Social prescribing is an NHS England programme that connects people to activities, groups, and services in our community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. This works particularly well for people who:

• have one or more long term conditions
• who need support with low level mental health issues
• who are lonely or isolated
• who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Here is a link with more information on Social Prescribing and what Southern Brooks has to offer, please scan the QR code below to self refer or this can be done using the link for their website above.

Contraception is free for most people in the UK. With 15 methods to choose from, you’ll find one that suits you.
Contraceptive methods allow you to choose when and if you want to have a baby, but they don’t protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms help to protect against STIs and pregnancy, so whatever other method of contraception you’re using to prevent pregnancy, use condoms as well to protect your and your partner’s health.

Where to get it
Contraceptive services are free and confidential, including to people under 16 as long as they are mature enough to understand the information and decisions involved. There are strict guidelines to for care professionals who work with people under 16.

You can get contraception free from:

• most GP surgeries (talk to your GP or practice nurse),
• sexual health clinics (these offer contraceptive and STI testing services),
• Find sexual health services.

Many of these places also offer information, testing and treatment for STIs. If you’ve been exposed to the risk of pregnancy, you’re also at risk of catching an STI.

Before you make an appointment, make sure you’re as informed as possible about the contraceptive options available. People’s choice of contraception may vary over time, depending on their lifestyle and circumstances.

Contraception and menopause

Women who have sex with men and don’t want to get pregnant need to keep on using contraception until they haven’t had a period for more than 12 months (menopause).This is because periods can become irregular before they stop entirely, and pregnancy can still occur during this time. Find out more about menopause.

The methods of contraception

There are lots of methods to choose from, so don’t be put off if the first thing you use isn’t quite right for you; you can try another. You can read about each of the different methods of contraception by visiting these pages:

• Caps
• Combined pill
• Condoms (female)
• Condoms (male)
• Contraceptive implant
• Contraceptive injection
• Contraceptive patch
• Diaphragms
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Intrauterine system (IUS)
• Natural family planning
• Progestogen-only pill
• Vaginal ring

There are two permanent methods of contraception:

• Female sterilisation.
• Male sterilisation (vasectomy).

To find your nearest contraception clinic you can use the NHS Service Search. Enter your postcode, click ‘search’, then click ‘contraception’.

You can find out more about each type of contraception by contacting the sexual health clinic

In addition to your chosen method of contraception, you need to use condoms to prevent STIs. Always buy condoms that have the CE mark on the packet. This means that they’ve been tested to the high European safety standards. Condoms that don’t have the CE mark won’t meet these standards, so don’t use them.

Some forms completed by your doctor, carry no charge eg prescription exemption forms, however many are not covered under the NHS and may include a charge.

Examples of these are:

• Holiday cancellation Forms
• Insurance claims
• Blue badge disabled parking supporting documents

Some forms will entail an examination eg, HGV/PSV licence application, sports medical, insurance medicals, employment medications, if you require an appointment for this please contact reception.

If you would like a form completed, please leave it with reception and once this has been looked over by the doctor and secretary’s you will be advised if there if a charge and how much. As this is private work, and takes our GP’s away from NHS work it can take up to 30 days.

Stopping smoking is one of the best ways to improve your health. Both the practice nurses have had training in helping people to quit smoking. Ask for an appointment for the Stop Smoking Clinic.

We offer self testing for both men and women. If you are age 15 – 25 and sexually active we particularly encourage self-testing.

For men this usually comprises collecting a urine sample; for women this means taking a simple swab (rather like a cotton bud) and inserting this in the lower vagina. Results take 10-14 days.

A cervical smear is a test to check the health of the cervix (neck of the uterus) to help prevent cervical cancer. This is offered to all women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 years.

Smear tests are performed by both doctors and nurses, if indicated a swab test for infection may be performed at the same time.

Routine smears are carried out:

• Every 3 years for women aged 24-49
• Every 5 years for women aged 50-65

Cervical Smear results are sent out by letter.

Our nurse clinics run various times of day throughout the week, we provide the following;

• Asthma checks -adults and children
• Baby & Child immunisations
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Blood tests (Phlebotomy)
• COPD checks
• Cervical Smears
• Diabetic reviews
• Dressings
• Dopplers
• Depo injection (contraception)
• Ear Syringing – Limited
• ECG’s (Echocardiogram)
• Flu Vaccines
• Measuring for compression hosiery
• NHS Health checks for ages 40-74
• Pneumonia vaccine
• Prostap / Zoladex injections
• Stitch, clip and suture removal
• Shingles vaccine
• Smoking cessation
• Spirometry
• Travel immunisations (NHS Only)
• Teenage Vaccines
• Vitamin B12 injections
• Wound checks

Please contact reception to arrange an appointment with one of our nurses for any of the above.

The midwifery team is based at Thornbury Outpatients Clinic, St Mary Centre, 9 Mary Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AB Telephone 01454 415750

If you are newly pregnant, please contact the Midwifery Booking service on:

• Booking Link: www.nbt.nhs.uk/anb
• Email: bookings.midwifery@nbt.nhs.uk
• Telephone 0117 414 6743 to make an appointment.

Thornbury and Patchway Health Visiting Team run a weekly drop in baby clinic every Tuesday 1.30-3pm at Turnberries Community Centre, Bath Road, Thornbury, BS35 2BB

To contact the Health Visiting Team please phone: 0300 125 5200, Option 2