Travel Clinic

The travel vaccine assessments we offer are via appointment. It is advised that patients complete and return the Travel form at least 6 weeks before travel as the recommendation is that vaccines are given at least three weeks before travel. Some vaccines are free to patients on the NHS and some carry a charge.

Please note that we cannot give the following vaccines and if these are recommended a private provider will be required:

• Rabies vaccine
• Japanese encephalitis vaccine
• Yellow Fever

More information regarding travel vaccines can be found at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk or https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations

Smoking Cessation

You can access help in giving up smoking by attending Rawtenstall Primary Care Centre and seeing a smoking cessation adviser.
Telephone: 0808 196 2638.
https://www.smokefreelancashire.org.uk/

Please note if you are a smoker please can you fill in the questionaire currently circulating in the practice regarding `Smoking Status`. It helps us help you by keeping our records about your smoking up to date.

Assistant Psychological Practitioner

The Assistant Psychological Practitioner clinic offers basic Psychological advice and can help with low mood, anxiety, stress, sleep hygiene and relaxation.

Dietician

You could be referred by the GP to see a dietician.

Health Visitors

The Health visitor service at the practice has been withdrawn. The clinics are now held at central locations such as Waterfoot, Rawtenstall and Haslingden Health centres. Call 01282 628267 for more details of times and locations.

Family Planning

There no dedicated clinics available at the practice but we offer a comprehensive family planning service during normal surgery hours. In addition to this our practice nurses are fully trained and experienced in family planning and may be seen by booking an appointment with them for the contraceptive pill, coil checks and general advice. However please note should you require the fitting of a contraceptive device you will require a longer appointment.

Emergency contraception

Emergency contraception in the form of the so called Morning After Pill is effective 72 hours after sexual intercourse. The best place to get access to this pill is at Boots the chemist, on the main High Street, Rawtentsall but other pharmacies may also have it in stock.

If you think you are Pregnant

If you think you may be pregnant make an appointment to see the midwife and bring an early morning urine sample in a clean small bottle with you. This will help the midwife manage your pregnancy.

A healthy pregnancy starts with the following:

• Taking Folic Acid. It has been found that taking Folic Acid significantly reduces the risks of Spina Bifida. Click here for further information.
• Check your Rubella (German measles) vaccination status. It is very important in pregnancy to establish if you have immunity against Rubella. Click here for further information.

Child Health Surveillance Clinic

The child health surviellance programme is designed to provide screening in childhood as part of the Child Health Programme across the NHS. Child health surveillance is offered to all children at specified ages. Dr Gladwinfield runs the clinic and leads the child health reviews in conjunction with the Health Visitor. The aim of the clinics is to provide medical assessments of all children to prevent and manage any developmental or medical problems before they arise. The clinic is run every Tuesday between 9.30am and 12 noon. For further information click here.

Cervical Smears

Cervical screening is part of a  national campaign and is run centrally from within the NHS. You will recieve a notification to contact your surgery for an appointment for a cervical smear. Practice nurses can undertake smear examinations by appointment only. For further information on the importance of cervical smears please click here.

Rheumatology: Steroid Joint Injection Service

Steroids or Corticosteroids are a class of medications that are related to cortisone. Cortisone is a naturally occurring corticosteroid hormone produced by your adrenal glands. Steroids can be injected directly into the joints (intra-articular) or around the joints (peri-articular) or tendons. Steroid (Cortisone) injections work to reduce inflammation (heat, redness, swelling, & pain) in and around the joint. As a result you should feel less pain, swelling, stiffness and warmth and be able to function a little easier. A steroid injection is an effective way to reduce inflamation in or around a single joint.

What are Steroids?
Corticosteroids are a class of medications that are related to cortisone. Cortisone is a naturally occurring corticosteroid hormone produced by your adrenal glands.

Where are Steroids (Cortisone) Injected?
Steroids can be injected directly into the joints (intra-articular) or around the joints (peri-articular) or tendons.

How do Steroid (Cortisone) Injections Work?
After injection, corticosteroids work to reduce inflammation (heat, redness, swelling & pain) in and around the joint. As a result you should feel less pain, swelling, stiffness and warmth and be able to function a little easier.

Why are Steroids (Cortisone) Injected Locally?
A steroid injection into or around the joint is an effective way to reduce inflammation in or around a single joint. The goal is to deliver the medication directly to the site where it is needed aiming to reduce the need for systemic treatment (pills).

How is a Steroid (Cortisone) Injection given?
A steroid injection into a joint or around a joint is much like an injection into the arm. Most injections are safely and routinely performed in a physician’s office. For joints in the spine or hip, injections are usually given by a radiologist under x-ray or ultrasound guidance. Local anesthetic is sometimes used prior to the injection or can be mixed with the steroid and injected directly into the joint to give immediate relief.

Does a Steroid (Cortisone) Injection Hurt?
In the hands of a skilled physician, the injections are relatively comfortable and as pain free as a simple blood test or injection into the muscle in the arm.

How long does it take for a Steroid (Cortisone) Injection to Work and how long will it Last?
Most injections typically take 24-48 hours to take full effect. If local anesthetic was given with the steroid injection, you may feel improvement relatively quickly. The duration of improvement varies. Some patients report months of relief whereas others find only a few days of relief.

If the first Steroid (Cortisone) Injection doesn’t work, can I try a second Injection?
In general, most patients, if they are going to respond, will respond after the first injection. Patients who have gained no symptom relief or functional benefit from two injections should probably not continue with repeat injections as the likelihood of improvement is small.

How often can I have repeat Steroid (Cortisone) Injections?
If a significant benefit is achieved after the first injection then an argument can be made for a repeat injection. There is some controversy that too many injections may weaken tendons, ligaments, and accelerate the loss of cartilage but other studies have found that injections can slow joint damage and help preserve the joint. As a general rule a reasonable approach is to limit the frequency of injections to 3-4 for a single joint per year.

Are Steroid (Cortisone) Injections safe in Pregnancy?
It is generally advisable to avoid all medications during pregnancy and while you are trying to become pregnant. However, local steroid injections are believed to be one of the safer treatments for arthritis during pregnancy.