We offer a range of services including the below. For more information, please visit our Health Review and Assessment Clinic Room.

Nursing Services

Appointments are available with the Practice Nurses who run the following clinics:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Childhood immunisations
• Smoking cessation – If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a review of your smoking, please use our online Smoking Review form.
• Follow-up clinics for patients on HRT or contraception.

They perform cervical cytology, swabs, and wound/ulcer dressings.

Health Checks

• Blood Pressure
• Weight Check
• Urine Tests
• Cervical Smears – All women and people with a cervix aged between 25 to 64 will be invited for screening three to five yearly (depending on age). Reminders are sent out by letter when they are due. Those with previously abnormal results may require more frequent tests. If you are nervous, or have any concerns about this test, please discuss this with the nurse in advance. The result will be sent to you from the screening department.
• Mammogram – All women aged between 50 to 71 are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Ladies over 71 may also have a mammogram on request.
• Cholesterol Test – For patients who smoke, have high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease or have a positive family history.
• Bowel Cancer Screening – Offered to all aged between 60 to 75 and by request only for the over 75s.

Contraception

Coil/fit change appointment

Before fitting your coil, it is important to be sure there is no possible risk of pregnancy or vaginal infection. If you are currently using another form of contraception, please continue with this until your new contraceptive device is in place. If you are not using any contraception, the device can still be fitted as long as there is no possible risk of pregnancy e.g., no sexual contact since your last period. If you have concerns that you may have a vaginal infection, you will need to arrange to have swabs taken prior to your appointment.

If your appointment is for a change of your current device, please abstain from any sexual contact for 7 days prior to your appointment. If you have any concerns regarding vaginal infection, again you will need to arrange to have swabs taken prior to your appointment.

If you have your period on the day of your appointment, you can still attend for your device to be fitted. There will be the opportunity on the day of your appointment to ask any questions or address any concerns you may have.

Implant appointment

Before the implant is inserted, it is important to be sure there is no possible risk of pregnancy. If there is any doubt at the time of your appointment, the device will not be fitted.

If you are currently using another form of contraception, please continue with this until your implant is in place. If you are not using any contraception, the implant can still be fitted as long as there is no possible risk of pregnancy e.g., no sexual contact since your last period.

There will be the opportunity on the day of your appointment to ask any questions or address any concerns you may have.

Ear irrigation (Ear syringing)

Ear irrigation is no longer be available at Oak Tree Surgery and Pensilva Health Centre.

Ear syringing is no longer considered to be the first line treatment for the clearing of ear wax and it is not a funded service within the NHS for General Practice.

Current guidelines are that ear drops should be used to soften the wax which will then enable the natural movement of the wax from the ear.

We are committed to providing best practice and high quality medical care to our registered patients. Therefore, in line with current best practice and many other GP surgeries nationwide, Oak Tree Surgery and Pensilva Health Centre has made the decision to withdraw the ear syringing service.

Further information regarding treatment processes can be found on the Ear wax – information for patients page within NHS Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group Website.

If you have ear symptoms that concern you, or you have tried using over the counter ear drops for at least four weeks and your ear wax is still troubling you, please speak to our reception team who will be able to book you an appointment with the most appropriate Health Care Professional.

Pre-Conceptual Counselling

If you intend to start a family in the near future, there may be important advice we can offer which will increase the chance of you having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Please make an appointment to see your doctor.

Maternity Care

The midwives hold clinics during surgery time by appointment, at Liskeard Community Hospital. Postnatal appointments and six week baby checks are made with the doctor.

Minor Injuries Service

We offer a minor injuries service, please contact reception to book an appointment.

Childhood Immunisations

Immunisations are available in the surgery. Information is available from the health visitor and practice nurse.

MMR – Measle, Mumps and Rubella

The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective combined vaccine. It protects against 3 serious illnesses:

• measles
• mumps
• rubella (german measles)

These highly infectious conditions can easily spread between unvaccinated people. Getting vaccinated is important, as these conditions can also lead to serious problems including meningitis, hearing loss and problems during pregnancy. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles, mumps and rubella.

When older children and adults should have the MMR vaccine
Anyone who has not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine should ask us for a vaccination appointment. It’s important to check you’ve had both doses if you:

• are about to start college or university
• are going to travel abroad
• are planning a pregnancy
• are a frontline health or social care worker
• were born between 1970 and 1979, as you may have only been vaccinated against measles
• were born between 1980 and 1990, as you may not be protected against mumps

The below link provides a leaflet with more information on the MMR vaccination.

MMR vaccination (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Adult Immunisations

We offer vaccinations for travel, occupational need, flu and pneumonia (following Department of Health guidelines).

For more information about travel vaccinations, please visit our Travel Room.

Drug Therapy Testing and Anti-coagulation Monitoring

The surgery carries out regular blood tests on behalf of local specialists to monitor drug therapy, including anti-coagulation therapy, which would otherwise have to be done at Derriford.

Physiotherapy

Did you know you can now book to see a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) directly via reception for any muscle, joint or bone problem?

Whether that is shoulder pain, back pain, a new or recurrent injury, or other joint or muscle problems, FCP clinicians are highly skilled and experienced Physiotherapists, who can thoroughly assess and diagnose your problem, and help you to access the right advice and management.

This initial contact has been proven to benefit you with quicker access to high quality care, without the need to wait for a doctor, allowing you to start your treatment earlier and reducing the chance of new musculoskeletal problems becoming persistent.