Your Practice is able to offer many services or refer you to the most appropriate place to get help. Information about many of the Services detailed below is readily available on the website. The list below endeavours to summarise what you can expect from the Practice. The list is not exhaustive as it would be impossible to detail every service that the Practice can offer. Please remember that seeing a GP may not always be the most suitable course of action to get the appropriate help or service that you need. Other sources of help can be found by clicking here.
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Asthma patients are cared for by the GP’s and Senior Nurse team. |
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The Practice is unable to offer treatment for removal of ear wax. For guidance on how to treat ears blocked with wax, click here. |
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Appointments can be made with a phlebotomist to take a blood sample whether it is a one off or regular requirement. Click blood tests for more information. |
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Routine smears are advised every three years from age 25 to 50 and then five yearly to 65. Women are usually advised by letter when a test is due and an appointment offered with the Practice Nurse. If you are in doubt about whether you need a smear, please contact the Surgery. You will receive your result by letter directly from the John Radcliffe Cytology Department normally between 2 – 4 weeks. |
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The Clinical Team comprises Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants who carry out many tasks associated with patients care. We also have a Pharmacist, Paramedic and First Contact Physiotherapist. Full details can be found here. |
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The full team of Community Midwives, Community Nurses and Health Visitors is detailed here. |
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We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our Practice. However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible. Click here for full details. |
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Covid continues to be an issue for the Practice. It is recommended that all patients have all the relevant vaccinations and we still ask all patients and staff to observe the relevant hygiene precautions and the wearing of masks. Click covid for more information. |
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GP’s assist with initial diagnosis then provide advice on all aspects of dementia including details regarding other support that is available locally to help people to live well with dementia. We also work closely with Age Concern and Social Prescribers who can offer practical help. |
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Diagnosis and treatment of skin problems that are causing discomfort or inconvenience can be undertaken. Potentially more serious issues such as possible cancerous growths will be referred to the Dermatology Department at the Churchill Hospital. |
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The Practice is unable to offer any dental services. Patients with any problems associated with teeth must contact an NHS or private dental service. We cannot provide antibiotics etc. |
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The Practice Nurses routinely look after our Diabetes patients and complete the annual checks. We also work closely with the Podiatry Team and Diabetes departments, including Retinal Screening at the John Radcliffe. |
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The Practice is not able to offer any specific treatment/plans. Patients are referred to Turning Point. Click here for more information. |
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The Practice is not able to offer any specific exercise programmes for health or recuperation. The NHS does offer online programmes and there are many others available on social media. Click here for details. The Social Prescribing team may also be able to help in certain instances, see below. |
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The Practice is unable to offer any optometry services. Patients with any problems associated with their eyes should contact an suitable optician.
Patients with severe eye problems are advised to contact the Eye Emergency Department at the West Wing of the John Radcliffe Hospital. Click here for details. |
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Advice on all aspects of contraception is provided by Contraception & Sexual health, including fitting and removal of coils, diaphragms (caps) intrauterine devices (coils) and fitting or remove of implants. Tel: 01865 231231. If emergency contraception is required, please ask for a urgent, same day appointment or contact the Pharmacy or Contraception and Sexual Health. |
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The Practice is unable to offer any specific help with hearing problems other than the supply of batteries for patients who have had hearing aids fitted. We do not offer ear irrigation/wax removal. |
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NHS health checks are available by appointment with the Healthcare Assistant, normally take 30 minutes and include blood tests. |
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The Practice is unable to offer any vaccinations required for travel to overseas destinations (with the exception of NHS vaccinations – please ask for a travel sheet). These should be booked 8 weeks before travel. Anyone requiring such vaccinations needs to source them from commercial organisations offering such a service. To check the requirements for destination countries, click here. |
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Initially we would ask you to speak to a Receptionist who will assess your needs. All Receptionists are trained to determine the nature urgency of your condition which means that they will ask questions about what is wrong with you or the nature of your appointment request.
They all operate to a strict confidentiality protocol which means anything you tell them will only be divulged to medical professionals to help you. Appointments can be Face to Face or by telephone or video consult. Your GP who will discuss your condition with you and ascertain the next course of action which will typically involve some advice and a prescription. (If the GP feels a face to face appointment is necessary after a telephone consultation, they will arrange for you to come in). Please also bear in mind that the GP may not be the best person for you to see. It might be the surgery pharmacist, Practice Nurse or the first contact physiotherapist for example. Please understand that due to unprecedented levels of demand, waiting times are very often longer than we would wish. However, our team continue to respond to genuine requests which need a same day urgent response and will continue to do so. They do ask patients not to abuse this facility though. Please call at 8.30am as same day appointments are taken very quickly. They are only for urgent medical matters. The full team of doctors can be found here. |
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A full range of pregnancy care is provided jointly by Midwives. This includes advice before conception, including infertility and care during and after pregnancy. Mothers may choose to deliver in the John Radcliffe (either under Consultant or Midwife care), in the Midwife Unit at Wallingford, or at home. All antenatal appointments are provided in the Practice except for patients having Consultant care. We prefer patients to be seen in antenatal clinics where possible. In Watlington, these are held on Friday mornings by a visiting midwife. |
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GPs are a frontline service for people struggling with mental ill-health. They can play a crucial role in providing advice to patients and in making referrals to specialist support. We have a MIND worker based at Watlington surgery and refer our patients to other services including Talking Space, the Adult Mental Health Team (AMHT) and the Community Health Team (CMHT). |
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Practice medical staff can perform simple surgical procedures under local anaesthetic by special arrangement. There are only certain procedures that the NHS fund, please call the surgery for further details. |
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Minor Injuries Units (MIU) are available at Abingdon, Wallingford and Henley. They can treat conditions which typically include sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs, minor head injuries, cuts that need stitches, minor scalds and burns and emergency contraception. Click here for more information. |
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Available to patients aged 40-74 years who have not had a health check in the previous three years. Please call and book an appointment with the Health Care Assistant.
One or both Surgeries are open every weekday. There are also some appointments available on Saturdays. For full details click here. |
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PPG stands for Patient Participation Group. Every GP Practice must have a PPG which is a group of patients who meet regularly with Practice staff to discuss the services that the Practice offers, and how they could be improved to ensure that the patient experience is as good as it could be and that the health of the local community is improved. The PPG is always happy to welcome new members. Full details can be found here. |
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We are now able to offer access to a Practice Pharmacist every week day. A Pharmacist can offer many aspects of your care without the need to see a Doctor. Click here for more information.
Your Local Pharmacy: can also offer professional free health advice at any time – you don’t need an appointment. Click here for more information. |
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Services such as chiropody are no longer offered as part of NHS services. A small number of specialist podiatrists work within consultant-led teams in diabetes, vascular disease and dermatology at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Click here for more information. |
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All the Policies and Procedures that apply to the Practice can be found by clicking here. |
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These are not covered by the NHS and include insurance, Firearms, occupational driving and sports medicals. Please ask the Receptionist who will tell you if any fee is involved and arrange a special appointment. |
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We have a First Contact Physios (FCO) who offers a triage consultation to deal with back, neck, knee and joint type issues. Click here for more information. You can also self refer on line or by phone to Oxford Connect Health 01865 634336. |
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The team of Receptionists are there to help patients achieve their desired outcome. The full team is detailed here. We ask patients to respect the fact that the team is always working for the benefit of the patient population they serve. Any verbal or physical abuse cannot be tolerated. |
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There are a number of ways to order repeat prescriptions, a number of which do not necessitate a visit to the Surgery. Please always allow 3 days to obtain your medicines and always allow for Bank Holiday and weekend periods. Click here for more details. |
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Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and well-being. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Click here for more details. |
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There is a daily collection for pathology specimens. Specimens if requested, should be brought to the surgery before 12:00. Please do not bring a specimen to the surgery unless you have been asked to do so. |
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The NHS has a referral programme to help individuals quit smoking. The Practice is unable to offer additional help. Click here for more details. |
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National Guidelines state that transport to hospitals run by the Ambulance Service can only be provided for people who are not well enough to use ANY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORT, including public transport or taxis.
If you feel you need transport, click here for more information. |
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The Practice Nurses can offer some help with people trying to lose weight but there is also an NHS referral programme. Click here for more details.
For patients suffering from eating disorders, click here. |
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During the covid pandemic, a number of patients received certain covid vaccinations at the Watlington and Chalgrove Surgeries. At the moment the Practice is unable to offer any vaccinations of this type. Anyone who thinks they are due such a vaccination can book it here.
Flu vaccinations are usually provided to eligible patients on specific days at both Surgeries, usually in the month of October. When details are finalised, they will appear here. |
