you can remove your outdoor coat before entering the consultation room.

Please note, when attending for your flu jab appointment, please enter your car registration details in the surgery portal on arrival, to avoid a parking ticket.

Many employers have their own self-certification forms. If your employer doesn’t have its own form you can download this self certification form (PDF) or fill it out online and print it out.

When do I need a fit note?

Sexual health clinics are provided by Sexual Health Hertfordshire.

Any patient who is a smoker and ready to stop smoking will be seen by one of our advisers for an assessment.

During these sessions, carbon monoxide readings will be taken, a quit date will be set, and a strategy will be established in order to assist you with giving up smoking.

Liz Neville runs our Smoking Cessation clinics. Each session lasts from ten to fifteen minutes, on Tuesdays from 2pm onwards. To arrange an appointment, please contact Parkbury House on 01727 851 589

The NHS offer a free ‘quit kit’ to help you get started and provide useful tools to help you quit.

Find out how social prescribing can help you.

Before travelling overseas, it is important to be aware of the possible health risks and how to prevent problems, or minimise the chances of them occurring. Most importantly, you should know:

• whether there are any specific health risks in the country you are travelling to for which you need to take precautions – for example, malaria
• how to avoid becoming ill when you are abroad
• what to do if you do become ill when you are abroad
• how to get emergency medical treatment when you are abroad

For more information, please visit the websites below:

• Travel Illnesses and Vaccinations – NHS Choices
• Fit for Travel
• Travel Health
• FCO Travel Advice
• MASTA

Travel vaccinations

At Parkbury House Surgery, our HCAs run a weight management clinic which is designed to offer help, support and advice to patients who want to lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

For further information or to book an appointment, please contact the surgery.